NHRA News: Bazemore victories will raise dollars for Jeg's Foundation (3/20/2004)

Bazemore victories will raise dollars for Jeg's Foundation

3/20/2004

"There aren't many things more important in the world than [curing] cancer."
– Whit Bazemore

Team owners Sara and Don Schumacher, Funny Car driver Whit Bazemore, and crew chief Lee Beard will contribute a total of $2,000 to the Jeg's Foundation's "Racing for Cancer Research" each time Bazemore wins an NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car event. Each person will donate $500 per win, totally $2,000 from the Schumacher camp.

"So far we have pledged $2,000 a race for a win, which is great, and we're also going to try to plan some other events down the road to help raise some more significant money," said Bazemore, a two-time U.S. Nationals champion. "We're doing this because you see lots of athletes with foundations and charities, except in our sport. When the Coughlin family developed their foundation last year it was the first one in our sport. It's a great cause.

"Cancer is something that we all have been touched by at some point, most likely, and it's just a terrible disease. There aren't many things more important in the world than raising money for research to find a cure for cancer. We're fortunate that Lee Beard has gotten involved and hopefully it will be an impetus for other teams to contribute as well."

Scott Woodruff, spokesperson for the Jeg's Foundation agreed. "Our goal is to use the stage of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing to create awareness for cancer," he said. "One in four people is touched by this disease in their lives and being able to use this powerful stage of drag racing to help break down some of those barriers and create awareness is what we're trying to do."

Sara Schumacher is a cancer survivor herself. "From my personal experience I understand the trauma and devastation that this disease can bring," she said. "So I'm thrilled that Don and I have the opportunity to donate some money and hopefully help find a cure for this dreaded disease."

Bazemore's crew chief Beard is honored to be on board. "It's a worthwhile organization," he said. "All of us in NHRA racing are really fortunate to be able to make a living in a sport that's so much fun to just be here. We feel honored to contribute to something as worthwhile as the Jeg's Foundation."

The Coughlin Family formed the Jeg's Foundation to advance the need for cancer research. This prominent racing family's personal experiences with cancer drove them to assist in building awareness of the many facets of cancer to help generate dollars through race earnings to advance cancer research.

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