DEARBORN, Mich., July 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Carson Magee, an 11-year-old fifth grader from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) four years ago at age 7, has won the "Our Everyday Heroes" Race Car Design Contest for JDRF, hosted by Ford Customer Service Division (FCSD) and its brands, Motorcraft and Quick Lane Tire and Auto Centers.
Carson's winning design, which pays homage to firefighters, emergency medical technicians, police and each of the U.S. armed services, was selected from 10 finalists by FCSD, JDRF and Bob Tasca III, driver of the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang Funny Car in the NHRA Mello Yello Series.
"I am so excited to be selected," said Carson who has made the finals of the contest in each of the last three years and whose design raised $3,735 at www.fordracecar.jdrf.org during the contest. "It's a terrific opportunity and I'm happy I can help raise awareness about T1D."
When asked about his design, which features flames and insignia of the everyday heroes he honors, Carson said, "I came up with my design because many of my friends have T1D and are heroes. Like my friend Adam who is a firefighter, my best friend's mom who is an EMT and my friend Hayven who dreams of flying in the Air Force like both of her parents, but T1Ds aren't yet allowed in the military."
Carson continued, "My dream is to become a military chaplain so I was thinking of all these heroes and I couldn't leave any military heroes out."
The contest started in March with more than 60 children ages 5-18 living with T1D from around the country raising more than $53,000 type 1 diabetes research.
Every child who entered raised money for JDRF by asking their friends and family to "vote" with donations. The money raised will help to continue JDRF's efforts to turn Type One into Type None through the support of research.
"We are so pleased that Carson has won the 'Our Everyday Heroes' contest," said Mary Lou Quesnell, director of marketing for Ford Customer Service Division. "Not only is he a talented artist as evidenced by his race car design, but he is one of the nation's foremost youth activists in support of JDRF and bringing awareness to the effort to create a world without T1D."
In addition to his contributions to the "Our Everyday Heroes" contest, Carson has an Internet blog (http://carsonscruisers.blogspot.com) that traces his various activities in support of JDRF. Among those activities are the Carson's Cruisers JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes team and his attendance at local JDRF Outreach meetings.
Carson has spoken publicly about JDRF to the Coeur d'Alene School Board and City Council. He attended the Republican Party of Iowa's annual Lincoln Dinner in 2013 and met Sen. James Risch (R-ID), Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID) and Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter.
He also was a delegate at the 2013 JDRF Children's Congress in Washington, D.C., and is a budding inventor winning a Judge's Special Medical Award and 2nd place in his age group at this year's Invent Idaho Day at the state capitol in Boise. His invention is a device to make testing blood sugar levels easier.
T1D is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, rendering millions of Americans dependent on insulin injections and 24/7 vigilance to survive.
Ford Motor Company's relationship with JDRF spans three decades. In 2008, Motorcraft and Quick Lane Racing joined the effort. In five years, the race car design contest has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars for JDRF, the world's leading charitable funder of T1D research.
About Motorcraft
Motorcraft® offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended and approved by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to under-hood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer exceptional value with the highest quality and right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford and Lincoln dealers, independent distributors and automotive parts retailers are backed by Ford Motor Company's two-year, unlimited-miles Service Parts Limited Warranty. Ask for Motorcraft by name when you visit your local auto parts store or your favorite service facility. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
About Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers
Quick Lane® provides automotive quick services for all makes andmodels. Quick Lane's nationwide network of more than 700 facilities,each providing the convenience of an aftermarket company (noappointment necessary, service while you wait, evening and weekendhours, competitive prices) with the confidence of a major automotivemanufacturer (quality parts, factory-trained technicians). QuickLane® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visitwww.quicklane.com.
About JDRF
JDRF is the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. JDRF's goal is to progressively remove the impact of T1D from people's lives until we achieve a world without T1D. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence and a working plan to bring life-changing therapies from the lab to the community. As the largest charitable supporter of T1D research, JDRF is currently sponsoring $568 million in charitable research in 17 countries. For more information, please visit www.jdrf.org.
SOURCE Ford Customer Service Division
