Friday, September 19, 2014

Cheer the Kids by Austin Dillon



Through my association with the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma I’ve had the opportunity to visit some really cool kids at hospitals all across the country. Recently, I teamed up with General Mills and their Cheerios brand to visit Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU to bring some cheer to children at the hospital there.

Cheerios is working with artist Justin Helton to design a special Cheer the 3 piece of art, which we presented to the hospital before the race weekend at Richmond International Raceway. After the art presentation, I had the opportunity to present replica, signed prints of the art to some of the children at VCU and visit with them.

That’s the fun part of my job. I love meeting kids and spending time with them. Some of them had a genuine interest in NASCAR, and really wanted to know all about what we do in the garage to make the car go fast. These kids could grow up to be future crew chiefs and engineers in our sport. A childhood injury doesn’t have to prevent you from living a full, productive life.

I’m thankful to my grandfather and grandmother, Richard and Judy Childress, for the work they do with the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. The Institute provides funding and research so that children like the ones I visited in Richmond can have a chance at a normal life, even after traumatic injury.

Hopefully one day we will be cheering for these kids and all that they will accomplish. You can help support the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma and obtain your own copy of the Cheer the 3 artwork Justin Helton created on behalf of Cheerios by being one of the first 100 people to make a $3 donation. Visit cheerthe3.org or Cheer the 3 on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

- Austin Dillon, Driver of RCR's No. 3 Cheerios Chevrolet

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