Heavner, Reitenour Team with Kirk May Racing to Benefit MS Society
Friday, August 27, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
No one ever said life would be easy. It's not. But for 400,000 people in The United States, the simplest things in life are quite a challenge.
Those 400,000 people - and quickly counting - have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis - or MS - is a chronic and often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system - which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another.
No one is immune. Even children have been diagnosed. Although more commonly found among women than men, MS does not discriminate based on gender, ethnicity, religion, age, or any other factor.
Today, new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by the disease. That hope is largely due to the efforts of The National Multiple Sclerosis Society - often referred to as "MS" or "MS Society."
Just the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, in 2009 alone, invested $1.4 million in programs and services and contributed $1.3 million to national research initiatives. That has helped an estimated 8,000 people in North and South Carolina - which is served by The Chapter.
The MS Society reports that there are currently more potential therapies in the works for MS than ever before. The Society works daily to find not only treatments to MS - but the cause. Finding the cause, they know, equals finding a cure.
No matter how big The Society's desire may be to help those suffering from MS, it can't be done without cash. Medical research, as you can probably imagine, can be quite costly.
Enter Ryan Heavner, Megan Reitenour, Kirk May Racing, and McCallister Precision Marketing. Together, this group is planning a massive attack on MS this weekend. The dream team fighting the disease consists of race drivers (Heavner and Reitenour), a race team owner (Kirk May Racing), and a motorsports marketing firm (McCallister Precision Marketing).
KMR and Heavner - who is the team's full-time USAR Pro Cup Series driver - are no strangers to MS. Neither is Tonya McCallister and the the staff at MPM. All support The Society on a regular basis.
The difference on the upcoming race weekend at Concord (NC) Speedway, is that the group, joined by Reitenour and The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of The National MS Society, will be asking for your help. They'll also be offering you plenty of extra incentive to give that help.
Megan Reitenour will be on-hand to autograph copies of her newly-released book "Passion and Struggle: The Megan Reitenour Story." One dollar will be donated to The Society for each book sold.
Ryan Heavner will be signing autographs as well, and everyone who donates to The Society will be entered into a drawing for multiple prizes. The most notable of those prizes is perhaps an autographed firesuit worn by Heavner en route to his four 2009 Pro Challenge Series wins. Other prizes, just to name a few, include T-shirts, hats, die-cast cars, and more.
Both drivers will be signing autographs from 4:15PM - 5:15PM ET.
Representatives from The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of The Multiple Sclerosis Society will also be in attendance to offer information and thank those who choose to help.
The MS Society tent - located just inside the main grandstand entrance - will be the center of the festivities and the command center for this weekend's war against MS.
Although significantly bettering the quality of life for hundreds of thousands who never asked to be stricken with MS is quite a motivator, there's a few more reasons to attend The USAR PRO Cup Series Cabarrus Boys & Girls Club 250 Saturday.
First of all, you will be treated to 250 laps of exciting, door-to-door racing by the stars of one of America's premier touring series. Still better yet: It's free. Each and every fan who walks through the Concord Speedway gate Saturday will do so at no charge. There is only a ten dollar per vehicle parking fee. According to USAR Vice President Jimmy Wilson, there is no limit to vehicle occupancy, and the parking rate is a flat fee. Whether you're alone, traveling with a small country, riding a moped, or arriving in a fully-loaded party bus, ten dollars buys your group all the excitement you can stand. Just head over to www.usarprocup.com and print your free admission ticket. (Print one ticket per person.)
Also, you will have the chance to win a race of sorts for your favorite driver. Drivers and their teams will be competing for a free website design from Z3 Sports Design - with the driver raising the most cash and his or her team owner both being awarded a free design. You can push your favorite Pro Cup star to victory by donating any amount(s) you'd like in his or her name. Remember to stay close to the MS tent, so you can throw in an extra dollar or two at the last minute, if necessary, to keep your driver out front in the competition.
Z3 Sports Management - which owns Z3 Sports Design and Z3Sports.com - has donated an additional $100 in services to The Society for this event, and challenges every business owner and executive to match that amount - either in cash or in donated time, goods, or services.
"In racing, it is all about winning," said 14-year-old Ryan Heavner, who is the youngest driver ever to compete in The Pro Cup Series. "In life, when you truly give of yourself to help others, you always win. That is the best feeling in the world. When you actually know someone who suffers from this, it becomes that much more important. Being blessed with good health like I am, I feel I should donate in honor of just that.
When asked how it felt to know that over 400,000 people were watching him because he's racing for their health and livlihood - not just for their entertainment - the Rookie-of-the-Year contender was noticeably taken back.
"I never really thought about it like that. It's humbling to know that, and it makes me want to perform really well just for that reason. I am extremely proud that I am participating in this and I hope it will bring others to participate too."
Heavner enters the race weekend with the momentum of a string of top-ten finishes in his #14 Elite Auto Collision / MS Society Chevrolet.
Megan Reitenour will be making her second USAR Pro Cup Series start Saturday. She will be behind the wheel of the #41 Elite Auto Collision / MS Society Chevrolet, as a KMR teammate to Heavner. Although plans are in the works for her to take on a full season schedule in 2011, the remainder of this season is being used for testing and valuable seat time only.
"I have a very close friend who suffers with MS," Reitenour stated. "I see her daily struggles - from having and fighting the disease to being discriminated against by others who don't understand her circumstances. My hope is to bring more awareness to the disease with my on-track successes."
Reitenour's racing goals are lofty, and she hopes to one day be so recognizable in the sport that her philanthropic efforts will garner as much or more success as her racing efforts.
"I'm currently trying to secure enough funding to race the rest of the season in the USAR Pro Cup Series," Reitenour continued. "I want to continue to learn and get as much experience as I can. I feel this is where my strength is and is where my focus needs to be to help me be prepared for the upper levels of NASCAR. I see myself continuing [fund-raising for The MS Society] no matter what my success becomes in racing, but I believe my influence [at the NASCAR level] could become more beneficial to the causes I support and I look forward to the day that happens."
Kirk May, who owns the cars that Heavner and Reitenour will drive this weekend, has a close working relationship with McCallister Precision Marketing. Jane Council is one of MPM's most valuable assets, and counts herself among those overcoming the hardships of a life with MS. It is seeing Council's struggles that led May to become so proactive in fighting MS. It's also the reason that Tonya McCallister and the staff at McCallister Precision Marketing have been a huge driving force in the battle to beat the debilitating disease that is MS.
Additionally, Automotive Specialists owner Keith Dorton lives with MS. Automotive Specialists builds the engines for the KMR team and works side-by-side with KMR to improve their engine program.
"We help a lot of different charities and organizations throughout the year," commented May. "Jane Council and Keith Dorton are two individuals that we work closely with. We see the struggles they go through. Just like any disease, I don't think people are really aware of it until it hits close to home. We feel like this is a way we can bring awareness to the MS Society and help raise money to find a cure. We certainly want to raise every penny we can, but getting the message out is just as valuable, and will result in even more funds being directed towards MS research."
When questioned about the fact that his drivers are racing for more than money and trophies, May acknowledged that any success at raising MS awareness constitutes a win.
"If [my wife and KMR co-owner Laura May] and I can change just one life by donating or bringing awareness to MS, then we feel we have gotten a victory before our cars even hit the racetrack," May said. "Sharing the excitement and thrill of winning on the racetrack would just be a bonus."
"All of us at Kirk May Racing and McCallister Precision Marketing, including Ryan Heavner and Megan Reitenour, want to thank USAR Pro Cup for letting us put this event on, and for helping us to raise MS awareness," concluded May.
With all parties involved pitching in to help seek a cure for MS, the only missing piece of the puzzle is you. Those who are constantly affected by situations like having MS are often modest and independent, and might not ask you for help. Ryan Heavner, Megan Reitenour, and Kirk May Racing, however, are doing just that. They know that they cannot do it alone, and they want you to know that they need your help.
If you have a dollar, a thousand dollars, or even a single penny you can send into battle against MS, they want to look you in the eye this weekend at Concord Speedway and thank you for making a huge difference.
If you don't have a monetary donation to spare, then you can still help. Just ask the MS Society members at the track for information on MS, or get it online at www.nationalmssociety.org, and start spreading the word. A few minutes of your time making others aware of this tragic condition and what they can do to help just might lead to the donation that will fund the last search for a cure ever needed.
You can log on to www.usarprocup.com or www.concordmotorsportpark.com to get more information on this weekend's event, so that you can head out to the track and help put MS a lap down. Don't forget to print your free ticket while you're there.
If you can't make it to this thrill-filled event, again, please log on to www.nationalmssociety.org for more information, and to find a local chapter near you.
To learn about exciting new marketing opportunities with Ryan Heavner or Megan Reitenour, please contact Tonya McCallister with McCallister Precision Marketing via telephone at (803) 361-6199, or via email at tonyamac44@marketwithmpm.com.
Ryan Heavner fans can log on to www.ryanheavner.com to learn more of the Lincolnton, NC sensation, while Megan Reitenour fans can check out the Miamisburg, OH fan-favorite at www.meganreitenour.com.
To contact Ryan Heavner, please contact Michael Hughes by email at michael@z3sportsdesign.com or by telephone at (850) 266-7866.
To contact Megan Reitenour, please contact Tabby Reitenour by email at reitenourracing@aol.com.
For more information on this weekend's fund-raising events, please contact Michael Hughes by email at michael@z3sportsdesign.com or by telephone at (850) 266-7866.
Those 400,000 people - and quickly counting - have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis - or MS - is a chronic and often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system - which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another.
No one is immune. Even children have been diagnosed. Although more commonly found among women than men, MS does not discriminate based on gender, ethnicity, religion, age, or any other factor.
Today, new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by the disease. That hope is largely due to the efforts of The National Multiple Sclerosis Society - often referred to as "MS" or "MS Society."
Just the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, in 2009 alone, invested $1.4 million in programs and services and contributed $1.3 million to national research initiatives. That has helped an estimated 8,000 people in North and South Carolina - which is served by The Chapter.
The MS Society reports that there are currently more potential therapies in the works for MS than ever before. The Society works daily to find not only treatments to MS - but the cause. Finding the cause, they know, equals finding a cure.
No matter how big The Society's desire may be to help those suffering from MS, it can't be done without cash. Medical research, as you can probably imagine, can be quite costly.
Enter Ryan Heavner, Megan Reitenour, Kirk May Racing, and McCallister Precision Marketing. Together, this group is planning a massive attack on MS this weekend. The dream team fighting the disease consists of race drivers (Heavner and Reitenour), a race team owner (Kirk May Racing), and a motorsports marketing firm (McCallister Precision Marketing).
KMR and Heavner - who is the team's full-time USAR Pro Cup Series driver - are no strangers to MS. Neither is Tonya McCallister and the the staff at MPM. All support The Society on a regular basis.
The difference on the upcoming race weekend at Concord (NC) Speedway, is that the group, joined by Reitenour and The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of The National MS Society, will be asking for your help. They'll also be offering you plenty of extra incentive to give that help.
Megan Reitenour will be on-hand to autograph copies of her newly-released book "Passion and Struggle: The Megan Reitenour Story." One dollar will be donated to The Society for each book sold.
Ryan Heavner will be signing autographs as well, and everyone who donates to The Society will be entered into a drawing for multiple prizes. The most notable of those prizes is perhaps an autographed firesuit worn by Heavner en route to his four 2009 Pro Challenge Series wins. Other prizes, just to name a few, include T-shirts, hats, die-cast cars, and more.
Both drivers will be signing autographs from 4:15PM - 5:15PM ET.
Representatives from The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of The Multiple Sclerosis Society will also be in attendance to offer information and thank those who choose to help.
The MS Society tent - located just inside the main grandstand entrance - will be the center of the festivities and the command center for this weekend's war against MS.
Although significantly bettering the quality of life for hundreds of thousands who never asked to be stricken with MS is quite a motivator, there's a few more reasons to attend The USAR PRO Cup Series Cabarrus Boys & Girls Club 250 Saturday.
First of all, you will be treated to 250 laps of exciting, door-to-door racing by the stars of one of America's premier touring series. Still better yet: It's free. Each and every fan who walks through the Concord Speedway gate Saturday will do so at no charge. There is only a ten dollar per vehicle parking fee. According to USAR Vice President Jimmy Wilson, there is no limit to vehicle occupancy, and the parking rate is a flat fee. Whether you're alone, traveling with a small country, riding a moped, or arriving in a fully-loaded party bus, ten dollars buys your group all the excitement you can stand. Just head over to www.usarprocup.com and print your free admission ticket. (Print one ticket per person.)
Also, you will have the chance to win a race of sorts for your favorite driver. Drivers and their teams will be competing for a free website design from Z3 Sports Design - with the driver raising the most cash and his or her team owner both being awarded a free design. You can push your favorite Pro Cup star to victory by donating any amount(s) you'd like in his or her name. Remember to stay close to the MS tent, so you can throw in an extra dollar or two at the last minute, if necessary, to keep your driver out front in the competition.
Z3 Sports Management - which owns Z3 Sports Design and Z3Sports.com - has donated an additional $100 in services to The Society for this event, and challenges every business owner and executive to match that amount - either in cash or in donated time, goods, or services.
"In racing, it is all about winning," said 14-year-old Ryan Heavner, who is the youngest driver ever to compete in The Pro Cup Series. "In life, when you truly give of yourself to help others, you always win. That is the best feeling in the world. When you actually know someone who suffers from this, it becomes that much more important. Being blessed with good health like I am, I feel I should donate in honor of just that.
When asked how it felt to know that over 400,000 people were watching him because he's racing for their health and livlihood - not just for their entertainment - the Rookie-of-the-Year contender was noticeably taken back.
"I never really thought about it like that. It's humbling to know that, and it makes me want to perform really well just for that reason. I am extremely proud that I am participating in this and I hope it will bring others to participate too."
Heavner enters the race weekend with the momentum of a string of top-ten finishes in his #14 Elite Auto Collision / MS Society Chevrolet.
Megan Reitenour will be making her second USAR Pro Cup Series start Saturday. She will be behind the wheel of the #41 Elite Auto Collision / MS Society Chevrolet, as a KMR teammate to Heavner. Although plans are in the works for her to take on a full season schedule in 2011, the remainder of this season is being used for testing and valuable seat time only.
"I have a very close friend who suffers with MS," Reitenour stated. "I see her daily struggles - from having and fighting the disease to being discriminated against by others who don't understand her circumstances. My hope is to bring more awareness to the disease with my on-track successes."
Reitenour's racing goals are lofty, and she hopes to one day be so recognizable in the sport that her philanthropic efforts will garner as much or more success as her racing efforts.
"I'm currently trying to secure enough funding to race the rest of the season in the USAR Pro Cup Series," Reitenour continued. "I want to continue to learn and get as much experience as I can. I feel this is where my strength is and is where my focus needs to be to help me be prepared for the upper levels of NASCAR. I see myself continuing [fund-raising for The MS Society] no matter what my success becomes in racing, but I believe my influence [at the NASCAR level] could become more beneficial to the causes I support and I look forward to the day that happens."
Kirk May, who owns the cars that Heavner and Reitenour will drive this weekend, has a close working relationship with McCallister Precision Marketing. Jane Council is one of MPM's most valuable assets, and counts herself among those overcoming the hardships of a life with MS. It is seeing Council's struggles that led May to become so proactive in fighting MS. It's also the reason that Tonya McCallister and the staff at McCallister Precision Marketing have been a huge driving force in the battle to beat the debilitating disease that is MS.
Additionally, Automotive Specialists owner Keith Dorton lives with MS. Automotive Specialists builds the engines for the KMR team and works side-by-side with KMR to improve their engine program.
"We help a lot of different charities and organizations throughout the year," commented May. "Jane Council and Keith Dorton are two individuals that we work closely with. We see the struggles they go through. Just like any disease, I don't think people are really aware of it until it hits close to home. We feel like this is a way we can bring awareness to the MS Society and help raise money to find a cure. We certainly want to raise every penny we can, but getting the message out is just as valuable, and will result in even more funds being directed towards MS research."
When questioned about the fact that his drivers are racing for more than money and trophies, May acknowledged that any success at raising MS awareness constitutes a win.
"If [my wife and KMR co-owner Laura May] and I can change just one life by donating or bringing awareness to MS, then we feel we have gotten a victory before our cars even hit the racetrack," May said. "Sharing the excitement and thrill of winning on the racetrack would just be a bonus."
"All of us at Kirk May Racing and McCallister Precision Marketing, including Ryan Heavner and Megan Reitenour, want to thank USAR Pro Cup for letting us put this event on, and for helping us to raise MS awareness," concluded May.
With all parties involved pitching in to help seek a cure for MS, the only missing piece of the puzzle is you. Those who are constantly affected by situations like having MS are often modest and independent, and might not ask you for help. Ryan Heavner, Megan Reitenour, and Kirk May Racing, however, are doing just that. They know that they cannot do it alone, and they want you to know that they need your help.
If you have a dollar, a thousand dollars, or even a single penny you can send into battle against MS, they want to look you in the eye this weekend at Concord Speedway and thank you for making a huge difference.
If you don't have a monetary donation to spare, then you can still help. Just ask the MS Society members at the track for information on MS, or get it online at www.nationalmssociety.org, and start spreading the word. A few minutes of your time making others aware of this tragic condition and what they can do to help just might lead to the donation that will fund the last search for a cure ever needed.
You can log on to www.usarprocup.com or www.concordmotorsportpark.com to get more information on this weekend's event, so that you can head out to the track and help put MS a lap down. Don't forget to print your free ticket while you're there.
If you can't make it to this thrill-filled event, again, please log on to www.nationalmssociety.org for more information, and to find a local chapter near you.
To learn about exciting new marketing opportunities with Ryan Heavner or Megan Reitenour, please contact Tonya McCallister with McCallister Precision Marketing via telephone at (803) 361-6199, or via email at tonyamac44@marketwithmpm.com.
Ryan Heavner fans can log on to www.ryanheavner.com to learn more of the Lincolnton, NC sensation, while Megan Reitenour fans can check out the Miamisburg, OH fan-favorite at www.meganreitenour.com.
To contact Ryan Heavner, please contact Michael Hughes by email at michael@z3sportsdesign.com or by telephone at (850) 266-7866.
To contact Megan Reitenour, please contact Tabby Reitenour by email at reitenourracing@aol.com.
For more information on this weekend's fund-raising events, please contact Michael Hughes by email at michael@z3sportsdesign.com or by telephone at (850) 266-7866.