Published: Monday, October 8, 2012, 12:01 a.m.
Ron Cook, 53, has been trying to sell a 1957 Chevy Bel Air that he hasn't used in two years since retiring from drag racing.Recently, though, Cook heard about 7-month-old Casen Buswell. The Puyallup baby was born with a rare medical condition and his family is trying to raise $50,000 by November for his medical treatment.
So Cook, of Arlington, decided to raffle his car and donate all proceeds to help Casen and his family.
"I don't have a lot of money, but I don't care as long as the baby has a chance to live," Cook said.
To help spark interest in his classic car, Cook raced it Sept. 30 at the Evergreen Speedway in Monroe to show that it can still eat up a quarter-mile in less than 10 seconds.
His friends and family are helping him sell the $20 raffle tickets. He'd planned on selling them at Railroad Days in Granite Falls this past Saturday.
Randy's Off-Road & Diesel Performance and Brown's Automotive Machines, both in Marysville, are also selling tickets.
The winning ticket will be picked Saturday morning at the Evergreen Speedway by Jenna Buswell, Casen's mother.
What Cook is doing has brought the family some hope, she said.
"He's a phenomenal man," Buswell said. "It restores my faith in humanity. As long as we have people such as Ron, we are going to come through."
Casen has an extremely rare vascular condition called glomuvenous malformation plaque type, which causes his blood vessels, skin and muscles to harden.
It's a progressive genetic disorder. Without treatment, Casen will suffer chronic pain and difficulty in breathing, and the condition could ultimately lead to heart failure.
He needs laser treatment for three years and several surgeries to remove blood vessels in his chest and belly, arms, upper shoulders and back, Jenna Buswell said.
Treatment for the disorder hasn't been done in the United States. So the family has been flying Casen to Brussels, Belgium. The family estimates treating him for the next few years will add up to $300,000 to $400,000 in travel and medical costs, she said.
The family has held several fundraisers and they have set up a web page for people who'd like to help: www.giveforward.com/CasenBuswell.
Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com.
About the raffle
Ron Cook is selling raffle tickets for his 1957 Chevy Bel Air. All proceeds are to help 7-month-old Casen Buswell, who suffers from a rare vascular condition.
The $20 raffle tickets can be purchased at Brown's Automotive Machines, 9113 State Ave. Suite C, and Randy's Off-Road & Diesel Performance, 14702 Smokey Point Blvd., both in Marysville.
People can also visit www.giveforward.com/CasenBuswell.
Source: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20121008/NEWS01/710089943
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