Hundreds of Jeeps make a child’s dream come true – July 7
July 5, 2018
Curing Kids Cancer is teaming up with the family of 9-year-old Landon Derrick to fill the infield of Historic Columbia Speedway with 1,000 Jeeps on Saturday, July 7. The event, which will raise awareness and research funds for childhood cancer, is being called Landon’s Jeep Jamboree with Curing Kids Cancer.
The event is named for Landon, a Jeep loving boy who had a brain tumor. He was diagnosed with a brainstem glioma in May of 2015. After undergoing back-to-back brain surgeries, the tumor was removed but he suffered severe damage to his cranial nerves and his body. His condition has had him in and out of the hospital for three years. He is a strong kid, who despite life’s obstacles, is determined to beat the odds of his prognosis. Now Landon wants Jeep owners to join the cause, fill the infield and raise money for childhood cancer research.
“I want all of the money that is raised to go to Curing Kids Cancer to help other children,” Landon said.
Jeep owners and clubs are invited to help make Landon’s dreams come true. The Derrick family and Curing Kids Cancer want to fill the infield with 1,000 Jeeps. This event will include family fun activities, live music and sponsorship opportunities.
Jeeps will begin entering the infield at 2 p.m. Registration is $10 per Jeep and $5 for general parking and can be reserved at curingkidscancer.org. For questions about this event, contact Gina Janvrin at [email protected].
How it all started
The event originated with a Facebook page – “Landon’s Jeep Page” The page started with a couple of hundred members and grew quickly to more than 14,000 members. Jeep owners sent in photos of their Jeeps for Landon to admire.
A member suggested that the group should do more to bring Landon’s love of Jeeps to life, and so the planning for a Jeep convoy began. The numbers grew rapidly and with such passion the Derricks soon realized they could use this new found “Jeep Family” to make a difference in finding cures for childhood cancers. The Derrick family – who has worked with Curing Kids Cancer for three years – decided that they wanted to have the event benefit the nonprofit.
“This is helping Landon. These Jeeps are bringing joy to his life. Now, we can have an amazing event for people to meet Landon and raise money for a cause that has helped us for three years. We thought it may just be 20 Jeeps running a convoy, it grew and we want everyone who has shown us love to feel that love back. Life is short, precious and never guaranteed,” said Alana Derrick, Landon’s mom.
About Curing Kids Cancer
Grainne and Clay Owen founded Curing Kids Cancer, a 501(c) devoted to funding cutting edge pediatric cancer therapies, after they lost their son, Killian, to leukemia in 2003 when he was nine years old. Since it was founded in 2005, Curing Kids Cancer has raised more than $12 million to fund cutting edge childhood cancer treatments and pediatric cancer research. For more information on how to help, please contact Curing Kids Cancer at 1-866-933-CURE (2873) or visit www.curingkidscancer.org to learn more.
