The FCA US Product Design Office, well known for their charitable contributions are at it again. This time putting artwork up for bidding to benefit a great cause.
Caden’s Full throttle event: Horsepower with a heart is an auction and evening out to raise funds for Congenital Heart Research and Pediatric Heart Transplant at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. This event is in memory of Caden Bowles. Caden was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome – a condition in which the left side of his heart failed to develop, leaving him essentially with only half a heart. At 6 weeks old he had a heart transplant, but at age 7 was diagnosed with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease.
He was no average car nut. He would endlessly chatter about cars. He had knowledgeable, thoughtful explanations for his analyses of new product lines and trends in the car industry. He even created his own newsletter during his long days at the hospital – an impressive hand-drawn publication he called “Full Throttle.” – Team Caden, Mott Children
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease is a type of cancer that can be a side effect of taking immunosuppressant drugs to keep the human body from rejecting a new heart. Caden beat his cancer but at 10 years old his transplanted heart started to fail, he was listed as highest priority on the transplant list and received an artificial heart to help while he waited for a donor. Unfortunately Caden passed away on September 11, 2013 at 11 years old while waiting for a suitable donor.
Congenital heart disease requires lifelong care, affects nearly 1 in 110 babies born and is the #1 birth defect in the nation. Congenital heart disease is also the cause of nearly one third of infant deaths resulting from birth defects.
Caden’s full throttle event: Horsepower with a heart takes place this Friday August 10th in Dexter, Michigan at Zingerman’s Cornman Farms. Cocktails, appetizers and a dinner will be served and there will also be cars on display. If you are local to the area and are interested in attending, tickets to the event itself are available HERE.
If you would like to view items up for bidding, or would like to bid online you can register to bid online HERE.
Alternatively you can make a donation of any amount to the C.S Mott Children’s Hospital Save A Heart fund HERE.
