Racing for Children's Dinner, Auction Benefits Young Cancer Patients, Survivors

BIRMINGHAM – The 9th Annual Racing for Children’s Charity Dinner and Auction presented by Medical Properties Trust is Friday, April 5. The event kicks off Honda Indy Grand Prix weekend festivities while benefiting young cancer patients at Children’s of Alabama. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum (6030 Barber Motorsports Parkway).

Each year, Racing for Children’s honors two Children’s of Alabama patients who serve as honorary crew chiefs for the Racing for Children’s race car, leading the team in the race to cure cancer. Honorary crew chiefs for this year’s event are Devin Cherry, 15, of Hoover, and Walker Simmons, 8, of Vestavia Hills.

Individual event tickets are $125. Sponsorship opportunities, group ticket information and other details about the event are available at www.racingforchildrens.org.

The Racing for Children’s race car presented by Medical Properties Trust will run in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7. This custom car is covered by handprints of patients from Children’s of Alabama.

Racing for Children’s raises funds and awareness for the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s, which treats more than 90 percent of Alabama children diagnosed with cancer or blood disorders.

Since 1911, Children’s of Alabama has provided specialized medical care for ill and injured children, offering inpatient and outpatient services throughout central Alabama. Ranked among the best pediatric medical centers in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s provided care for youngsters from every county in Alabama, 42 other states and seven foreign countries last year, representing more than 677,000 outpatient visits and more than 15,000 inpatient admissions. With more than 2 million square feet, Children’s is one of the largest pediatric medical facilities in the United States. More information is available at childrensal.org.