Toronto, ON – As the 2024 FEL Sports Car Championship Canada season accelerates into its next round, excitement continues to build for the Toronto Indy event. Di Benedetto Racing, in partnership with Syntheia AI, steps into the spotlight once again, with Justin Di Benedetto representing I Challenge Diabetes.
Di Benedetto has been making waves in the GT4 class this year, with his Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport. He began the season at the Victoria Day SpeedFest at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, securing a second-place finish in Race 1 and third place in Race 2.
“Rounds one and two were a strong start to our season at CTMP, with a second and third place finish in the GT4 class,” said Di Benedetto. “This was my first time running the Porsche in race conditions, but I feel as though we maximized the package and pace we had for that particular weekend.”
At the Calabogie Spring Classic, the team secured both pole positions, but technical issues hindered their race results. Despite these setbacks, Di Benedetto and his team remain optimistic and driven.
The upcoming Toronto Indy event holds special significance as Di Benedetto Racing will be proudly supporting I Challenge Diabetes. On July 19, 2024, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., attendees can join an inspiring event featuring Canadian Olympian Chris Jarvis and professional race car driver Chase Pelletier, both living with type 1 diabetes, alongside Justin Di Benedetto. The event, “A Day at the Race Track,” will take place at the Di Benedetto racing trailer located in the FEL SCCC paddock. It aims to inspire a barrier-free future for kids with diabetes.
Participants will connect with Chris Jarvis, Chase Pelletier, and Justin Di Benedetto, watch the races, and see the car up close, with tips on managing diabetes when they are in the driver’s seat. Chris Jarvis, CEO/Founder of I Challenge Diabetes, will highlight ground breaking needle-free technology soon to be released (INSUJET), which removes the need of injecting insulin using needles on a daily basis.
“They say it takes a village…no one knows that more than a parent of a child with a self-managed health condition like type 1 diabetes,” said Chris Jarvis. “Children as young as four are expected to ‘self-manage’ diabetes at schools all across Canada, including identifying low blood sugars, trends, and administering insulin because of fear a school staff member should not handle a needle. Many families have to advocate to get their child support or sacrifice their careers to provide that support themselves.”
“This is why I Challenge Diabetes’ year-round programming is so critical,” continued Jarvis. “We are the only charity providing a variety of programming, year-round, that supports youth and their families living with diabetes with medical care in an individual dynamic program targeted at learning independence and building strategies, routines, and peer support to normalize their condition. We have a dedicated leadership team that helps create over 5,000 program participant opportunities.”
The Di Benedetto team has donated the roof of their car to support the national charity and aims to raise $90k in donations, recognizing the daily efforts of children living with type 1 diabetes by sharing their names. This inspiring collaboration promises to make the Toronto Indy a memorable and impactful event for all involved.
Families interested in participating in this exclusive experience at the Indy, with I Challenge Diabetes, can sign up for the event from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday, July 19th. Campaign details for I Challenge Diabetes can be found here.
Donors who wish to support this cause and have their names featured on the Di Benedetto race car can reach out to Alex Cooper at AlexCooper@ichallengediabetes.org. Together, we can stand as one community, ensuring that families and youth with diabetes continue to receive the support and empowerment they need to overcome daily challenges.
- By Service Presse
