DGF Celebrates Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week, Nov. 10-16 - Speedway Digest

The Darrell Gwynn Foundation will celebrate Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week(SCIAW) in Florida from November 10-16, 2014. In 2006, the foundation successfully lobbied for and with a resolution passed by the Florida Legislature, created Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week to generate awareness of spinal cord injuries and educate the public on ways to prevent them. The Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s mission is to SUPPORT people with paralysis and PREVENT spinal cord injuries.

“We are looking forward to highlighting our statewide spinal cord injury prevention efforts though Florida Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week,” said Dr. Lisa Gwynn, co-founder of the Darrell Gwynn Foundation. “With the support of community leaders such as Senator Rene Garcia, Miami-Dade School Board Chair Perla Tabares Hantman and Broward School Board Member Laurie Rich Levinson, we are able to fulfill our mission of the prevention of injuries in our youth as well as improving the quality of life of those afflicted with paralysis though various wheelchair donations through the week.”

Auto Accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in Florida. A Public Service Announcement (PSA) urging drivers not to text & drive, drink & drive and always wear their seatbelt starring NASCAR Star Tony Stewart and NHRA Hall of Famer Darrell Gwynn will air on television and radio throughout the state of Florida during SCIAW. NASCAR will also support the week with drivers sporting the SCIAW Decal on their racecars during Ford Championship Weekend at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.

During SCIAW, on behalf of its donors and supporters, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation will donate two state-of-the-art custom power wheelchairs to deserving Floridians. The donations are being made through the foundation’s national Wheelchair Donation Program which donates custom power wheelchairs to individuals facing medical and financial hardships. The donations will take place and several major events in Florida including a Miami Dolphins game, the Ford 400 Championship and the Hot Rods & Reels Charity Fishing Tournament with NASCAR Drivers.

The Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s Education & Prevention Program will also address students at several high schoolsin Florida during the month of November. The program sends speakers in wheelchairs to share their stories of how a poor decision changed their lives forever and educate students on the dangers of texting & driving, drinking & driving, not wearing seatbelts, diving in unknown waters, playing with guns and engaging in reckless activities that can ultimately lead to spinal cord injuries.

Finally, the Darrell Gwynn Foundation will make a gift to the Speediatrics Unit at Homestead Hospital through its Patient Assistance Fund duringSpinal Cord Injury Awareness Week.

The week culminates during Ford Championship Weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway when NASCAR drivers bring attention to spinal cord injuries as they race by sporting special decals on their cars in observance of SCIAW. In addition, approximately 20 drivers, team owners and celebrities, including Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Richard Childress, Clint Bowyer, Darrell Waltrip, Jamie McMurray, Joey Coulter and Martin Truex and many more will take part in the Hot Rods & Reels™ Charity Fishing Tournament at the speedway’s infield lake on November 15 at 8:30 a.m. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Darrell Gwynn Foundation’s mission.

For more information on SCIAW and the Darrell Gwynn Foundation please visit darrellgwynnfoundation.org.

Give the Gift of Mobility: https://darrellgwynnfoundation.org/the-gift-of-mobility.php

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Adam Sinclair

NHRA, IHRA, Motocross and other forms of motorsports Staff writer
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.