12 days of dtc impact
This holiday season we’re celebrating 12 days of dtc impacT from the past eight years
DTC DAY OF IMPACT 1: Andrew and the kids at NIH
Andrew received treatment for his HLRCC at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. That first video is of Andrew speaking to the young patients staying at the Children’s Inn at NIH in 2016. Later he would organize car shows right in the parking lot, where the kids could sit in supercars and take their minds off treatment.
Since its founding in 2016, Driven to cure has donated more than $1.4 million to the NIH Foundation, the UCLA Foundation and other leading institutions focused on finding a cure for HLRCC and other rare kidney cancers.
DTC DAY OF IMPACT 2: A CAR ON THE COURT
In 2016, during NCAA March Madness, Andrew drove the GT-R onto the University of Maryland’s basketball court with Maryland’s Head Coach, Mark Turgeon, riding shotgun. Coach Turgeon then gave a speech to thousands of people in the crowd about HLRCC. Turgeon and the Lee’s were neighbors in Maryland, and while Andrew was in treatment the two became friends.
Three years later, at Andrew’s memorial service, Coach Turgeon spoke and shared a story Bruce had told him. On that day in 2016, Andrew realized that it was he himself who needed to be the face and voice of Driven To Cure, not the car alone.
DTC DAY OF IMPACT 3: Andrew’s Admiration for paul walker
If you followed along with Andrew and Driven To Cure over the years, you know how inspired he was by Paul Walker and the Fast and Furious movies.
Here is a clip where Andrew shares his admiration, as well as some fun Instagram posts Andrew made years ago when he was still running the account.
DTC DAY OF IMPACT 4: FORZA MOTORSPORT
One of the coolest parts of the DTC movement is seeing supporters take the time to recreate the GT-R in new and exciting ways. For instance, many fans remade the GT-R in racing video games like Forza Motorsport, and then later organized virtual meet-ups of the orange GT-R’s online!.
DTC DAY OF IMPACT 5: Andrew & isaac barchus
While spending time at the Children’s Inn at NIH, Andrew made an especially good friend in Isaac Barchus, a young patient with a rare autoinflammatory disease called CANDLE syndrome.
In Andrew‘s last months, he knew that he would need a wheelchair, but he also knew that he wouldn’t need it for long. So Andrew bought one with his friend Isaac in mind, hoping to pass it on after he no longer needed it.
In fulfilling this wish, Andrew‘s father, Bruce, had the wheelchair customized and painted DTC Orange. Bruce delivered the chair to Isaac as a special gift for 15th birthday.
DTC DAY OF IMPACT 6: Andy grammer’s “don’t give up on me”
In his final days, Andrew and Bruce bonded over the song “Don’t Give Up On Me,” by Andy Grammer. The lyrics are simple and steadfast: keep on fighting. That’s exactly what Andrew did, until his last breath.
Dr. Francis Collins, a friend of the Lee’s and formerly the Director of the National Institute of Health where Andrew received treatment, shared the tribute posted here during Andrew’s memorial service in 2019. For the full video of Dr. Collin’s singing “Don’t Give Up On Me" click here.
DTC DAY OF IMPACT 7: the dogs of driven to cure
Here we want to shine a light on the dogs who helped make Driven To Cure a reality.
In Andrew’s final days, he made the seemingly-impossible request to have his dog Milo be at his side in the hospital, so he could truly be surrounded by his whole family. Hurdles aside–including getting government clearance for his canine friend–Andrew‘s family and the team at NIH were able to make his request a reality.
DTC DAY OF IMPACT 8: Drawings by supporters
One of the coolest parts of the DTC movement is seeing supporters take the time to recreate the GT-R in new and exciting ways. For instance, many fans remade the GT-R in racing video games like Forza Motorsport, and then later organized virtual meet-ups of the orange GT-R’s online!.
DTC DAY OF IMPACT 9: SEMa show-las vegas, 2016 [part 1]
SEMA Las Vegas was such an incredible event from the earliest days of Driven To Cure.
During this whirlwind adventure in 2016 Andrew did a promotional video with Chris Jacobs and sat for an interview with Car Throttle. Andrew also met Liberty Walk Kato, the founder of the Liberty Walk Group and creator of the Liberty Walk Body Kit that is used on the GTR. Finally, Andrew also connected with NASCAR legend Richard Petty… ALL IN THE SAME DAY!
What a great day of raising awareness for Driven To Cure.
DTC DAY OF IMPACT 10: SEMa show-las vegas, 2016 [part 2]
As if all the events from the first SEMA post weren’t cool enough (see previous post), we have some more great memories to share!
While in Vegas, Andrew also got to meet Savanna Esqueda, another cancer fighter who joined him to sit in the GTR. The Driven to Cure mission meant so much to Esqueda that her father later got the ‘F CANCR’ license plate tattooed on his arm!
Andrew’s irrepressible joy–which truly was at the heart of the day-to-day activities–truly helped Driven To Cure become what it is today.
DTC DAY OF IMPACT 11: cars on ice
Think we couldn’t put the GT-R and DTC’s message in any more cool places? Think again! Here we revisitthe day the GT-R sped over to the Ion International Training Center in Leesburg, VA. #carsonince
DTC DAY OF IMPACT 12: the plate
‘F CANCR’ is absolutely right.
But what this memory is really about–and what we want to take a second to acknowledge–is the DTC community. That’s right, all of YOU.
With all of your help, this slogan and this mission have reached people around the globe, and these words have come to truly encapsulate certain parts of our movement.
To date we have raised more than $1.4 million dollars for rare kidney cancer research. And–just as importantly–we’ve also been able to facilitate countless friendships, referrals, and other connections to bring hope, sometimes at the very darkest hour.
We can’t thank you all enough for your continued support.
F CANCR, FIGHT ON, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!! OUR WORK CONTINUES...
