Animal lover and Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda pilot Steve Bamford of Toronto donated his JRi Shocks Hard Charger Award winnings from Virginia International Raceway to the Houston Humane Society. After seeing dozens of images of pets displaced from the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on social media and the news, Bamford knew he had to help.
“I have friends and business partners who live in Houston and have been hit hard by the aftermath of Harvey. There are so many great organizations helping with victims, it was extremely hard to pick one, but being an animal lover, this can help save and reunite someone's furry family member,” said Cape Motorsports pilot Bamford. “Many people have lost their homes and the thought of not having your pet rescued is just one more very emotional and difficult thing we would like to help people avoid.”
JRi Shocks was touched by Bamford’s generosity and decided to match the $500 contribution.
“When we found Steve Bamford was going to donate his contingency award to the Houston Humane Society, we were happy to match his donation,” stated Marty Flannery, JRi Shocks Sportscar & Open Wheel Market Manager.
Hundreds of animals were separated from their owners during the chaos of Hurricane Harvey. According to NBC News, local shelters that typically house no more than 30 dogs and 60 cats were over capacity, currently housing more than 200 cats and dogs by using a garage as overflow space.
“The number of pets displaced in a natural disaster like Hurricane Harvey in need of shelter, food, necessary vaccinations and preventative care is immense,” said Jeff Ryan, JRi Shocks General Manager. “We are honored to help the Houston Humane Society and their selfless efforts as our pets are family members too.”
Fans can donate to the cause by visiting HoustonHumane.org/giving.
