Rady Children’s patients design a colorful car wrap ahead of the big NASCAR race
When NASCAR zoomed into San Diego County this summer, one special car stood out: a souped-up Toyota Camry with a custom wrap designed by three Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego patients.
Kellan, Maurice and Zoey worked with a professional race designer to bring their ideas to life. The final product included pink, green and blue wave elements and an illustration of Rady Children’s Health mascot, Choco. The car was unveiled at a special event in the days leading up to the inaugural street race on Naval Base Coronado.
“The opportunity for me to come here, and all the sponsors that are helping us out, it’s something special. It shows that people are invested in the lives of kids like me that have been in the hospital,” says Kellan, 16, who was born with a ventricular septal defect and underwent his first heart surgery at Rady Children’s at just 4 days old.
Kellan, Maurice and Zoey created the No. 20 Toyota’s design as part of the Hospital’s partnership with Children’s Miracle Network and its corporate partner Ace Hardware. The Ace Hardware Foundation hosts an annual charity initiative with Craftsman, its parent company Stanley Black & Decker, and Joe Gibbs Racing called Racing for a Miracle.
The car’s number, 20, is coincidentally how many years that initiative has been underway. Each year, Craftsman pledges $100,000 to the Ace Hardware Foundation for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and this year, $25,000 of that went to Rady Children’s.
Since 2006, Racing for a Miracle has helped raise awareness and support for children’s hospitals across the country, including more than $2 million in contributions from Stanley Black & Decker and its brands.
SINCE 2006, RACING FOR A MIRACLE HAS HELPED RAISE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING MORE THAN $2 MILLION IN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM STANLEY BLACK & DECKER AND ITS BRANDS.