SOUTH YARMOUTH – The beneficiaries for the 2019 Seaside LeMans were announced on Tuesday at the kickoff event for the annual kart race that benefits the local Cape Cod Community.
Cape Cod Healthcare, Cape Wellness Collaborative, Children’s Cove, Heroes in Transition, and Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary will receive the proceeds from this year’s race.
Sponsors, beneficiaries and supporters attended the kickoff event on Tuesday night at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod in South Yarmouth.
A representative from each of the five beneficiaries spoke about the funding focus for the anticipated $600,000 in sponsorships and matching funds that will be raised this year.
“I’m happy to announce that these services will go towards cancer services at Cape Cod Healthcare,” said Senior VP of Marketing and Communication at Cape Cod Healthcare Pat Kane.
“This is the quintessential community event. Grass-roots fundraising by Cape Codders to support Cape Codders,” said Kane.
“The Davenport Companies have led the way and are an example of what we’re doing here on Cape Cod. Cape Cod Healthcare is owned by all of you who live on the Cape as a non-profit community entity. We might be a little bigger than some of the other grantees here today, but we could not do this without philanthropy and support.”
The Seaside LeMans is presented and underwritten by The Davenport Companies.
It features teams of sponsors, who drive Formula One karts during a four-hour endurance race on an outdoor track. The Davenport Companies covers all event related costs and works with X1 Boston to organize and manage the race.
“I was in awe, to be honest with you, with the caliber of folks who are committed to Cape Cod, all across the spectrum of services our community needs,” said DeWitt Davenport, the CEO Davenport Companies.
“It’s heartwarming, to be honest with you, it’s very humbling to be here and to realize what the Seaside LeMans has become – to help bring the Cape together. A unified body is a very strong body,” said Davenport.
All race donations and sponsorships are sent to The Cape Cod Foundation, which distributes the funds to the designated beneficiaries.
The event is free and open to the public, with entertainment and children’s activities also available.
The annual fundraiser is slated for Saturday, September 7 at Mashpee Commons. It has raised more than $6.5 million through sponsorships and matching funds over the past 18 years.
New last year, the bike building activity on race day will be expanded, allowing spectators and volunteers to work together during the event to assemble hundreds of bicycles. The bicycles will then be donated to local children and teenagers through a number of non-profit organizations throughout Cape Cod.
Organizers said they hope to build 300 bikes this year.
Corporate and individual driving sponsorships range from $2,000 – $10,000 and provide the opportunity to participate in the endurance race, a practice session several weeks prior to the race, the sponsor dinner, team gifts and marketing and promotional benefits.
All equipment is included, no racing experience is required and all sponsorships are tax-deductible. Drivers must be 18 years of age or older and have a valid driver’s license.
Companies or individuals interested in becoming sponsors/kart drivers are encouraged to contact Kelsey Ellis, Event Director at 508-394-8800 ext. 142 as soon
as possible since the field will be limited to 20 teams.
By TIM DUNN, CapeCod.com News Center
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