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Kicking Cancer's Butt

As we prepare to make our annual trip to Daytona I was thinking about a racing blog, unfortunately, I think there is something more important than our sport.  We need to kick Cancer's butt, eradicate it, eliminate it, make it a thing of the past!

Three years ago, Robbie Skipper was at the Snake Saturday parade.  He volunteered to get active in the Central Auto Racing Boosters with my wife.  He volunteered with me to become an official at Lakeside.  We did not discover this until we were on the way home and discussing the days events and I mentioned I had a young man volunteer to help at Lakeside.  She replied she had young man volunteer to help with CARB.  We quickly figured out we were talking about the same person. 

Then in the summer of 2006 a good firend to racing, Matt Cattau, missed the racing season as he battled this dreaded disease.  Matt became Robbie's inspiration, an inspiration to lead a battle, an inspiration to speak up.  At one of our C.A.R.B. Board Meetings, Robbie spoke up that we should participate in a money drive for the American Cancer Society.  We instantly voted him Chairman of this committee and sent him on his way to answer our questions.  These questions involved can the Central Auto Racing Boosters a not for profit  organization make donations to a non profit organziation the American Cancer Society.  How would the IRS look at our donation?  How would this effect the club donations?  Over this last year all these questions were answered.

Robbie led the way speaking at Driver's Meetings (we found out he could talk and talk and talk).  With the enlistment of some help from Roxanne Weller, Jamie Powell, and Stacy Kline, this committee now had an army.  They worked they talked and they challenged us in the racing community to reach a goal of $1,000.  Proudly we we able to donate more than that to the American Cancer Society at the banquet.

This year the goal is $2,000.  Before the season starts we are already above the $490 mark.  More people have jumped on board.  Over $250 was collected at the I-70 banquet.  The Bowlathon brought in another $240.  Now that is a great start but let's get back to the real reason we want to Kick this diseases' butt! 

We all know people, loved ones, family members, co-workers, friends, pit crew members, race fans, children, someone that is fighting or has fought this disease.  We are a racing family, you have heard that said, you have witnessed that if you have been around a racetrack, any racetrack.  We may fight, argue, disagree, whatever, but in the end we are family. 

At every CARB meeting we discuss family matters, those needing a prayer or a card, those fighting a medical issue.  It was amazing to me the number of people fighting cancer.  Let's start with Jerry Spiess, include Debe Ellis Loos, add in George Blanks, remember Scott Taylor's mother, and please don't forget Dione Wetzel and you can see we have family members fighting this disease.  Please remember these folks in your prayers, if you believe, if not then please include them in your thoughts.

I am sure Robbie never dreamed the ACS would become his legacy.  Matt never dreamed as he was going through the treatments and fighting the battle that he was inspiring action from someone else.  What we do know is God works in mysterious ways, he uses people and inspires people to action. 

You know the spark was Matt and the flame is Robbie let's make this a rip roaring fire that leads to a complete eradication of this disease.  Please donate at the tracks this year or at any of C.A.R.B.'s events.  Racers are leaders so let's  join togehter and lead the way in Kicking Cancer's ASS!