News

ZACH VEACH TO RACE IN SUPPORT OF MILWAUKEE'S XZAVIER DAVIS-BILBO FAMILY DURING MILWAUKEE MILE RACE WEEKEND WITH THE MICHAEL ANDRETTI FOUNDATION, RACING FOR KIDS AND FOCUSDRIVEN
Six-Year-Old Xzavier Was Paralyzed After Being Hit By A Texting Driver In 2010

MILWAUKEE, WI (June. 16, 2011) – FocusDriven President and Founding Board Member Jennifer Smith and Andretti Autosport USF2000 race car driver Zach Veach, national spokesperson for FocusDriven, have spoken to thousands about the dangers of cell phone distracted driving since forming an alliance in 2010. This weekend, the pair will join forces at the Milwaukee Mile to spread awareness and help raise funds for the family of Xzavier Davis-Bilbo.

Six-year-old Xzavier Davis-Bilbo was paralyzed last October 2010 when a driver struck him while he and his sister crossed the street. As a result of the crash, Xzavier is wheelchair-bound and on a ventilator to breathe. Due to the child's medical needs his family is unable to afford a wheelchair accessible van that will make transporting Xzavier possible. Currently, the only time the young child is able to leave his home is for routine doctor visits.

"Xzavier had dreams of playing professional football and those dreams were taken from him because of a text message," said Smith. "People need to understand that when they text behind the wheel, they are infringing on the safety of others. I applaud Zach and his Andretti Autosport teammates for their action in helping this family."

16-year-old Veach has brought together his team, Andretti Autosport, The Michael Andretti Foundation and Racing for Kids to partner with FocusDriven to bring awareness and support to a family who was tragically affected by a distracted driving incident. At the USF2000 race at the Milwaukee Mile on June 19th, Veach will carry messaging to spread awareness and ask for support for Xavier's family. Veach's Andretti Autosport teammates, Danica Patrick, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti and Mike Conway will also carry the branding in their IZOD IndyCar Series race to be television nationally on ABC.

"I was heart-broken when I heard about Xzavier's story," said Veach, who begins practice for his USF2000 race at the Milwaukee Mile on Thursday, June 16 during a promoter test day. "Being part of FocusDriven and working with the Department of Transportation shines a bright light on so many stories just like Xzavier and unfortunately so many of them end with taking the life of the individual. From this tragic incident, Xzavier's life is completely changed and we have to do all we can to help him and his family live as normal of a life as possible. I'm honored to have heard this family's story, to help them in a small way and for the care of my fellow Andretti Autosport teammates as well as Racing for Kids and The Michael Andretti Foundation's additional support."

Racing across the nation as part of INDYCAR's "Mazda Road to Indy" USF2000 National Championship Series, Veach is racing in a different market nearly every weekend chasing his dream of becoming a professional athlete. Xzavier was an aspiring football player and as a fellow athlete, Veach will carry Xzavier's story on his No. 7 Andretti Autosport Zakosi Data Backup Mazda.

In addition to spreading the message during the Milwaukee Mile race weekend, Racing for Kids will stage an appearance at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, where Davis-Bilbo spent nearly four months for nine different surgeries. Racing for Kids has worked closely with Andretti Autosport drivers in the past few years with Hunter-Reay, Conway and Patrick all making hospital visits on behalf of the organization.

For those who also want to help support the family, a trust has been established in the name of GA-Xzavier Davis-Bilbo. Donations can be made directly to any Associated Bank branch or mailed to P.O. Box 41, Greendale, WI 53129.

For more information, please visit, www.xzavier-survivor.com, www.FocusDriven.org, www.AndrettiAutosport.com, or www.RacingForKids.org.