NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Peggy Llewellyn has been named celebrity spokesperson for Divas For A Cure (DFAC) to promote breast cancer awareness in black and Latina/Hispanic communities.
"I am honored and excited to serves as spokesperson for Divas For A Cure," said Llewellyn. "It takes two of my passions, which are motorcycles and reaching out to my community, and uses them to raise awareness of breast cancer."
DFAC is a national service-based nonprofit organization dedicated to raising cancer awareness through early detection, education, screenings, and supporting research for eradicating cancer among women, specifically black and Latina/Hispanic. The organization is unique in that its African-American and Latina women ride motorcycles across the country to raise funds and awareness throughout the year and participate in their signature fundraiser, Divas For A Cure Breast Cancer Motorcycle Run.
Led by founder and President and breast cancer survivor Jan Emanuel-Costley, the four-year organization, supported by Harley-Davidson, clocked more than 22,000 miles across the United States for the cause and donated more than $110,000 to MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, where DFAC has a dedicated treatment room.
In past years, Divas For A Cure has enjoyed the support of such celebrities as award-winning, bestselling African-American authors Nina Foxx and Eric Jerome Dickey, international male supermodel and actor Tyson Beckford, comedian and actor Joe Torry, and Hollywood stuntman and former dancer Lionel Douglass.
"We are extremely excited to have Peggy Llewellyn as the 2009-2010 Divas For A Cure celebrity spokesperson," said an elated Emanuel-Costley. "Our association will help launch us to a new level. Combining our efforts will truly give greater value to our motto, Passion With A Purpose."
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among black and Latina woman, making it the most commonly diagnosed and most likely form of cancer to lead to death in both groups because it is often diagnosed in later stages.
Llewellyn said, "The black and Hispanic communities are less informed; therefore, it is the highest incident rate of the disease. Being of Mexican and Jamaican descent, I want to make sure the message is out there about early detection and education."
Her spokesperson role will begin Oct. 1 and last for one year.
Llewellyn is the first woman of color in the world to win a professional motorsports event. Winning at the NHRA event Dallas in 2007, she earned an appearance in the inaugural Countdown to 4 and Countdown to 1, giving her a finish in the top five in standings.
The three-year professional motorcyclist ran an abbreviated season in 2008 and advanced to the semifinals in Denver, finishing the season with qualifying five of six races. Llewellyn hopes to return to the NHRA circuit for the remainder of the 2009 NHRA season in September.
Named 2009 Female Athlete of the Year by The Elements of a Champion Foundation for displaying extraordinary character on and off the racetrack, Llewellyn is dedicated to her community through actively being involved with Women's Sports Foundation's Go Girl Go! and independently promoting to young girls the sport of motorcycle racing, physical fitness education, and the importance of following dreams.