Miami, Mar 16 (IANS/EFE): Actresses Kate del Castillo and Michelle Rodriguez and pop singer Cristian Castro will be among the celebrities taking part in a charity auto race April 20 in Long Beach, California, to benefit children battling serious illnesses, organizers said in a statement.
Rodriguez, an American, and Mexicans Del Castillo and Castro will each climb inside a 200-horsepower Scion FR-S sports car during the 10-lap Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, which will take place in downtown Long Beach.
The event will raise funds for the Racing for Kids organization, a national program that benefits children's hospitals throughout the US.
Ex-marine and Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer; journalist and former "Entertainment Tonight" host Mark Steines; and the winner of the previous edition of the race, comedian Adam Carolla, will also be among the competing celebrities, who undergo training sessions prior to the race.
The professional drivers who will compete against the celebrities include freestyle motocross champion and star of the MTV program "Nitro Circus", Andy Bell; and National Hot Rod Association driver Melanie Troxel.
The celebrities receive a 30-second head start against the professionals.
The funds raised will be donated to organizations such as the Children's Hospital of Orange County and Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach, both located in California.
Since 1991, Toyota has donated more than $2 million to the Racing for Kids organization.