BY ANDREW FAISON/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
andrew.faison@tidewaternews.com

FRANKLIN—The Victory Junction Pink Truck, donated by country music star Taylor Swift, made a stop at the Kangaroo Express gas station in Franklin this week. The truck tour is a way to give back to their supporters, said Victory Junction spokeswoman Nicole Connor.

“It is nice to get to meet and give back to the people who help to give so much to us,” Connor said.

Victory Junction, founded in 2004 by Kyle Petty and his wife, Pattie, in honor of their late son Adam Petty, relies solely on donations from individuals and corporations to give children a once-in-a-lifetime camping experience.

It costs $2,500 to send a child to camp for a week at no cost to the family.

“Every penny counts,” said Randy Bullock, manager of the Franklin Kangaroo Express. “We know times are hard for everyone, but we want to help and pennies add up.”

To rally fans behind the cause, the truck is currently touring across North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, creating a cause for celebration at each Kangaroo Express store it visits.

“Victory Junction continues to capture the hearts of Kangaroo Express guests and employees as the fundraiser grows with each consecutive year,” said John Fisher, senior vice president of marketing, merchandising and restaurant operations for Kangaroo Express. “Last year we raised more than $1 million, enabling us to send 400 kids to summer camp. This year we will support and inspire another group of children as we celebrate both the fifth anniversary of our fundraiser and the tenth summer that Victory Junction has served seriously ill children.”

“Victory Junction provides an experience of enrichment and camaraderie to children from across the country and we are so appreciative that once again this campaign will help us see as many children as we can in 2013,” said Brooke Hondros, director of development.