Maryn Winters, an 8-year-old entering third grade from Basehor, Kan., 8, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at age 4, has won the Race Car Design Contest for JDRF, hosted by Motorcraft & Quick Lane Tire and Auto Centers.
Maryn’s colorful design – which features children holding balloons that spell out “HOPE” and “JDRF,” a rainbow and flowers – was selected from 10 finalists by the Ford Customer Service Division, JDRF and Wood Brothers Racing, owners of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
“I am so excited about winning this contest,” said Maryn whose design raised $3,460 at www.fordracecar.jdrf.org during the contest. “I entered last year and couldn’t wait to design another car this year. This is awesome!”
When asked about her design, Maryn said, “I drew the kids because they are the other kids I have met that are fighting this disease everyday like me. The rainbow is a sign of hope. The balloons are for hope for a cure.”
The contest started in March with close to 50 children ages 5-18 living with T1D from around the country raising money at www.FordRaceCar.jdrf.org. Ford dealership Victory Ford of Bonner Springs, Kan., assisted Maryn in her fundraising efforts during the final phase of the contest.
Maryn’s winning design will be the paint scheme for the Wood Brothers’ No. 21 Ford Fusion for the Crown Royal 400 at the Brickyard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, July 26, 2015. She and her family will experience a trip of a lifetime, seeing the car that she designed race at the famed Indiana speedway in person.
“We’re excited to have Maryn’s beautiful design on our car at the Brickyard,” said Eddie Wood, co-owner of Wood Brothers Racing. “As a team and as a family we get tremendous satisfaction from being able to contribute to JDRF’s cause of eliminating type 1 diabetes.”
Every child who entered the contest raised money for JDRF by asking their friends and family to “vote” with donations. The money raised, more than $39,000 thus far, will help to continue JDRF’s efforts to turn Type One into Type None through the support of research.
“Congratulations to Maryn for winning the Race Car Design Contest for JDRF hosted by Motorcraft & Quick Lane,” said Mary Lou Quesnell, director of marketing for Ford Customer Service Division. “Not only is she a talented artist as evidenced by her race car design, but is a great ambassador for JDRF and its effort to create a world without T1D. We can’t wait to see her design running at the Brickyard.”
T1D is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, rendering millions of Americans dependent on insulin injections and 24/7 vigilance to survive.
Ford Motor Company’s relationship with JDRF spans three decades. In 2008, Motorcraft and Quick Lane Racing joined the effort. In five years, the race car design contest has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars for JDRF, the world’s leading charitable funder of T1D research.
Ford Performance PR
