Spinx Free Gas Winner Pays It Forward

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — The winner of a year's worth of free gas from The Spinx Co. is donating her award to a family with a new baby currently in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).

South Carolina Lowcountry region resident Tricia Condon, a nurse manager and 21-year veteran of Women's Health at MUSC, won the free gas prize in March for her efforts at raising money for March of Dimes as part of the MUSC OB/GYN team. Upon being notified that she was the grand prize winner, she immediately asked if she could give the year of free gas to a family with a baby in the Intensive Care Unit.

"When you see parents everyday who need the specialized care that our services in OB can offer and then the specialized services of MUSC's Neonatologist, NICU and PICU nurses, it is hard not to participate in the March of Dimes and it is much more meaningful," Condon said.

In an effort to make Condon's charitable wish come true, the March of Dimes and Spinx worked with MUSC's NICU to draw the name at random of a family with a child currently in their care.

On July 16, Condon joined the selected NICU mom, Leann Maree, and members of the Spinx Executive Leadership Team at the Montague Avenue Spinx store to accept the grand prize. Once Condon accepted, she turned and passed the gas cards along to Maree.

"On behalf of Spinx we are pleased to present you with gift cards for one year of free gas. Thank you for your support of the March of Dimes, for your generous gift to the Maree family, and for being a loyal Spinx customer," said Spinx President Stan Storti.

This year marks the fifth year in which Spinx has given away a year of free gas to a lucky March of Dimes supporter. For every $100 raised in conjunction with the March for Babies walk, that individual's name is entered to win the grand prize.

Community response to this news has been overwhelmingly positive. As of Friday morning, Spinx' Facebook page received more than 1,200 "Likes" to a post about the free gas donation.

Greenville, S.C.-based Spinx operates 79 convenience stores.