On Saturday, January 10, 2009 the Racing Against CancerTM
Team celebrated the 12th Annual Awards Luncheon at the Foxwoods
Resort Casino paying tribute to its heritage and its group of
devoted supporters. During the emotional ceremony, a number of
contributors shared the spotlight for their outstanding
fundraising accomplishments during the 2008 racing season.
Throughout the year, the Racing Against CancerTM (RAC)
Team members collectively raised over $53,000 for the fight
against cancer.
“Despite the downturn in the economy the Racing Against
CancerTM Team was one of the few charitable
organizations to show an increase,” said founder Jon Blanchette
proudly.
During the event, Founder Kelly Turner of the CHAIN Fund and
Barbara Ducharme, Executive Director of the Tomorrow Fund each
accepted checks for $2,500. Founder Dick Cyr of David’s House
received $5,000 and Bruce Marshall the Vice President of Income
Development for the New England Chapter of the American Cancer
Society was presented with a check in the amount of $25,000. The
remainder of the funds will go to support the Youth Tobacco
Awareness Program, the 2009 Celebration of Life event, and other
RAC Programs.
“This program is so unique and so special,” said Joe Jimenez,
Executive Vice President of Casino Marketing for the Foxwoods
Resort Casino. “This is more important than any marketing plan
that I have ever put together. Thank you for taking [Foxwoods
Resort Casino] along for the journey.”
The cumulative fundraising total, after 12 years of
operation, for the Racing Against Cancer Foundation is over
$634,000.
“For the first-time ever both the incidents and death rates
of all cancers cumulatively have declined in both men and
women,” said Marshall of the American Cancer Society. “There are
over 11 million cancer survivors in the United States. You are
helping to save lives and I applaud you for that. Thanks to your
efforts 11 million people are sitting down with their families
having dinner tonight.”
It took a lot of people, countless hours, a number of events,
and tireless efforts to get to that benchmark for the 2008
season. High points of the year included the Wings & Wheels
event at the Waterford Speedbowl. With a portion of the proceeds
from ticket sales going to RAC, the event raised over $6,200.
The GoMotorBids.com and Speed Sport News online auction helped
bolster fundraising efforts as well. After Tony Stewart piloted
a Modified in 2007 as a fundraiser for RAC, body panels from the
car and his autographed fire suit were auctioned off raising in
excess of $4,000. The nationally recognized Big E Fair at the
Eastern States Exposition provided the occasion for the RAC
management team and countless volunteers to raise well over
$20,000 for the Racing Against CancerTM Program.
The awards ceremony included two very emotional
presentations. A group of dedicated volunteers that included
Heather Sica, Bill Doll, Kristen Phillips, Guy Beaudoin, and
Norm Moriarity, who helped with the execution of the 17-day
fundraising effort at the Big E Fair in West Springfield, MA,
were presented with the 8th Annual William J. Fales Spirit of
Sportsmanship Award, for their unwavering dedication to the
program. These exceptional team members made up the Platinum
Level contributors that are the cornerstone to the success for
the program. The Richmond Karting Speedway Management and Race
Teams collectively were awarded the 7th Annual Jodi B.
Blanchette Outstanding Achievement Award for demonstrating
outstanding achievement and leadership efforts in helping the
Racing Against CancerTM Team exceed its fundraising
goals.
A host of organizations supporting the RAC Program were
lauded for their Gold Level ($1,000-$4,999) contributions. By
selling lap sponsorships during an event in 2008 at Whip City
Speedway along with other fundraising endeavors, Kristin
Phillips of the East Coast Mini Sprint Association helped to
raise $4,100 in support of RAC. Racing brothers Shawn and Diego
Monahan treated race fans at the Wings & Wheels event at the
Waterford Speedbowl in August to a grudge match within the SK
Modified feature event. With the help of Pataya Flooring & Stone
Supply Company of Niantic, CT, who stepped in with a matching
contribution, the good-natured endeavor helped to raise an
additional $1,500 to the already outstanding night of
fundraising for the RAC Program.
Motivated by her mother’s diagnosis with cancer, Kim
Blackstone implored Howard Payne of the New England ATV Series
to support the Racing Against Cancer Program. No stranger to the
program, Payne and Blackstone jumped in to organize several
fundraising events that ultimately raised over $1,740.
“We look forward to doing more for the Racing Against Cancer
Program next season,” said Payne. “We will support the program
100% in 2009.”
Dave Crout ($1,895), Steve Pukas ($1,179), and Larry and Mike
King ($1,000) were recognized for their outstanding individual
efforts. Junior Ambassador-Gold level contributors also included
Austin Brehio, a competitor at Sugar Hill Speedway along with
young Richmond Karting Speedway racers Alicia Perry, Tommy
Stilhen, Izzac Collins, and Willie Pelotte.
Individuals honored for their contributions to the program at
the Silver level (raising $250-$999) included the Strumpf
Family, Paul Tuthill, and Czarnecki Brothers Racing. Junior
Ambassador-Silver level contributors included Richmond Karting
Speedway racers Wade, Wyatt & Scott Blanchette, Joe Lynds,
Taylor Robertson and Elle Burbank.
During the awards program several Speedways were recognized
for their efforts including Sugar Hill Speedway (Weare, NH);
Richmond Karting Speedway (Richmond, ME); Poughkeepsie Speedway
(Poughkeepsie, NY); Route 106 Speedway (Pembroke, NH); Stafford
Motor Speedway (Stafford, CT); Thompson International Speedway
(Thompson, CT); Thundering Valley Speedway (St. Albans, ME);
Waterford Speedbowl (Waterford, CT); and Whip City Speedway
(Westfield, MA). Racing organizations honored for their support
of the Racing Against Cancer Program included the East Coast
Mini Sprint Association, New England ATV, North East Pavement
Series, and the South Shore Outboard Association.
Other contributors to the success of the Racing Against
Cancer Team include Speedway Illustrated, Jim Reed and KOOL 101
FM Radio, and the Stadium Sports Bar & Grill. Speedway
Illustrated hosted the Racing Against Cancer Team during the
annual SpeedwayEXPO. That along with a spirited Dunk Tank
fundraiser (with the help of Shawn Courchesne of the Hartford
Courant) kicked off the season with some much-needed funding.
Reed and KOOL 101 were instrumental and promoting the Wings &
Wheels event and ultimately helped to guarantee its success not
only as a racing event but as an RAC Fundraiser. Ned Nichols and
his staff at the Stadium Bar and Grill hosted the 2008 Daytona
500 Party helping to raise over $900. Amsoil Dealer Richard
Bowling, Sherwin Williams Automotive Finishes, Times Publishing,
MAACO, and Smith Bros. Transmissions were also recognized.
The 2009 Fundraising season kicks off at the 50th Anniversary
of the Frank Maratta’s Auto Show on February 6-8, 2009 at the
Connecticut Expo Center followed by SpeedwayEXPO at the Big E
Fair at the Eastern States Exposition on February 27-March 1,
2009.
The Racing Against Cancer program 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.
The C.H.A.I.N. Fund, Inc. is Financial
Assistance and a Social Intervention Network for Cancer
Patients. We’ve aided the less fortunate for 5 years now. Many
of those we helped were able to get back on their feet and start
their lives a new.
The Tomorrow Fund is the only non-profit
organization that provides daily financial and emotional support
to children with cancer and their families who are treated at
Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island.
David's House is a private, 501(c)(3)
corporation that provides a home-away-from-home and support for
families with children receiving treatment through Children's
Hospital at Dartmouth at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in
Lebanon, NH.
Source: Racing
Against CancerTM
PR
Posted:
January 21, 2009
