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When Sebastian Perez was diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta — a genetic ailment characterized by delicate, brittle bones — as an toddler, no just one could have imagined the affect he would have on countless other young children and the auto communities of Utah and California.
“Heading as a result of remedy created me imagine, I just preferred to aid make kids’ life better,” Sebastian instructed me through an interview that also included Mike Soldan from 118 Racing and Justin Wallace from 80 Eighty.
Sebastian has chosen to concentrate outward, particularly on helping other kids. He started off Born 4 Rapid, a charity business that delivers regional vehicle communities together to give back to these in Shriners Hospitals For Kids.
“We have carried out a great deal of these toy drives with various car teams in Utah and California. We go again and forth a whole lot involving the two, and we hope to appear to other states soon,” Sebastian mentioned. “One particular of the earliest gatherings was a rally in Los Angeles. I considered it would be little, but it was flooded with vehicles. It was mad. We elevated more than $7,000 at that rally for Shriners Medical center in Los Angeles.”
Given that then, Sebastian’s effect has ongoing to increase. The up coming Born 4 Speedy Toy Push and Car or truck Present is at The Garage Grill in Draper on July 31, 2021, from 10 a.m. until finally 2 p.m.
The Utah inspiration who fueled Born 4 Rapid
Given that he was extremely younger, Sebastian has been outward and ahead-pondering about the variety of life he needs to dwell, and some of that inspiration arrived from correct listed here in Utah.
“When I was young, The Stradman invited me to the racetrack in Utah and a information crew was there. They interviewed me and requested if I was terrified of the loud noises. I answered, ‘No, for the reason that I was born for speedy!’ That got me considering about making shirts and hats, and I decided to model it as Born 4 Rapid,” recalled Sebastian.
Due to the fact he was 6 months previous, Sebastian has been a frequent patient at Shriners Hospitals in California and Utah. Each and every six months Sebastian visits the Salt Lake City Shriners Medical center. With his bones in their brittle ailment, he needs the knowledge of the Utah medical professionals to assistance make sure he is expanding as he need to. Obtaining broken a lot more than 95 bones in his brief daily life, he’s grateful for their outstanding treatment. He is now an official ambassador for Shriners Hospitals.
“When I was a affected person, the medical center employees would carry me toys, and all those toys entertained and distracted me from all the suffering. I want to give back again and assistance the young ones have a superior daily life, in particular when they are recovering from procedure,” he mentioned.
Mind-boggling assist from the auto group
When Sebastian initially started off Born 4 Fast, he realized he would require sponsors to assist it turn into a little something huge. A admirer of a common Utah automobile giveaway and apparel company, 80 Eighty, Sebastian shot for the moon and reached out to the firm’s founder, Justin Wallace.
“I instructed my mom, ‘I require help and I’m heading to get hold of 80 Eighty.’ My mother assumed I was insane, but the future detail I know, Justin was contacting me! I failed to even know who Justin was, I assumed he was just a employee for 80 Eighty. He invited me out, we went to his property for a very little little bit, and I imagined, ‘this stranger is cool.'”
From there Justin attained out to 118 Racing, a motorsports life-style model commenced by Utah brothers Jon and Mike Soldan. Now there are shut to a dozen sponsors of Born 4 Rapid, such as KSL Autos.
“At initially I considered I would not be equipped to get any sponsors, but quickly I was getting very best pals with these men. Then The Stradman started coming and it acquired insane. We’ve obtained far more sponsors than ever considering the fact that then,” he reported.
When questioned why he has taken a distinctive desire in Sebastian and Born 4 Speedy, Justin Wallace of 80 Eighty claimed, “Seb is the inspiration. Hearing his story, it really is wonderful. Now when he will come [to Utah] he stays at our dwelling. Shriners goes through toys very rapidly, so Sebastian does this at the midpoint in the yr so they have a lot of toys until Christmas. It is really inspiring.”
Mike Soldan of 118 Racing said a little something comparable when requested why 118 Racing has been concerned. “It is really all about Sebastian. We try to always aid children, but when Justin hit us up about this one particular a few yrs back, we initially imagined, ‘Oh it really is just another a person.’ But simply because it was coming from Justin, we realized it was specific. We blocked off our early morning and achieved Sebastian at the very first toy push and we promptly understood we preferred to be associated.”
“This is a big occasion. We deliver out every little thing for this,” Mike said. “We convey all our cars, we donate the proceeds from any merchandise we offer, it’s all about offering back. This is the coolest car celebration in Utah for the calendar year, by considerably.”
How you can assist
The Born 4 Rapidly party is the leading vehicle exhibit in Utah for 2021. If you would like to attend, convey your new, unopened toys to The Garage Grill in Draper involving 10 a.m. and 2 p.m on July 31. 80 Eighty and 118 Racing will load up the toys in their trailer and produce them to the Salt Lake Town Shriners Clinic, alongside with the other sponsors and Sebastian.
Though attendance is totally free, absolutely everyone is encouraged to bring some toys. Last 12 months the 118 Racing trailer was overflowing with toys. This year’s objective is to fill an even larger sized trailer.
Do you or anyone you know have an brilliant motor vehicle story? We want to characteristic it! Send out an e-mail to [email protected] For more info and updates observe KSL Automobiles on Instagram and Fb.
About the author: Having owned anything from a DeLorean to an E46 M3 and a Toyota Land Cruiser, Jason Bell is a lifelong automobile fanatic who enjoys sharing his passions as a teacher, author, speaker and social media manager. Get in touch with him at [email protected] for opinions/concerns, or just to say “hello.”
