AJ FORDHAM & CREW RAISING MONEY FOR CHILDREN’S HEALTH FOUNDATION THIS WEEKEND

 

John Houghton

April 22, 2008

 

AJ Fordham and numerous volunteers will be at Delaware Speedway for the opening Transmission Direct Enduro 250 raising money for the Children’s Health Foundation.  AJ and his crew will be circulating the grandstands before the event, collecting change as part of the “Change Bandits” program.

 

AJ was in a highway traffic accident January 20th 2007, suffering a traumatic brain injury.  He was in pediatric critical care unit for 20 days, remained in hospital for another 83 days in recovery where he relearned how to talk, walk and eat with the help of many different therapists and doctors at the Children’s Hospital.

 

AJ is an accomplished Transmission Direct Enduro Driver who was recognized at the end of the 2006 season as most improved driver in the class.  He finished his final race of that season with his best ever enduro finish of seventh position, and finished eleventh in points.  AJ is also a graduate of the speedway’s Krown Body Maintenance Junior Racing League program.

 

“AJ’s campaign for the Children’s Health Foundation with the Change Bandit program, is a way for him and us to thank the Children’s Hospital for saving his life and making him the miracle he is today,” said his mother Andrea Fordham.  “His doctors call him a miracle.  This year he’ll be graduating from high school with his friends.  We couldn’t be happier for the gift we’ve been given.”

 

After graduation AJ plans to take a year off to work at therapies, and then go through Fanshawe College to become a certified GM mechanic.

 

The Change Bandits program, raises money through community events such as London Knights games, and the recent Radiothon.  The Children’s Hospital is state of the art facility which helps people from all over the region.

 

Nascar Canadian Tire Series regular and former Delaware Speedway track champion Jason Hathaway has been asked by AJ to drive his #033 car as often as possible this season in the Transmission Direct Enduro.  Hathaway has committed to the opening event and selected events after that.  Some London Knights players are will also be helping out with the Change Bandits, #29 Jordan Shine being one of the players who have committed.

 

The Change Bandits will be performing their collection before AJ gives the call to “Start Your Engines” for the Enduro.  AJ will also be waving the honorary green flag for the event.  The change bandits will circulate the grandstand one final time during the first red flag before settling in to enjoy the racing action.

 

For more information or donations please contact Andrea Fordham (519) 785-1777 or (519) 872-0364.

 

Delaware Speedway is a paved 1/2 mile oval track located a few minutes outside London, Ontario.  The Transmission Direct Enduro 250 is the first Delaware Speedway race of the year.  Spectator gates open at 1:00 PM and the green flag will fly at 2:00 PM.  The day will also see an exhibition event for the new Ultimate Sandblasting and Coating Chaos Cars.  For more information visit www.delawarespeedway.com or call (519) 652-5068.