Gase decorates Rose Bowl float

Local race car driver Joey Gase, along with his sister, Ashley, made a special contribution to the Tournament of Roses Parade on Thursday in North Liberty.

The NASCAR Nationwide Series driver helped decorate an image of his mother, Mary Jo Gase, in the Donate Life float that will be included in the Rose Bowl's parade in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 1, 2013. Gase, 19, made the decision to donate his mother's organs after she suffered a fatal brain aneurysm last year.

The Gase siblings worked on the floragraph Thursday afternoon at Iowa Donor Network in North Liberty. Here is a photo of the work posted via social media by JoeyGaseRacing.

Members of the Gase family met 25-year-old Jordan Shaw, who received a kidney transplant from Mary Jo Gase, before qualifying of the NASCAR Nationwide Series US Cellular 250 Saturday at Newton's Iowa Speedway in August.