Racing Against CancerTM has winning season, provides over $23,000 to benefactors
Westbrook, CT –It became a successful rebuilding season as Racing Against CancerTM (RAC) restructured its fundraising activities with the launch of their new Track Walk program. The 2011 season proved to be a real winner for their benefactors.
The 2011 fundraising and racing season kicked off in January as Decourcy Racing hosted the first annual Racing Against CancerTM 100 at Checkered Flag Indoor Karting (CFIK) in Haverhill, MA. Family, friends, RAC supporters and karting enthusiasts came out in large numbers to participate in a fun-filled afternoon of karting events. Funds were raised via entry fees and other donations. Decourcy Racing generated over $500 for their first annual event. Plans are in place for a second annual RAC 100 that is scheduled to take place on Saturday January 21, 2012 at CFIK. This event should prove to be even bigger and better than the first.
After 16 successful years of raising funds to fight cancer, Racing Against Cancer™ jump started its new fundraising initiative, the Racing Against Cancer™ Track Walk program. The program took place at four tracks across the northeast during the 2011 racing season. The inaugural track walk was held at Stafford Motor Speedway on Sunday June 19 and was coined a Prelude to the CARQUEST Extreme Tuesday Champions For Charities event. Three additional track walks were held at Thundering Valley Raceway in St. Albans, ME; (July 9), STAR Speedway in Epping, NH (July 23), and Seekonk Speedway (Oct 1) as part of the Kraze Korlacki Racing Against Cancer 100 event promoted by Gary Sagar.
Track Walk funds were raised by participants accepting sponsors/pledges that were credited to both themselves and their teams. Awards were presented to the adult, youth and team with the most funds raised and for the most laps completed. “Racing Against Cancer was thrilled to have our first Track Walk season be such a success and to be able to build upon the program for 2012” stated Scott Gregory, co-founder and president of RAC.
RAC will return to Stafford Motor Speedway in 2012 for another Track Walk when the Champions for Charities event shifts to its new date of Saturday, June 30. The Track Walk will be held in the morning, prior to racing activities. Additionally, a 2012 follow-up event is set for STAR Speedway, as the second annual Track Walk will be held on September 1st.
In addition to Track Walks, many other fund raising activities took place throughout the year. During the off-season, RAC made appearances at the Frank Maratta Auto Show and the Racer’s Expo. On July 30th, RAC was one of the primary benefactors of the fourth annual Jamie S. Rivera Car Show in Agawam, MA which raised $1,200 for the cause. On August 14th,Charlie Macko Racing held a raffle to benefit RAC at Twinstate Speedway in Claremont, NH. That event raised in excess of $1,400 for RAC.
Leading the list of the twelve Racing Against CancerTM benefactors in 2011 was the Ronald McDonald House of Providence which received a check for $15,000 from the proceeds of the Seekonk Speedway Track Walk held on Saturday October 1, 2011 in Seekonk, MA. Various Seekonk Speedway fundraising events were held leading up to the Track Walk including the Dunk-the-Driver contest, on-site donations and corporations that sponsored t-shirts and other items. ISMA once again graciously donated $2,500 from their RAC 100 event purse on October 2, 2011. Thanks to the hard effort of some of Seekonk Speedway’s biggest supporters, the fourth and final Track Walk of the 2011 season was by far the most successful.
Other distinguished Racing Against CancerTM benefactors for 2011 included the American Cancer Society, David’s House, The Susan G. Komen Foundation and Victory Junction Camps all of which received $1,000 or more. Other benefactors included Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Tomorrow Fund, Cam Neely Foundation, Chain Fund, Hole in the Wall Camp and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. A new benefactor of the 2011 season was Checkered Dreams of Charlotte, North Carolina. Checkered Dreams provides youth with life threatening conditions a chance to enjoy a night at a local short track, meet their favorite drivers and even get a chance to take some laps in the pace car. A special highlight of the day is when each youth is presented with a specially painted authentic racing helmet as a souvenir as well as a visit to the pit area to obtain autographs from the drivers. A total of over $23,000 was distributed to benefactors.
Mark your calendars for 2012, as Decourcy Racing will host the Racing Against Cancer 100 at CFIK, on Saturday, January 21. Stafford Speedway will play host to the first Track Walk of the 2012 season the morning before CARQUEST Super Saturday Champions for Charities event on Saturday, June 30. Star Speedway will host some Labor Day weekend fun in the company of Outlaw and Modified racing action. A Track Walk will take place in the morning before the evening of racing action, on Saturday, September 1, 2012. Detailed event information will be posted on www.RacingAgainstCancer.org.
Racing Against Cancer™ is a Federally Recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the raising of funds for cancer research, patient services, youth tobacco educational programs, and awareness. For more information and to donate please visit www.RacingAgainstCancer.org.
Sources: Mark Caise/Racing Against Cancer PR