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SALT LAKE CITY -- The 39th annual Primary Children's Festival of Trees opens next week. This year, organizers are promoting the event's most unusual auction item. It is no tree -- it's a hot car!
About 90,000 people attend the Festival of Trees each year.
It's not just any car, it's a Cobra roadster. Festival of Trees organizers call it "Wheels in Motion" for children in need.
The handmade, polished aluminum, replica roadster is perhaps the most unique item in the history of the charity auction. The sale of this hot set of wheels will benefit children in need.
Thirteen-year-old Marshall Lindsay knows wheels and the quality of medical care at Primary Children's. In September, he survived a life-threatening accident. For now he's in a wheelchair, but he is determined to walk again.
"Ended up being bucked off my ATV, face planted, went heels over head, breaking my back and injuring my spinal cord," he said.
The number of injured and seriously ill children whose parents cannot pay for health care has increased dramatically. In 2007, Primary Children's donated $8.6 million in charity care. In 2008, that amount increased to $13 million.
David Kirkham made the generous donation. He said he spent some time in a hospital as a young man and has donated cars over the years. His friend, Greg James, suggested Primary Children's.
"My mother always told us that the rent we pay on Earth is service. And, I mean, that's just how we grew up. And so, that's why my brother and I have done this for so many years. I just want to help out the kids," Kirkham said.
The minimum bid for the car is $110,000. Every penny will go toward for charity care.
"The Festival of Trees" opens at the South Towne Expo Center, Wed. Dec. 2 and runs through Sat., Dec. 5 each day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. All of the money raised goes to Primary Children's Medical Center for charity care.
E-mail: cmikita@ksl.com
