Relay Racers: Drivers To Help Raise Money For American Cancer Society At Racin’ Preview Show
Portland, ME — Drivers with stock car racing ties to Maine will turn a new corner this weekend at Racin’ Preview 2011.
Nine drivers, including four-time PASS North Series champion Ben Rowe of Turner, Maine, will sign autographs at the American Cancer Society’s “Relay For Life” booth during the two-day motorsports show at the Portland Expo, Feb. 25-26.
“It’s a great cause, and I wanted to do whatever I could to help out,” said Rowe, who will be on hand to sign for race fans on Friday night from 6:30-8:30 p.m. “I hope a lot of people come out to show their support for this.”
Modifed Racing Series driver Jake Dore and Maine Modified series rookie Cameron Lovejoy will join Rowe during the first of three autograph sessions in the Relay for Life booth. On Saturday from 12-2 p.m., Beech Ridge Motor Speedway Roadrunner division driver Matt Dow will be joined by Evan Beaulieu from NELCAR Legends racing and Oxford Plains Speedway Late Model competitor Matt Sanborn to meet and greet fans. That evening, from 5-7 p.m., NELCAR’s Bobby Timmons and Beech Ridge Roadrunner driver Nicole Timmons are joined by Beech Ridge Motor Speedway Sport Series driver Andy Field.
Booth organizer Nate Egan hopes people will attend as many of the autograph sessions as possible. He and Sarah Perham are part of the Relay For Life team “Betty’s Keepers,” which will participate in the 2011 Relay For Life of Greater Portland on June 17 and 18 at the South Portland High School.
“Obviously, everybody’s lives are touched by this disease in some way,” Egan said. “I just figured bringing the racing community together to help out with this was a no-brainer.”
People stopping by the booth will be invited to make either donations or pledges to help Betty’s Keepers toward their event goal, and Perham will be selling “Luminaria” — the distinctive paper lanterns that line the track at night during Relay for Life events to honor those with cancer.
50-50 tickets will also be on sale all weekend at the booth, with proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society.
Relay For Life began in 1986, and today there are more than 4,800 events held across the country to help honor, inspire, remember and celebrate the people who are currently battling or have battled cancer in the past. For more information on the American Cancer Society or its Relay For Life events, visit www.RelayForLife.org.
To make a donation to the cause, visit http://tinyurl.com/4d93dm4 or call 800-ACS-2345.
Sources: Racin Paper