Miles To End Malaria Program Gets an Extra Burst of Speed From American Le Mans Series Founder...( The Panoz Family Joins Patron ...),Health

The Panoz Family Joins Patron Highcroft Racing, Tequila Patron and Racecar Fans Across the Country to Help Families in Africa Fight Malaria with Malaria No More

DANBURY, Conn., July 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Patron Highcroft Racing and Malaria No More have been joined by a new partner in their fight to end malaria deaths in Africa through the Miles to End Malaria program, which brings some of the fastest racecar drivers in the world to the race to save lives from malaria and counts every mile around the track as a victory against the disease.

The American Le Mans Series team joined forces with Malaria No More at the commencement of the 2009 season, aiming to raise money for every mile they complete during the championship year. The Connecticut-based team and its sponsor Tequila Patron have already pledged $5 each per mile for the season. Race fans have also made per-mile pledges via www.milestoendmalaria.org.

Now American Le Mans Series founder Dr. Don Panoz and his wife Nancy have joined the fight to combat malaria by also contributing $5 for every mile.

With four of the 10 races now completed, the fundraising total has reached $27,550.19 -- enough for more than 2,700 life-saving mosquito nets so far. Two of the six remaining races will dramatically boost the total with the 1000-mile Petit Le Mans event and the four-hour final round at Laguna Seca winding out the year.

Dr. Panoz founded the American Le Mans Series championship in 1999, inspired by the world's most famous endurance event, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. Current Patron Highcroft Racing driver David Brabham formerly drove for Panoz's own team in the ALMS from 1999 to 2002.

"When I was a child, malaria was still a major problem in the U.S. Fortunately, the disease has been eradicated here, but it is still a major issue in Africa,"
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