Racing4Research at Daytona

The No. 14 car came in battered and sporting duct tape. After 24 hours of racing,  the Foundation’s Porsche GT3 car finished 15th in class on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, after 611 laps around Daytona. It was all part of a program called Racing4Research to raise awareness about NF.

In addition to the NF Endurance Team, the Children’s Tumor Foundation offers an array of programs such as Racing4Research, that also help fund research and generate awareness about NF. Racing4Research raises money through fundraising by NF Heroes, individual donations, and corporate sponsorship. The 2010 R4R  program has already raised more than $300,000 for NF research, bypassing their goal for the year.

This is the fourth year the Foundation has partnered with a racing team to sponsor a car in the Rolex 24. The uncertainty and challenges of NF can parallel the obstacles a race car encounters during during a 24 hour race.  Racing4Research director Jill Beck is personally affected with NF;  her husband Bob suffers from Schwannomatosis.

One of the most memorable moments for Stephanie Yolish, who works with the Racing4Research program, was just prior to the start of the race. “Glen Gatlin, a first time driver for us this year, who did not know what NF was before this weekend, gathered everyone around the car before it was about to be pushed onto the race track,” said Yolish. “He  asked everyone – NF families, crew, drivers, supporters, anyone with a blue Foundation hat on, to gather around the car and connect with each other. It is truly amazing to see a group of people – the drivers and the crew – who have no touch to NF, know nothing of NF before this program, get misty eyed and give their money, their resources, and all their efforts for our NF Heroes.”

A special thank you to all of the R4R drivers Daniel Graeff, Glen Gatlin, Seth Thomas, and Ron Yarab as well as crew chief Frank Resciniti.  For more on the weekend in Daytona, check out Garrett Gleeson’s article on NBCSports.com.

MORE R4R LINKS:
- Check out the Racing4Research website
- Visit the Racing4Research blog