FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Deb Pollack/Drive Toward a Cure (t) 805.320.9248
Theresa Gilpatrick/Skip Barber Racing School (t) 720.240.3723
SKIP BARBER RACING SCHOOL JOINS DRIVE TOWARD A CURE TO BATTLE PARKINSON’S — WIN A ONE-DAY RACING SCHOOL CLASS WHILE SUPPORTING A GREAT CAUSE
Iconic Tracks Across North America Band to Offer Ultimate Driving Experience to One Winner
LAKEVILLE, CT – July 20, 2021 – Legendary racers like Phil Hill, David Love and Sam Posey had more in common than just their stellar racing careers – each has battled Parkinson’s Disease – all while the world continues to seek a cure. The Skip Barber Racing School is joining non-profit foundation Drive Toward a Cure to bring the challenge of Parkinson’s Disease to the forefront within the automotive and enthusiast community by creating a fundraising opportunity that will provide one lucky donor the chance to better their skills on the track while helping to support Parkinson’s.
Skip Barber’s Racing School has teamed with non-profit Foundation Drive Toward a Cure to support Parkinson’s Disease by providing ONE One-Day Racing School program valued at $2195 for ONE lucky winner – each $100 donation at www.drivetowardacure.org/day/win-a-one-day-racing-school-class-with-skip-barber will be eligible to win and enjoy a full day of instruction and behind-the-wheel driving with high-performance Roush Mustangs at the Skip Barber track location of their choice. The program runs through Labor Day weekend.
Located on more than nine iconic raceways throughout the county, the Skip Barber Racing School has aligned with non-profit Drive Toward a Cure in a fundraising effort to support Parkinson’s disease while offering ONE winner a One-Day Racing School program at the Skip Barber track location of their choice. To be eligible, donate a minimum of $100 at www.drivetowardacure.org/day/win-a-one-day-racing-school-class-with-skip-barber now through Labor Day weekend, and receive an immediate tax receipt.
Skip Barber Racing School is offering ONE One-Day Racing School program as a prize, valued at $2,195. All those who provide a minimum $100 donation for Parkinson’s Disease at www.drivetowardacure.org/day/win-a-one-day-racing-school-class-with-skip-barber will be entered and eligible to win. The program runs through Labor Day weekend.
The racing school, located at more than nine iconic raceways throughout the country, provides drivers with the behind-the-wheel thrill in Roush Mustangs, the high-power performance vehicles that combines Ford’s 5.0L V8 engine with the ROUSH Phase 2 Supercharger, while delivering 750 hp, 670 lb-ft of torque, and a blistering 0-60 mph time of 3.6 seconds. The winning prize includes breakfast, lunch, instruction, equipment, and a swag bag – all provided to the winner at the Skip Barber Racing School location of their choice. Transportation, lodging, or incidentals incurred by the winner are NOT included.
According to Theresa Gilpatrick, membership program director for Skip Barber Racing Schools, aligning with Drive Toward a Cure was a ‘no brainer.’ “Our biggest goals for Skip Barber are to expand the skills, confidence, and excitement that come from participating in racing, including teaching others to increase their potential, despite any challenges they may face – a reminder of what those with Parkinson’s often face daily.”
The roots of Drive Toward a Cure first began in 2008, following an inspiring celebration for Formula One champion and friend Phil Hill’s 80th birthday. While then working for Maserati, Founder Deb Pollack and colleague Jeff Ehoodin created Hill’s last on-track experience at Laguna Seca raceway, before a crowd of media from the Western Automotive Journalists group. The event was intended as a celebration and to showcase the ‘bookends’ of Hills’ racing career which had begun in a Formula One Maserati 250F in 1958 and concluded with the track drive by his son Derek Hill in a Maserati MC12.
Since that time and beginning officially as a 501 (c)3 organization in 2016, while honoring her own mother’s passing from Parkinson’s and utilizing Deb’s long standing as an executive in the automotive industry, Drive Toward a Cure was born to open doors within the car culture and breed awareness for the cause.’
“We’ve been fortunate to have so many friends nationwide within the car community that have shared our mindset for ‘cars and camaraderie’, and they’ve helped us to create channels to bond together while raising funds for Parkinson’s,” said Pollack. Over the past five years, Drive Toward a Cure has raised more than $500,000 to support both Parkinson’s research AND patient care, and the Foundation has aligned with enthusiasts, OEs, car clubs, racetracks, and individuals that enjoy the car world, and are contributing to make a difference. Drive Toward a Cure is now setting its sights on a million-dollar fundraising mission.
About Skip Barber Racing Schools:
Founded in 1975, Skip Barber Racing School is the premier racing and driving school in North America, conducting racing schools, defensive and high-performance driving schools, and corporate team building events. They host schools at iconic road racing tracks across the country, including Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX, Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT, Laguna Seca in Salinas, CA, New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ, Road Atlanta in Braselton, GA, Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis, and Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, FL.
Skip Barber Racing School has trained over 350,000 drivers through its fully integrated driving schools, racing schools, and private events. Its alumni have taken podiums in all facets of motorsports, including NASCAR, INDYCAR, SCCA, SRX, World Challenge, and IMSA. Skip Barber will bring this vast racing and driving expertise to go-karting fans of all ages looking to test their abilities at Skip Barber Racing Go-Kart Academy at American Dream Mall in Bergen Country, NJ this fall.
About Drive Toward a Cure
Drive Toward a Cure raises funds and awareness for Parkinson’s Disease research AND patient care. Inspired by the camaraderie found within the automotive culture, the organization’s mission benefits equally from both enthusiast communities and industry professionals. Drive Toward a Cure events harness enthusiasm for cars and driving and turn that power into support for ongoing work to improve the lives of those living with Parkinson’s, as well as the research that will hopefully one day lead to a cure. Since 2016, Drive Toward a Cure has raised more than a half million dollars to support BOTH research AND patient care.
Drive Toward a Cure ended 2020 with contributions making an impact of $160,000 and for 2021 continues expanding with localized groups and supporters to benefit alignments with various Centers of Excellence for Parkinson’s’ on a national level through Drive Toward a Cure’s ‘Access to Care Fund’ that currently partners with the Parkinson Foundation and donates to Centers in Portland, Atlanta, San Diego, Arizona, Houston, Boston, Colorado, NY and Nashville.
Drive Toward a Cure is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that supports beneficiaries including The Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Parkinson’s Foundation, and numerous Centers of Excellence for Parkinson’s. For donations, sponsorship and event registration please visit www.drivetowardacure.org.
About Parkinson’s Disease
Affecting nearly one million Americans and 10 million worldwide, Parkinson’s disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s and is the 14th-leading cause of death in the United States. It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control (e.g., shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression), as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety). There is no cure for Parkinson’s and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States alone.
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