TrackCouture Press Releases

TrackCouture Designs Shirt in Memory of Sister

Proceeds go to SADS Foundation

Wendy Smith Rice passed away in May 2005 from Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) Type 2 Checkered Heart Shirt

MEMPHIS, Tennessee,, June 27, 2006 – Race-inspired apparel company TrackCouture is introducing a new shirt designed in memory of co-founder Kathleen Smith's older sister, Wendy Smith Rice, who passed away in May 2005 from Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) Type 2. Proceeds from shirt sales will be donated to the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS) Foundation.

Often referred to as the "silent killer," LQTS causes more than 3,000 sudden, unexplained deaths in the Unites States every year. Tragically, one-third of the people who die from LQTS do not display any symptoms of the disease prior to their deaths. It is estimated that one in 5,000 Americans suffer from LQTS.

Women are two-to-three times more likely than men to display symptoms of LQTS and 70 percent of the time women are the first member of a family to be recognized as having LQTS. While pregnant women who suffer from LQTS do not usually see an increase in cardiac arrest during their pregnancy or delivery, they may unfortunately experience increased episodes in the months following the birth of their child. Tragically, this is what happened to Smith Rice.

"Wendy's second son was only six months old when she died," said Smith, "People do not know about LQTS until it is too late. I wanted to honor my sister's memory and try to prevent other families from experiencing a similar tragedy. My family and I hope that this shirt will raise the profile for LQT, while the proceeds will help the SADS foundation fund programs to educate people about this disease."

The oldest daughter of FedEx founder Fred Smith, Smith Rice was a world-class nature photographer and champion for wildlife around the world. Her work was featured in National Geographic, Nature's Best, Coldwater Creek and can be seen on numerous greetings cards. She left behind a husband and two young sons.

The Checkered Heart Shirt in memory of Wendy is available for purchase on TrackCouture's Web site www.TrackCouture.com. The shirt costs $29.99. For every Checkered Heart Shirt purchased, TrackCouture will donate $19.99 to the SADS Foundation.

About TrackCouture
TrackCouture is a Memphis-based lifestyle brand focused on creating, producing, distributing, promoting, and selling NASCAR licensed and race-inspired merchandise. TrackCouture apparel is available at www.TrackCouture.com, and select items are available in select Parisian stores, NASCAR retail stores and licensed race team stores. The NASCAR.com SuperStore will carry the TrackCouture line later in the year. Licensed merchandise includes driver logo merchandise based on licensing agreements made with racing teams and drivers.