14TH
ANNUAL MOTORSPORTS DAY!!!
FORMER CRAIG HOSPITAL
PATIENT TO RECEIVE QUICKIE POWER WHEELCHAIR COURTESY OF THE DARRELL GWYNN
FOUNDATION AND SUNRISE MEDICAL
Englewood, CO -- On
Wednesday, July 12, 2006 Craig Hospital will host its 14th Annual
Motor Sports Day, from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm in the vicinity of Girard and S.
Clarkson Streets in Englewood. Members of the media are invited to attend
all Motorsports Day activities. Patients, families and staff will be
available for filming and interviews. Motor Sports Day has
become the "must see" car show in Denver.
The purpose of this annual
event is to provide current and former Craig patients with an opportunity to
view world-class automobiles, vehicles modified for drivers with disabilities,
and to meet celebrity guests. Admission is free; there will be music, tours of
Craig, and the $6 outdoor BBQ lunch is between 10:30 am and 1:00 pm.
Sunrise Medical, the
manufacturer of Quickie wheelchairs, and the Darrell Gwynn Foundation will
present a power wheelchair to former Craig Patient Erica Hoffman of Keenesburg,
CO at the event at 10:00 am. (More information about Erica Hoffman below).
Darrell Gwynn is one of the greatest drag racers of all time, and is an inductee
in The International Drag Racing Hall of Fame.
"Having spent much of my adult
life as a quadriplegic resulting from a spinal cord injury, I know firsthand the
critical difference made by a proper wheelchair," said Gwynn, the founder and
president of the Darrell Gwynn Foundation (DGF).
His father Jerry, wife Lisa,
and daughter Katie are flying in for this event from their home in Florida. This
is the sixth year that a wheelchair has been donated to a Craig Hospital
patient.
Other Activities
Scheduled for Motorsports Day Include:
- Nearly 200 collector
vehicles will be on display at Craig Hospital, including street rods,
antiques, racecars, muscle cars, restorations, and vehicles with
hand-controls.
- General Motors Corporation
will be on hand with its Pontiac MotorSports Performance trailer and
four vehicles on display including NHRA pro stock car, Rolex Daytona
Prototype, Rolex GTO-R, and Drift Solstice vehicles.
- Darrell Gwynn and Sunrise
Medical Ambassador Jeff Eben will deliver a motivational presentation to
patients, staff and families at 2:00 pm in the Craig gymnasium.
In addition, on Friday, July 14th,
there will be a ceremony at Bandimere Speedway during the 26th Annual
MOPAR Mile-High NHRA Nationals. Erica Hoffman and her family will be recognized
in front of 23,000 racing fans at 5:00 pm.
Erica Hoffman- 2006 Sunrise
Medical Wheelchair Recipient
Erica Hoffman is the recipient
of a Quickie Wheelchair manufactured by Sunrise Medical. The wheelchair has been
provided at no cost to Erica as part of a collaborative effort between Sunrise
Medical and the Darrell Gwynn Foundation. This is the 6th year a
wheelchair has been provided to a Craig Hospital patient.
Erica is 18 years old from
Keenesburg, Colorado and graduated from Weld Central High School in May 2006.
In High School she was captain of the cheerleading squad.
Erica was injured on March 14th,
2006 in an automobile accident which resulted in a spinal cord injury, and at
this time she is a quadriplegic. She was discharged from Craig Hospital on June
21st, 2006. Erica plans to pursue college after she returns home and
is interested in a degree in a therapy related field.
Erica has a large network of
friends who have been very supportive since her injury; particularly her best
friend Shannon Cvancara. Shannon was in the vehicle with Erica during the
accident, and has been a big support for Erika during her rehabilitation
program.
Erica's Mom and Dad are Gary
and Sandra Hoffman and her sister is Ashley. Erica also has many family members
in the Lakewood, Colorado area who have also supported her since her injury.
# # #
The Darrell Gwynn Foundation (DGF) exists to prevent, provide for and ultimately
cure spinal cord injuries and other debilitating illnesses. The foundation works
to help improve the quality of life for those already afflicted with injury or
illness, by providing necessary equipment or special services. To expedite
specific cures, the foundation assists in the funding of targeted research. It
is also dedicated to injury prevention, with special emphasis on programs
targeting children. Visit the DGF online at
www.darrellgwynnfoundation.org
Craig Hospital in Denver is world-renowned for the
treatment and research for persons with spinal cord injury and traumatic brain
injury. Craig has been ranked in the Top Ten Rehabilitation Hospitals for
18 consecutive years by US News and World Report.
www.craighospital.org
/Darrell Gwynn Foundation Media Contacts: Caren Berg or Sue Siebert,
954-370-8999, or
cberg@boardroompr.com or
ssiebert@boardroompr.com
/Craig Hospital Media Contacts:
Kenny Hosack, Administration, 303-789-8490, or
khosack@craighospital.org
