The Ford Australia once again held the Hot Rods and Hot Dogs (HR&HD) fundraiser event in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) at their Asia Pacific Product Development Centre in Campbellfield.
The HR&HD event is an open invitation to Ford staff to show off their unique and interesting cars and motorbikes to the local community who came to the event in droves.
From the moment you arrive in the carpark you know its going to be a great event as everywhere you looked were Mustangs – and not an EcoBoost in sight! The big attraction of the day was undoubtedly the new Mustang BULLITT, as it was the first opportunity for the local employees to see it before it makes the rounds to other Ford sites. The BULLITT will then be auctioned to Ford employees later this year.
The event had everything: music, food, drinks and of course a great range of Fords across the generations, together with several examples of great cars from other marques from Australia and overseas. There was a Model B from the 1930s, Mustangs from the 1960s, an array of Ranger Pick Up trucks, the Early Falcon Car Club of Victoria (1960s) and a selection of GS and GT Falcons. It really was a great sight to see.
[quote size=”large” title=” said, Cheryl McKenzie, Communications and CSR Associate, Ford Australia.”] JDRF is one of many charities supported by Ford Australia and its employees. Hot Rods and Hot Dogs is an annual event on the Ford Australia calendar and to date we’ve raised in excess of $150,000 in support of Type 1 Research. Ford and its employees are committed to supporting JDRF in finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes and turning Type 1 into Type None” [/quote]
Of course, the whole reason for the gathering was to raise both awareness and funds for the JDRF whose mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat Type 1 diabetes and its complications. Type 1 diabetes is caused by the immune system mistakenly turning on itself, destroying beta cells within the pancreas and removing the body’s ability to produce insulin. Insulin allows the body to process sugar to create energy – without insulin, the body literally starves as it cannot process food.
People with Type 1 diabetes must test their blood sugar by pricking their fingers at least four times a day and receive insulin through injections or a pump. They must also be constantly prepared for potential hypoglycaemic (low blood sugar) and hyperglycaemic (high blood sugar) reactions, which can both be life threatening. It is truly heart-breaking to see children cope with this condition.
At last week’s event, both the live auction and the online auction attracted great interest and the bidding was “fast and furious”. Yet again, it was a highly successful fund raiser and the staff at Ford and those who supported the auction, are to be commended.