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CART: PacWest Racing to participate in television campaign for Muscular Dystrophy Association

24 August 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

PacWest Racing is currently incorporated in a nation-wide television campaign promoting this year's Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon to aid the Muscular Dystrophy Association on September 4.

Motorola PacWest Mercedes-Benz Champ Car driver Mark Blundell completed taping of the MDA public service announcements at the Firebird Raceway in Phoenix earlier this year along with 9-year-old twin brothers Chris and Marc Schwab from Prescott, AZ, who have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

The final 30-second PSAs feature action footage of Blundells car and the Nextel PacWest Mercedes-Benz of his teammate Mauricio Gugelmin from rounds of this years FedEx Championship Series.

Blundell will be encouraging people to pledge money during the Telethon which will be aired by more than 200 affiliate stations across the country on Labor Day weekend September 4 and watched by an audience of some 75 million in the US and Canada.

The telethon will also be seen worldwide as streaming video on the internet at www.mdausa.org.

An individually designed commercial has also been produced promoting the MDA Telethon and the sport of Champ Car racing for markets with affiliates that host the FedEx Championship Series.

Blundell also tapped a 30-second spot which will continually appear throughout the 21.5-hour broadcast to inform viewers of credit card and secured online contribution options.

Blundell was involved in more than five hours of taping for the promotional spots and then recorded individual sound bites for the 200 affiliate stations that will air the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.

The affiliate identification pieces started with KABY-TV in Aberdeen, South Dakota and finished almost two hours later with KAPP in Yakima, Washington.

PacWest Racing President, Bruce R. McCaw, said he was pleased that his team has continued a partnership with MDA into a second year and that it could take an active role in the promotion of the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon the Associations most important event.

"There is no doubt that MDA is a worthwhile and active organization with which all our team members are pleased to be associated," said McCaw.

"MDA is racing to find a cure for muscle-wasting diseases and we are doing whatever we can to help Jerrys Kids get to the checkered flag."

MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat neuromuscular diseases through worldwide research, comprehensive patient services, and far-reaching professional and public health education.

The first non-profit organization recognized y the American Medical Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award, "for significant and lasting contributions to the health and welfare of humanity," MDA maintains 230 hospital-affiliated clinics that offer families the best in care for progressive neuromuscular disorders.

"Were delighted to count PacWest Racing Group among our sponsors," said Robert Ross, MDA Senior Vice President and Executive Director.

"By racing for our families and featuring our logo on its cars, PacWest has created an extra reason for racing fans to cheer."

As part of the continuing relationship, the official MDA logo has again been displayed on the Motorola and Nextel cars this year.

Text provided by Brett Murray

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.