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Walraven to Race for Down Syndrome Awareness in 2015!

Walraven to Race for Down Syndrome Awareness in 2015!
2015 Konrad Motorsports #56
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
(Eric Arnold) - Veteran driver Chris Walraven of Knoxville and his new car owner and long-time crew chief Brent Geetings will be competing weekly at Knoxville Raceway this season for the Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series 305 title. These two men have raced together for several years and are bringing back their familiar and flashy #56 sprint car in 2015. This season’s goal is larger than winning races and a championship: the men also hope to raise awareness for Down syndrome and GiGi’s Playhouse to the more than 100,000 fans that watch the weekly races in person or on MAVTV.

GiGi’s Playhouse is all about achievement, belief and confidence. Serving children and adults of all ages, Playhouses across the country offer 30 educational and therapeutic programs at no charge to families. All programs aim to maximize self-confidence and empower individuals to achieve their greatest potential. Their literacy program alone teaches thousands of kids with Down syndrome to read every year!

The Walraven/Geetings team, Konrad Motorsports, has partnered with GiGi’s to raise at least $5,000 this race season for the Des Moines GiGi’s Playhouse, and hopefully exceed that goal. If the goal of $5,000 is not met, all donations will be split between GiGi’s Playhouse and the race team. Walraven and Geetings are supporting this cause in honor of Geeting’s niece, Teah.

“We are looking for people who want to support GiGi’s Playhouse and a winning race team,” said Geetings. “Konrad Motorsports will donate a percentage of our 2015 winnings to GiGi’s Playhouse, possibly up to 100% of our winnings if we meet our goal and raise $5,000 or more.”

GiGi’s Playhouse is a 501(3)C non-profit organization. Check with your employer who may offer a company match to your donation. For donations of $300 or more, your business, family, or child’s name will be placed on the sprint car for the entire 2015 season. Email Brent Geetings at bgeetings@gmail.com for more information. “The thought of owning a race car and giving away all of our winnings might seem crazy, but we are motivated to help as many people as possible with Down syndrome through sprint car racing,” said Geetings. “We want to make GiGi’s the champion of our success this season and have some fun along the way.”

The more you donate to the race team, the higher percentage they will donate back to GiGi’s Playhouse. The team has already raised nearly $1,000! The schedule of the split from Konrad Motorsports to GiGi’s Playhouse is as follows:

$0-$1,250 - 20%
$1,251-$2,500 - 40%
$2,501-$3,750 - 60%
$3,751-$4,999 - 80%
$5,000 or over - 100%

For more information about GiGi’s Playhouse and how to donate, please visit http://gigisplayhouse.org/desmoines/drive-for-gigis.