Richmond International Raceway goes gold to honor Jeff Gordon and support childhood cancer awareness

September is national Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and patients, families, researchers and charities, including the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation and Richmond International Raceway, are rallying to bring awareness and raise funds for childhood cancer research, treatment, patient support and survivorship issues.

On average, 43 children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer every day. The average age at diagnosis is 6 years old and approximately one in five children diagnosed will not survive.  Forty-three – the same number of kids that fit on a school bus and the same number of drivers in this weekend’s Last Race to Make The Chase, Federated Auto Parts 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway.

RIR is “Going Gold” this weekend to honor NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, Jeff Gordon, who is dedicated to the fight to end pediatric cancer.  And we’re inviting our fans to do the same, as a visual reminder that every child battling cancer deserves a future full of limitless potential and the chance to achieve a lifetime of dreams.

“Jeff has had a tremendous impact on this sport,” said RIR President Dennis Bickmeier.  “And his impact reaches even further through the work of his Foundation.  Our hope in honoring Jeff in his final full-time season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is to pay tribute to Jeff and the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation by supporting his cause and helping bring awareness and raise funds for childhood cancer research.”

Throughout the facility this weekend, fans will see gold reminders – the Childhood Cancer Awareness ribbon and Jeff’s No. 24 on the track walls, the iconic “Richmond” painted gold on the start/finish line, gate workers and RIR staff in gold event shirts, and a Childhood Cancer Awareness ribbon on the Official Pace Car.

Forty-three childhood cancer WARRIORS from Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and UVA Children’s Hospital, wearing gold t-shirts, will arrive on a school bus at pre-race Saturday to lead fans in the Pledge of Allegiance.

In addition, the Richmond Children’s Hospital Foundation will be on the Midway selling gold shoelaces for $5.  Four dollars from each sale will be used to support research and treatment efforts in the Richmond area.  Fans may purchase shoelaces while here this weekend or you may purchase laces and other Go4theGoal gold gear online at http://go4thegoal.org/shop.html.  Be sure to include “Richmond” in the team name box under the shoe laces to ensure the sale is credited to the Richmond Children’s Hospital Foundation.

So, grab your gold and join Richmond International Raceway, Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and UVA Children’s Hospital this weekend as we proudly honor Jeff Gordon and support the children in our community who are battling cancer.

Tickets for Saturday night’s Last Race to Make The Chase, Federated Auto Parts 400 are still available.  Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.