Auction Proceeds to Support Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Indianapolis , Ind. (September 5, 2014) – Verizon IndyCar Series driver, Graham Rahal, announced today that the Graham Rahal Foundation will conduct its third annual helmet auction benefiting children’s charities. The auction will feature the helmet that was designed by 10-year-old cancer survivor, Daniel Cooper, and worn by Rahal when he raced in the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma in Sonoma, Calif. on Sunday, Aug. 24.

The auction will be held on Rahal’s celebrity eBay page at http://givingworks.ebay.com/graham-rahal/ between 10 a.m. ET, Friday, Sept. 5 and 10 a.m. ET, Friday, Sept. 12, 2014. One hundred-percent of the proceeds from the auction will be directed to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), a non-profit organization that raises awareness and funds to fight childhood cancer.

The artwork for Rahal’s GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma helmet was selected through the Graham Rahal Foundation’s third annual helmet design contest. Classically open to the general public, the 2014 helmet design contest was held in partnership with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a charity that Rahal has worked with since the inception of his Foundation in 2009, to give children and families directly affected by childhood cancer the opportunity to submit their personal designs.

Members from Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation’s Hero Ambassador Program, family members of childhood cancer heroes who have chosen to get involved with the organization, were invited to create a unique design on a pre-made helmet template with a theme of, “What Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation means to me.” Once the submission period concluded, Rahal selected five designs from the entries that were then posted on the Graham Rahal Foundation contest website at http://www.grfcontests.org where fans voted for their favorite helmet design. Following a weeklong voting period, Daniel’s artwork was selected as the winning design and it was hand-painted by Art Rotondo onto a HP7 Bell helmet for Rahal to wear at Sonoma Raceway.

Daniel was diagnosed with stage III, intermediate risk neuroblastoma at 14-months of age and underwent chemotherapy at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. This year will mark his ninth year off treatment with no evidence of the disease. Daniel submitted his hope-themed helmet design to help find a cure for cancer. “I like racing and I want to help get a cure for cancer,” said Daniel. "My helmet design represents Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and hope for all kids with cancer. I feel good that I could do something to help." Daniel’s design features a personal ‘to-do’ list that includes, beating cancer, growing hair and living his dreams. Today, Daniel is focused on the third item from his list. "My to-do list: 1. Beat Cancer - Check! 2. Grow Hair - Check! 3. Living My Dreams - Working on it!" For winning the contest, Daniel will receive a hand-painted, full-size RS7 helmet featuring his design and signed by Rahal, that has been donated by Bell.

“It was an honor to open this year’s helmet design contest to the children and families directly involved in the fight against childhood cancer and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation,” said Rahal. “Some truly inspirational designs were submitted that highlighted the impact Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation has made and continues to make in their lives. During the online voting-period, the fans’ passion behind each artists’ design entry was incredible. Our winner, Daniel Cooper, did a great job and I was extremely proud to wear his outstanding design at Sonoma Raceway. One hundred-percent of the proceeds from this year’s helmet auction will go Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, so hopefully we can generate tremendous awareness and have a successful auction to help find a cure for childhood cancer.”

About The Graham Rahal Foundation:

The Graham Rahal Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization founded by Graham Rahal. The Foundation is dedicated to helping children with medical conditions, a cause that was important to Rahal’s former race team owner and friend, the late actor and philanthropist Paul Newman. Through various fundraising events and activities, the Graham Rahal Foundation helps Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and SeriousFun Children’s Network. For more information on the Graham Rahal Foundation, visit www.GrahamRahalFoundation.org.

About Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation:

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $80 million toward fulfilling Alex’s dream of finding a cure, funding over 450 pediatric cancer research projects nationally. For more information on Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit AlexsLemonade.org.

Contact Information:

Lorin Lukas: [email protected]

Brian Roemer: [email protected]

Gillian Kocher: [email protected]