RACING 2 CURE began as a simple act of then 7-year old Hunter Stewart. Hunter was just starting his off-road racing career when he received troubling news. Just a few weeks before his first-ever race, his Mom at just 34-years old, was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. In order to maintain a positive focus, the family decided to continue racing. After attending an event held by Susan G. Komen for the Cure (R), Hunter was inspired to take action. He carried the Komen logo on his race truck, wore pink shoe laces, and gave one-week's worth of his allowance for every race lap he completed.
This one-race effort inspired others to take action. Hunter's story was largely covered by the media and recognized by public officials, including a guest appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. After several treatments Hunter's Mom (Alycia) went into remission (for three years.) Unfortunately, Alycia was diagnosed again with Breast Cancer. She's back in a fight for her life and is being treated with several surgeries, Chemotherapy, and radiation treatments.
Alycia's cancer has taught the Stewart family the first hand affects of cancer and the toll it takes on a family. This was their inspiration for founding Racing 2 Cure.
Racing 2 Cure was incorporated in 2009 in the state of North Carolina and shortly after gained approval by the IRS as a public charity 501(c)3. Mixed between Alycia's treatments Racing 2 Cure spent much of 2010 traveling to regional and national races and race related event. These events give Racing 2 Cure the platform to raise funds and awareness to support their mission. Visitors of the Racing 2 Cure booth can learn about the hardships families face when fighting cancer, pick up educational information, as well as make a donation for a R2C T-shirts or raffle tickets for the Racing 2 Cure's Helmet for H.E.L.P. program. Funds raised are granted towards both research as well as directly helping families with everyday needs, such as transportation to cancer treatments, tutoring services for students, after school programs, meals, and more.
In 2011 Racing 2 Cure is very excited to return to the simply act of using racing to fight cancer one lap at a time. Racing 2 Cure has launched the Racing 2 Cure online fund raising program. This program reaches out to the currently estimated 500,000 grass roots racers and gives each racer a fully automated, turn key, cause marketing campaign. This program gives each participant the ability to raise funds for their own race team, promote their sponsors, attract new sponsors and most importantly help families that are fighting cancer.
The Stewart family along with their great partners have made it their life's work to build Racing 2 Cure into a nationally recognized and well respected organization. Racing 2 Cure along with the motorsports industry truly can fight cancer one lap at a time!