By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Disney, Formula 1 and Make-A-Wish have partnered on a new initiative to help grant wishes for children with critical illnesses, the organizations announced.
The collaboration centers on two custom racing helmets created in partnership with Bell Racing.
The helmets were designed by Bret Iwan, the official voice of Mickey Mouse, with creative direction from Bobby Kim, global creative director for Disney Consumer Products.
The helmets feature a matte black base with high-gloss graphic elements, including red and yellow accents, Mickey Mouse artwork, and Formula 1 branding. A Make-A-Wish star is placed behind Mickey’s shoe, designed to appear as a trailing sparkle.
The design combines Kim’s background in streetwear and contemporary design with Iwan’s character artistry, incorporating graphic detailing, numbering, and track-inspired striping associated with racing. Each helmet comes with a custom display box that includes a plexiglass case and a certificate of authenticity signed by both Iwan and Kim.
The first helmet was signed by Formula 1 drivers during a race weekend at Silverstone, including Pierre Gasly, an ambassador for Make-A-Wish France. That helmet will be auctioned through F1 Authentics, which operates under license, by Memento Exclusives.
Sign-up for the auction begins July 7, with bidding open from July 11 to July 18. Net proceeds from the auction will benefit Make-A-Wish International, supporting wishes for children and families outside the United States.
The second helmet will be displayed at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, scheduled for August 14-16 in Anaheim, California, where fans will be able to view the design in person.
The initiative builds on a partnership between Disney and Make-A-Wish that dates back more than 45 years, when the first official wish was granted at Disneyland.
Since then, the two organizations have worked together to grant more than 175,000 wishes worldwide.
Make-A-Wish Foundation and Make-A-Wish Foundation International are U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that support children facing critical illness through a network of affiliates.