This weekend, during the 50th anniversary running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, AC/CD lead singer Brian Johnson, along with Chattanooga-based Fifty Plus Racing, Predator Performance and Allegra Motorsports, will promote “Highway to Help,” a campaign to raise $1million for families affected by pediatric cancer.

Johnson, an avid car and racing enthusiast, will compete in the Rolex 24 at Daytona as part of the Fifty Plus Racing team. Other members of the team include Chattanooga businessman Byron DeFoor, former Rolex 24 overall winners Elliott Forbes-Robinson and Jim Pace, and former Rolex 24 class winner Carlos DeQuesada.

Throughout the race, fans will be encouraged to text “2232” to 501501 to donate $10 to the Austin Hatcher Foundation. Fans can also purchase a special $59 Predator Performance/50+ Racing ticket package for the race, with a portion of the proceeds from each ticket benefiting the Austin Hatcher Foundation. Highway to Help will be promoted through a 24-hour radio campaign supported by Clear Channel and Chattanooga’s Rock 105. The campaign can be heard nationwide at rock105.com.

“This is real, this is going to happen, and we’re all happy to have the opportunity to do this,” said Johnson. “AC/DC fans all over the world are now rooting for the Austin Hatcher Foundation.”

Fans can begin participating in the $1million Highway to Help campaign today by texting “2232” to 501501 to donate $10, or visiting hatcherfoundation.org/highwaytohelp to make a donation of any amount.

To stay updated on all the latest news in the Highway to Help campaign, like the Austin Hatcher Foundation on Facebook or follow @austinhatcherfo on Twitter.

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The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer’s mission is to erase the effects of pediatric cancer and optimize each child’s quality of life through essential specialized intervention beginning at the time of diagnosis and continuing throughout survivorship. The Foundation provides services to children with cancer, as well as their families, through its cancer care center, Hatch’s House of Hope. The Foundation provides all services at no cost to the families. Services are funded solely by the generous donations of supporters. For more information, visit www.hatcherfoundation.org
Hatch’s House of Hope is a landmark pediatric cancer care center providing children and their families with the tools needed to cope and thrive at the onset of pediatric cancer, as well as the skills essential to live meaningful and productive lives as cancer survivors. The comprehensive services offered at no cost to families by Hatch’s include: individual and group counseling, marital and family counseling, speech and occupational therapy, music and art therapy, cognitive skills remediation, academic coaching, financial counseling, and diversionary therapy events for family enrichment. Services are provided from diagnosis through treatment, during remission, and into adulthood. For more information, visit www.hatchshouse.org

On Tuesday, the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta race car that had already raised nearly $300,000 at four Barrett-Jackson collector car auctions across the country sold for $35,000 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2012. Yesterday’s sale brings the car’s fundraising total to $334,000.

The world’s first ever bio-diesel touring car, the Jetta was originally built by Chili Pepper Racing in 2006. Thanks to the generosity of Barrett-Jackson and its collector car enthusiasts, who purchased and donated the car back at each of the car’s first four auctions, the car has been able to continue crossing the auction block over a year after its first sale at Barrett-Jackson Orange County 2010.

All proceeds from all five sales of the car benefit children and families affected by pediatric cancer through the Austin Hatcher Foundation.

“The support that we have received from and through Barrett-Jackson over the past year and a half has been phenomenal,” said Jim Osborn, co-founder of the Austin Hatcher Foundation. “The funds and awareness raised through this vehicle have gone a long way in fueling our mission to erase the effects of pediatric cancer and we can’t say thank you enough to Barrett-Jackson and all the collector car enthusiasts who have been a part of this car’s unique history. ”

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The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer’s mission is to erase the effects of pediatric cancer and optimize each child’s quality of life through essential specialized intervention beginning at the time of diagnosis and continuing throughout survivorship. The Foundation provides services to children with cancer, as well as their families, through its cancer care center, Hatch’s House of Hope. The Foundation provides all services at no cost to the families. Services are funded solely by the generous donations of supporters. For more information, visit www.hatcherfoundation.org

Hatch’s House of Hope is a landmark pediatric cancer care center providing children and their families with the tools needed to cope and thrive at the onset of pediatric cancer, as well as the skills essential to live meaningful and productive lives as cancer survivors. The comprehensive services offered at no cost to families by Hatch’s include: individual and group counseling, marital and family counseling, speech and occupational therapy, music and art therapy, cognitive skills remediation, academic coaching, financial counseling, and diversionary therapy events for family enrichment. Services are provided from diagnosis through treatment, during remission, and into adulthood. For more information, visit www.hatchshouse.org

This weekend, the Austin Hatcher Foundation, Chattanooga-based Fifty Plus Racing, and AC/CD lead singer Brian Johnson will kick off its “Highway to Help” campaign at the annual “Roar Before the Rolex 24” test sessions on January 6-8. The campaign, which aims to raise $1million for families affected by pediatric cancer by the end of the 50^th anniversary running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 28-29, is also supported by Predator Performance and Allegra Motorsports.

Johnson, an avid car and racing enthusiast, will compete in the Rolex 24 at Daytona as part of the Fifty Plus Racing team. Other members of the team include Chattanooga businessman Byron DeFoor, former Rolex 24 overall winners Elliott Forbes-Robinson and Jim Pace, and former Rolex 24 class winner Carlos DeQuesada.

Throughout both the test session and the race, fans will be encouraged to text “2232” to 501501 to donate $10 to the Austin Hatcher Foundation. Fans can also purchase a special $59 Predator Performance/50+ Racing ticket package for the race, with a portion of the proceeds from each ticket benefiting the Austin Hatcher Foundation. Highway to Help will be promoted during the race through a 24-hour radio campaign sponsored by Clear Channel and Chattanooga’s Rock 105.

“This is real, this is going to happen, and we’re all happy to have the opportunity to do this,” said Johnson. “AC/DC fans all over the world are now rooting for the Austin Hatcher Foundation.”

Fans are encouraged to begin participating in the $1million Highway to Help campaign today by texting “2232” to 501501 to donate $10, or visiting hatcherfoundation.org/highwaytohelp to make a donation of any amount.

To stay updated on all the latest news in the Highway to Help campaign, like the Austin Hatcher Foundation on Facebook or follow @austinhatcherfo on Twitter.

# # #

The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer’s mission is to erase the effects of pediatric cancer and optimize each child’s quality of life through essential specialized intervention beginning at the time of diagnosis and continuing throughout survivorship. The Foundation provides services to children with cancer, as well as their families, through its cancer care center, Hatch’s House of Hope. The Foundation provides all services at no cost to the families. Services are funded solely by the generous donations of supporters. For more information, visit www.hatcherfoundation.org

Hatch’s House of Hope is a landmark pediatric cancer care center providing children and their families with the tools needed to cope and thrive at the onset of pediatric cancer, as well as the skills essential to live meaningful and productive lives as cancer survivors. The comprehensive services offered at no cost to families by Hatch’s include: individual and group counseling, marital and family counseling, speech and occupational therapy, music and art therapy, cognitive skills remediation, academic coaching, financial counseling, and diversionary therapy events for family enrichment. Services are provided from diagnosis through treatment, during remission, and into adulthood. For more information, visit www.hatchshouse.org

Fifty Plus Racing includes rock legend Brian Johnson (lead singer of AC/DC), Can-Am winner Byron DeFoor, and Rolex 24 at Daytona winners Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Jim Pace and Carlos DeQuesada. The five drivers – all 50+ years old – will drive a Predator Performance prepped Riley Prototype at three Grand Am races in 2012, including the 50^th Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, the Sahlen’s Six Hours at Watkins Glen and the Super Weekend at The Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race car will promote “Highway to Help,” a text message campaign for the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer, which is based in Fifty Plus’ home town of Chattanooga Tenn. For more info, visit www.FiftyPlusRacing.com

On Saturday, September 17, Lee University’s elite women’s soccer team, the Lady Flames, hosted their annual soccer tournament to raise funds for the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer. The event raised a total of $28,000 for children and families affected by pediatric cancer, largely through t-shirt sales, local sponsors, and community donations.

Over 1,000 people were in attendance at the family-friendly event, which in addition to soccer, also included prizes and low-cost refreshments.

“We are so gratefull for the support of the Lady Flames, Lee University, and the entire Cleveland community,” said Amy Jo Osborn, president of the Austin Hatcher Foundation. “The funds and awareness raised through this really fun event will go a long way in helping us to empower families with the tools to cope and thrive at the onset of pediatric cancer.”

This year, the Austin Hatcher Foundation will also benefit from a second Kickin’ It held at Samford University in Birmingham, AL on Friday, October 21. For more information on Kickin’ It for Kids with Cancer at Samford University, visit www.hatcherfoundation.org/kickit

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The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer’s mission is to erase the effects of pediatric cancer and optimize each child’s quality of life through essential specialized intervention beginning at the time of diagnosis and continuing throughout survivorship. The Foundation provides services to children with cancer, as well as their families, through its cancer care center, Hatch’s House of Hope. The Foundation provides all services at no cost to the families. Services are funded solely by the generous donations of supporters. For more information, visit www.hatcherfoundation.org

Hatch’s House of Hope is a landmark pediatric cancer care center providing children and their families with the tools needed to cope and thrive at the onset of pediatric cancer, as well as the skills essential to live meaningful and productive lives as cancer survivors. The comprehensive services offered at no cost to families by Hatch’s include: individual and group counseling, marital and family counseling, speech and occupational therapy, music and art therapy, cognitive skills remediation, academic coaching, financial counseling, and diversionary therapy events for family enrichment. Services are provided from diagnosis through treatment, during remission, and into adulthood. For more information, visit www.hatchshouse.org