Joey Gase to facilitate meeting between donor family and kidney recipient at Homestead Miami Speedway

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When NASCAR driver Joey Gase comes to the Homestead Miami Speedway this week, it won’t just be an opportunity to close out the season in the XFINITY Series in his highest ranking to date. Gase, an ambassador for the Donate Life community, will help to facilitate a first-time meeting between donor mom Donna Oakley and her son’s kidney recipient, Damion Jackson.

Gase, who is currently 21st in the XFINITY Series, became a donor son after his mother passed away in April 2011 due to a brain aneurysm. Since that time, he has become a community activist by sharing his story and those of so many others who have been touched by organ, eye and tissue donation.

Donna has been an avid Joey fan since Gase’s early days. Her son, James (Jimmy) Fisher, followed racing and enjoyed living close to the International Speedway in Daytona Beach. When a tragic car accident took his life in 2010, Oakley knew that Jimmy’s giving spirit would allow others a second chance at life through organ donation. That same Thanksgiving weekend, Damion Jackson got a call that a life-saving kidney transplant was going to save his life.

On Friday, November 18th at 11:30 a.m., Oakley and Jackson will meet for the first time at the Homestead Miami Speedway. Gase will accompany Donna and her daughters to a moment she’s dreamed of since the day she lost her son.

“This means so much to my daughters and me. We’ve been speaking with Damion for a while now and the opportunity to meet him and see the difference Jimmy made in his life is going to be a remarkable feeling,” says Oakley. “We’re grateful for Joey and Donate Life Florida for helping to make this dream a reality.”

Donate Life Florida is a sponsor of Gase’s #52 car this weekend and the logo will adorn the hood of his car. Donate Life Florida is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the public to save and enhance lives through organ, eye and tissue donation.  Members include liaisons from organ, eye and tissue donor programs across the state. For more information, please visit www.DonateLifeFlorida.org or call 1-877-FL-SHARE.

HMS PR

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