CONCORD, N.C. -- This month, as part of the The Dale Jr. Foundation's Driven to Give Gloves program, the driver of the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS will don red-accented gloves in support of National Safety Month, focusing on children.
During each month of the program, a Patient Champion from Nationwide Children's Hospital is the focus of the campaign. At Dover, the Patient Champion is five-year-old Ailee Gilliland, whose name will appear above the passenger door of Earnhardt's No. 88 Chevy.
Almost three years ago, Gilliland suffered severe facial burns. She has spent thousands of hours attending outpatient appointments and occupational therapy at Nationwide Children's Hospital and has undergone three plastic surgeries.
Now, Gilliland is a typical five-year-old girl who loves princesses, gymnastics and school.
At the end of the month, Earnhardt's red-accented gloves will be auctioned off to raise funds for the hospital's clinical and research programs.
Nationwide Children's Hospital is the country's largest pediatric hospital and research center, with all care provided regardless of a family's ability to pay.