Gavin is 17 years old and a junior at River Ridge High School. He loves school and is interested in anything about sports. He’s a HUGE Tampa Bay Lightning fan and loves the Florida Gators. He was diagnosed with FA at 5 years old. He never let that stop him though. He competed in the Tampa Bay Kids Triathlon for many years. He was noticed by the Tampa Bay Sports Commission for his hard work and dedication and was given the Freddy Solomon Moral Courage Award. Since then they’ve also named the Finish Line of the Triathlon after him, to encourage all kids to “Always Finish”, which is Gavins Motto! Gavin has had the pleasure of meeting many of the amazing sports players in the Tampa Area, along the opportunity to participate in so many incredible events. Gavin is very involved in his school, has a ton of friends and has been voted to Homecoming Court 3 years in a row!! Gavin has endured 4 separate spinal fusions, so is now in a wheelchair full time. However, he continues to be a huge fan of sports and participates in any way he can. He supports FARA and is an advocate in helping find a cure for FA.
Mission Statement
Gasparilla Concours d'Elegance Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit incorporated in the State of Florida. We exist to support Tampa Bay charities that serve children who are most in need in our community. We operate through direct donations and monies raised through our annual juried classic car competition featuring rare, original, and historically important vehicles.
No compensation is paid to any organizers of this event, We do it for the love of our community, the love of great classic cars, and the love for those who need our support.
Gasparilla Concours d'Elegance Inc. is proud to announce that we were selected as one of Great Nonprofits'
2019 Top-Rated Nonprofits!
Friedreich's Ataxia, known as FA, is an inherited disease that damages your nervous system. The damage affects your spinal cord and the nerves that control muscle movement in your arms and legs. Symptoms usually begin between the ages of 5 and 15.
The Friedreich's Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) is a national, public, 501(c)(3), non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to curing Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) through research. FARA grants and activities provide support for basic and translational FA research, pharmaceutical/ biotech drug development, clinical trials, and scientific conferences. FARA also serves as a catalyst, between the public and scientific community, to create worldwide exchanges of information that drive medical advances. FARA was founded in September 1998 by a group of patient families and three of the world’s leading FA scientists — Drs. Rob Wilson, Bronya Keats, and Massimo Pandolfo. Founded: 1998 Country: USA Status: 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Focus: A research alliance that drives treatments and a cure for Friedreich’s Ataxia
We don't just offer funding, we offer these Patient Ambassadors the opportunity to be heard, to tell their stories. You will be amazed at the positive attitudes and great accomplishments.
The Ambassadors are a service team within the FARA organization. Participants in the FARA Ambassador Program are passionate about building and upholding relationships within the FA community. Together we seek to know more about the research and pharmaceutical pipelines being developed through FARA in order to be better prepared to represent the FA community when opportunities arise to educate the medical community and potential donors. When meeting with scientific groups, pharma partners, and the FDA, our purpose is to promote awareness of the patient perspective of living with FA. We believe our dedicated support is key to continued success toward our ultimate goal of treatments and a cure.
The FARA Ambassadors are positive, supportive, peer representatives for the FA community, actively raising awareness and funds for FARA.
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