As the engines roar at World Wide Technology Raceway during the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race on Sept. 12, driver Joey Gase is using the opportunity to share his passion for organ donation. The No. 55 car will feature handprints and messages from local donor families and encourage spectators to register to be a donor.
“Every time I climb into this car, I think about my mom and the decision our family made after she passed away,” said Gase. “As an organ, tissue, and eye donor, she helped save and improve the lives of 66 people, and racing has given me a platform to share her legacy, honor donor families, and remind people that one decision can save and heal so many lives. If someone decides to register because they saw this car, that’s a victory that means more than anything that happens on the track.”
The car is sponsored by Mid-America Transplant, the organization that makes lifesaving organ and tissue transplants possible in eastern and southern Missouri, southwestern Illinois, and northeastern Arkansas. Last year in the region, 280 organ donors and 2,653 tissue donors made 799 organ, 1,665 cornea, and more than 199,000 tissue transplants possible.
“We are grateful to Joey for helping us honor donor families while inspiring more people to say yes to organ and tissue donation,” said Kevin Lee, President and CEO at Mid-America Transplant. “There are more than 100,000 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, including 1,424 here in the St. Louis region. We hope Joey’s message encourages people to learn more about donation, talk to their families, and register.”
— Joey Gase PR —