Luke's Nascar Event

Luke is an incredible 11-year-old on the surface, and you’d never know he is slowly losing his vision due to a rare genetic condition, RP/BBS1. Luke has 20% vision, and currently, there is no cure or therapies available to slow the progression of the disease. For Luke, the future is uncertain, but he is living every day full of joy, and like any typical young boy, he’s curious, adventurous, loves classic cars, trucks, off-roading, race cars, and is in a race of his own to experience a lifetime full of visual experiences before losing his sight completely.

After meeting Luke and his parents at an annual fundraiser at Right Toyota, their director of philanthropy and partnerships, Jane D’Amelio set out on a mission to give Luke an unforgettable experience at NASCAR. Thanks to the Denver region, Toyota Motorsports team, Plano TX, and Toyota’s partnership with NASCAR and Phoenix International Raceway, Luke was gifted an experience of a lifetime: a complete behind-the-scenes look at the NASCAR 500 races on Sunday, March 9th.

Luke was greeted by the TRD Team from Plano, TX, earlier in the morning on race day. He got to hang out in the Toyota corporate suite, received a ton of TRD swag, and enjoyed all the snacks he could eat!

Luke was able to go into the garage, pit areas, on the track, and inside the vehicle haulers of one of his favorite racers, Bubba Wallace. After that, Luke made his way to the Drivers' Media session, where he walked the red carpet and was announced as an honored dignitary for the day. It didn’t end there. At the end of the media session, Luke walked across the stage with Toyota Team Driver, Chris Bell (his other favorite driver).

Back in the suite for the races, Luke was totally invested in Team Toyota and was laser-focused on cheering for his new best friends. Chris Bell, Team Toyota would go on the win the race where Luke joined him in victory lane.

The individuals who worked on the wish for Luke consisted of employees from the dealer level, to the Denver Region, and corporate team members in Plano. The team all worked their magic to pool their resources to give Luke an experience he will never forget! They say, “Teamwork makes the dream work,” and our associates amplified that this weekend at NASCAR.

If anyone would like to support Luke and his charity, “A Race Against Blindness,” they can go to https://araceagainstblindness.org. 100% of the donations are going to help fund research to find a cure for RP/BBS1. The family is in a race against blindness for Luke and many other children like him. Another opportunity to give to the charity would be to purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win a tricked-out Toyota Tacoma.

Please contact Jane D’Amelio at 480-516-2737 if you would like more information about Luke or supporting the charity mission.