Brown, Cosmo, Milner Bring Race Fun to Children's Hospital

Extreme Speed Motorsports’ Ed Brown and Guy Cosmo, and Corvette Racing’s Tommy Milner revved up playtime Wednesday at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children with a special visit that featured an intense pinewood derby race.“I enjoy attending these hospital visits,” Milner said. “I enjoy the opportunity to brighten the children’s day. We have fun painting and playing. It’s nice to be able to spend time with kids who might need a little extra attention.”

The American Le Mans presented Tequila Patron drivers partnered with the Austin Hatcher Foundation, the official charity of the ALMS, to visit children at the hospital in advance of the 60th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida.

Bringing the enthusiasm and competitiveness that only ALMS drivers can bring, the drivers spent time building, painting and racing pinewood derby cars with the children. This sparked a teammate rivalry between Brown and Cosmo when Brown’s car consistently dominated Cosmo’s car.“It’s all in the paint,” Brown said. “I double-coated the car to make it heavier. No one is going to build one faster than mine.”In continuation of its hospital program from past seasons, ALMS drivers visit local hospitals with the Foundation in each race market to provide what is known as “diversionary therapy.” Simply put, drivers – most of them big kids themselves – spend time playing with patients in order to divert their attention away from present ailments and provide them with the opportunity to simply enjoy being kids.“He’s back to his real self,” said Gladys Campo, mother of one of the APH patients. “When we arrived yesterday he was so tense and scared. But now he’s smiling and happy. He told me a few minutes ago that he feels important because he’s getting to hang out with important race car drivers. I’m just so glad to see him smiling.”

Series sponsor Battery Tender also attended the visit in support of the Foundation’s work.Extreme Speed Motorsports is hosting a live auction during race week at 1 p.m., Friday, March 16, immediately following the ALMS autograph session. The auction is open to all fans and proceeds benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation.The American Le Mans Series and the Austin Hatcher Foundation continue the “Fueling Potential: Racing to Win” campaign with activities planned throughout the 2012 season including hospital visits, team auctions, and a Driver Pro-Am Golf Tournament and Motorcycle Charity Ride in October. For more information visit the Austin Hatcher Foundation page on alms.com.

The Fueling Potential: Racing to Win” campaign provides families affected by pediatric cancer with the emotional and educational “Fuel” to ensure that each family member reaches their maximum potential as cancer survivors and ultimately “Win Life’s Race.”

The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer’s erases the effects of pediatric cancer and optimizes each child’s quality of life through essential specialized intervention beginning at the time of diagnosis and continuing throughout survivorship. The Foundation provides services to children with cancer, as well as their families, through its cancer care center, Hatch’s House of Hope. The Foundation provides all services at no cost to the families. Services are funded solely by the generous donations of supporters. For more information, visit www.hatcherfoundation.org.The 2012 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón begins with the 60th Anniversary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida on Saturday on March 17. The race, set for 10:30 a.m. ET, will be broadcast at noon March 18 on ABC and shown live on ESPN3.