FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Deb Pollack, Media Relations
(e) deb@debpollack.com  (t) 805.320.9248
 

DRIVE TOWARD A CURE GAINS NATIONWIDE SUPPORT FOR APRIL’S PARKINSON’S AWARENESS MONTH

Grassroots Clubs and Regional Organizations Create Local Drive Toward a Cure Days to Raise Awareness and Funds for Parkinson’s

LOS ANGELES, April 5, 2018 – From daily car rentals to local driving events staged throughout the country, nationally recognized organizations such as DriveShare by Hagerty, regional chapters of Ferrari and Porsche car clubs and NCM Motorsports Park are supporting non-profit Drive Toward a Cure in its quest to raise funds during April’s Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Each group will provide outreach to members and the community while hosting enjoyable driving events showcasing that ‘driving has never meant more!’

DriveShare by Hagerty, a newly launched car sharing platform, has committed to donate $10 for each rental day booked during the month of April to Drive Toward a Cure. This applies to all rentals of vehicles ranging from collectibles to modern day exotics and can be utilized from its nationwide collection of vehicles: www.driveshare.com.

According to Steve Haas, an executive with DriveShare by Hagerty, the brand has quickly become the nation’s premiere enthusiast car rental community, bringing the ‘sharing economy’ into the car lover’s garage, with thousands of fun rides to rent throughout the country. DriveShare will additionally be sponsoring Drive Toward a Cure’s May 3-6, 2018 ‘California Adventure’ multi-day rally. With select vehicles located in both Northern and Southern California, the DriveShare program is a great resource for the 2nd annual event that offers two simultaneous departures for entrant vehicles that range from vintage to luxury and all car marques in between.

Deb Pollack, founder of Drive Toward a Cure and longtime automotive industry veteran, began the non-profit, along with her partner Mark Davidson of Intelliga Communications, to honor her mother a decade after her passing. The idea was to broaden driving opportunities that could benefit those that are challenged by Parkinson’s and seek funding to find a cure.

“After losing my mom to Parkinson’s Disease in 2006, I wanted to find a meaningful way to share my passion for driving and the car industry with others of a similar mindset, while using those passions to fuel a movement to raise funds and awareness. Drive Toward a Cure has been growing that mission since 2016 and our hope is to seed an expanded effort with organizations throughout the country.”

During the month of April, and throughout the year, various car clubs and organizations have signed on to host their own local Drive Toward a Cure Day ranging from one-day drives, BBQs, car shows to club-inspired track days. In fact, NCM Motorsports Park in Kentucky, kicked off Parkinson’s Awareness Month with a full day of unlimited touring laps and provided $50 per entrant to Drive Toward a Cure. NCM plans to host additional track time at VIR for the cause once again over a 2-day period in June.

Additional Drive Toward a Cure Day events include a ‘Fun Run’ planned by Porsche Club of America’s Los Angeles Region for Sunday, April 8th, www.pcalosangeles.com/drive-toward-cure and a scenic back road charity rally and BBQ by Porsche Club of America’s Hurricane Region in North Carolina, planned for Saturday, April 14th www.hurpca.com/region-calendar.html#event=8344461

Ferrari Club of America’s FCA Central States Region, Ohio Chapter and FCA Pacific Region, Sacramento Chapter, are also planning localized events in June.

About “Drive Toward a Cure Days”

As the month of April is nationally recognized as Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Drive Toward a Cure has been seeking extended avenues to further blend cars and camaraderie to raise awareness for this important cause and help benefit those challenged by Parkinson’s Disease today and aid further research efforts to put an end to this indiscriminate, progressive movement disorder. Groups and individuals nationwide can partake or create their own event. For more information or to make a donation view: www.drivetowardacure.org/drive-toward-a-cure-days.

Current Drive Toward a Cure Multi-Day Rally Programs

The 2018 California Adventure, reminiscent of the organization’s inaugural event last Spring, is the third in a series of multi-day luxury driving events Drive Toward a Cure has hosted to benefit Parkinson’s Disease. During 2017, the organization began to function as a 501( c )(3) charitable organization, raising more than $50,000 through two rally events – one in California and another in the Southeast. Both events included entrant vehicles ranging from vintage to luxury and exotics, traveling along some of the most scenic and famed routes within the country, including the Blue Ridge Parkway, exploring the Smoky Mountains, and tackling the ‘Tail of the Dragon.’

California Adventure 2018

The 2018 California Adventure, reminiscent of the organization’s inaugural event last Spring, is the third in a series of multi-day luxury driving events Drive Toward a Cure has hosted to benefit Parkinson’s Disease. During 2017, the organization began to function as a 501( c )(3) charitable organization, raising more than $50,000 through two rally events – one in California and another in the Southeast. Both events included entrant vehicles ranging from vintage to luxury and exotics, traveling along some of the most scenic and famed routes within the country, including the Blue Ridge Parkway, exploring the Smoky Mountains, and tackling the ‘Tail of the Dragon.’

For 2018, the California Adventure will once again include two simultaneous starting points – a Northern California group beginning in the Monterey area and including a private tour of Canepa Motorsports, and a Southern California start with an intimate tour of the expanded vault at the Petersen Museum, along with a viewing of a private Beverly Hills car collection. Both groups will meet in the Santa Barbara wine region at the famed Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort in Santa Ynez for two more nights and a continued series of drives and events. Limited registration is still open at www.drivetowardacure.org.

Drivers wishing to participate but without shipping a car are able to make use of DriveShare by Hagerty – the nation’s premiere enthusiast car rental community. DriveShare has created an opportunity for registrants to experience coveted cars while partaking in the 600+ mile drive and will be providing 100 percent of the company’s service fees and profit from rentals engaged for the event directly to Drive Toward a Cure. A curated selection for the program can be found at www.drivetowardacure.org/driveshare.

Pollack, who’s mantra for the organization is to blend cars and camaraderie, is expanding her organization’s efforts to include localized programs within nationally recognized driving clubs and driving schools to create more fundraising opportunities during the month of April – which is Parkinson’s Awareness Month.

 

About Drive Toward a Cure:

The Drive Toward a Cure program pursues an alternative to the numerous ‘for profit’ rally driving programs through the creation of events that team cars and camaraderie to raise funds in support of the challenges of Parkinson’s Disease, benefiting research and patient care. Drive Toward a Cure a 501 (c ) (3) non-profit organization, with events that are carefully designed to provide a premium experience while raising much-needed funds to continue the search for a Parkinson’s cure, through beneficiaries The Michael J. Fox Foundation and The Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center. As the Drive Toward a Cure program grows within the automotive community, all levels of car devotees are encouraged to join through participation and/or donation. Those seeking more information can visit www.drivetowardacure.org .

/driveshare

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive movement disorder, meaning that physical symptoms continue and worsen over time. Nearly one million people in the US are living with Parkinson’s disease. The cause is unknown, and although there is presently no cure, there are treatment options such as medication and surgery to manage its symptoms. Learn more at www.drivetowardacure.org/about-parkinsons-disease.

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