Notice anything different on the Carrera Cup cars in Gold Coast?
This weekend, Porsche Wilson Security Carrera Cup Australia has thrown its support behind creating awareness for Friedreich Ataxia (FA), a condition that has affected a much-loved member of the Carrera Cup family.
As part of the support, the entire Carrera Cup field has placed FA branding on the front of each Porsche in the field, as well as using the event’s popularity to promote awareness for the condition.
What is Friedreich Ataxia (FA)?
FA is a debilitating, life-shortening degenerative neuro-muscular disorder, which affects about 1 in 30,000 people in Australia and New Zealand.
It is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 5 and 18 years and robs children and young adults of their mobility.
FA leads to loss of muscle co-ordination, fatigue, vision impairment, hearing loss and slurred speech, scolosis (curvature of the spine), diabetes and serious heart conditions.
It is caused by an inherited genetic mutation that limits the production of a protein called frataxin. This protein is needed by the mitochondria, which are the energy producing organelles in our cells. Without it the cells do not function properly resulting in debilitating medical problems, particularly neurological and cardiac.
Although there has been significant progress towards treatments, today there is no cure.
Why FA?
This cause is close to the hearts of those within the Carrera Cup paddock. One of the most capped Carrera Cup team members, Karl Batson, suffers from the disorder. Batson has experienced tremendous success in the Carrera Cup series, working with title winning campaigns with Jim Richards and Craig Baird.
Now, Batson is the Porsche Centre Melbourne Motorsport Team Manager with drivers Nick McBride and Marc Cini, fittingly claiming race wins on the opening two encounters in Surfers Paradise this weekend.
What can you do?
For more information on FA and on how you can get behind the Friedreich Ataxia Research Association (FARA), visit the FARA website at https://fara.org.au.