Every winner story is special to us. This one will always be a little different. Eric was our first vehicle winner, and his win helped prove this crazy idea could actually work.
When we started A Race Against Blindness, the goal was simple, even if getting there was not: raise enough money, fast enough, to help move promising research for childhood blindness toward clinical trials.
So we took a leap of faith. Our family donated our own custom 27North adventure van to A Race Against Blindness and offered it as the prize in our very first vehicle fundraiser.
On December 31, 2023, that leap of faith officially had a winner.
His name was Eric A., a college student from Texas who was finishing school and dreaming about time on the road. Just a few days before the fundraiser ended, he entered.
Then came a video call he definitely was not expecting. Eric had won a $250,000 adventure van. "There is absolutely no way!" His reaction was priceless.
Watch the call: Eric's live winner announcement on Instagram
Watching that moment unfold is part of what makes these calls so much fun for us and for the whole RAB community watching along. Eric's reaction was exactly what you would hope for from a very first winner: disbelief, excitement and real gratitude.
The story got even better when Eric flew to Arizona with his dad to pick up the van.
Watch Winner Day: Eric picks up the 27North on YouTube
There is something pretty incredible about handing the keys to an adventure van to a recent graduate who was already dreaming about exploring the country. That is exactly what Eric went on to do. He has shared some of his adventures with us since Winner Day, and we have loved watching a vehicle that meant so much to our family become part of someone else's story.
Then and now
That first van started a tradition. Every winner since has been drawn the same way, by an independent sweepstakes administrator, and announced live on Instagram and Facebook. See what is open now on our fundraisers page, and meet every winner on the Past Winners page.
Thank you, Eric, and thank you to everyone who took that first leap with us.
No purchase or donation necessary. Void where prohibited. See Official Rules for details.