This year, CPX Interactive participated in the Fireball Run, also known as the “Race to Recover America’s Missing Children.” It was a 3,500 mile, nine-day car race across America where each vehicle was assigned a missing child. Unlike other rallies, Fireball Run vehicles kept to the local speed limits and made many stops. At each stop missing children posters were handed out – this year’s dispensed poster total was 43,000. To keep things interesting, scavenger hunt missions were assigned every day along with five race track events. All missions and events were competitive based on specific scoring techniques, but the main goal was to draw as much attention to the missing children as possible.
TeamCPX (#27) consisted of CTO and Founder, Carlton Hickman (also the team captain), Shaun Beymolla, VP of Traffic & Optimization, and Tony Pascal, Graphic Designer. Although this was their first entry in the race, the team successfully placed third overall out of the 43 teams of business owners.
Representing a progressive online ad network with access to state-of-the-art technology, the CPX team did have a bit of an edge. The CPX car was decked out with electronics including three broadband computers and three forms of satellite navigation. This gave TeamCPX an advantage solving the scavenger hunt clues and plotting multiple routes simultaneously.
If you were lucky enough to be somewhere along the route, you saw Lamborghinis, Corvettes, a Bentley painted to resemble the General Lee, Mercedes, Mustangs, Chargers, a Challenger, Jaguars, BMWs, Lincolns, Audis, a 40-foot stretched limo, a Tuk Tuk (the “Back to the Future” car), the original “Knight Rider” car, the “Smokey and the Bandit” Trans Am, a Shelby Cobra, a Viper, pick up trucks, plus a huge Freightliner semi truck, and more…
The event kicked off with a VIP exclusive party at the Old State Capital in Baton Rouge, LA, and the next morning Mayor “Kip” Holden waved the green flag to start the race. Right from the beginning TeamCPX was scrambling to solve the missions. TeamCPX had to find a variety of places including famous landmarks like Graceland, infamous places like Bonnie and Clyde’s ambush site and “off the beaten trail” places like Buster Browns’ gravesite. There were some very special privileges the team was able to participate in along the route. This included the opportunity to visit a children’s mansion in Tupelo and two childrens’ hospitals where the members were able to spend time with the young patients and donate gifts.
The long and winding roads brought TeamCPX to many towns – small and big. Along the way, many townspeople greeted the team with open arms and gave them a taste of what the town had to offer. From Baton Rouge’s casino, to the great town of Tupelo’s car museum and Elvis impersonations, to the amazing locally prepared cuisines. There were many unforgettable moments as well. One very memorable occasion, and without any time to prepare, the members of TeamCPX were thrown onto a stage to perform comedy in front of a camera crew and three judges. Miraculously they were able to make them laugh. Another special moment was when Carlton received a key to the city of Tuscaloosa for being one of the top donators of children’s books (260 to be exact) upon arrival at Tuscaloosa city hall.
CPX Interactive created a website (www.teamcpx.com) where viewers could track TeamCPX, check out video clips and photos; but more importantly, list all of the missing children which Fireball Run was trying to reunite with their families through the Child Rescue Network. Last year’s event was very successful in reuniting 24 children with their families and guardians. This year, all participants of the Fireball Run were aiming to double that amount.
With over 700 children abducted every single day, the need to raise awareness is paramount. Overall TeamCPX helped bring exposure to missing children across America, while getting to meet some wonderful people and go on an unforgettable adventure.
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