NASCAR to help promote awareness of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
NASCAR will take part in a public health initiative to raise awareness of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. As part of the partnership, the Feb. 13 Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway will be called the DRIVE4COPD 300.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a serious, progressive disease – which includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both – that robs people of their ability to breathe.
Among the celebrities helping with the COPD public-awareness initiative is JR Motorsports driver Danica Patrick, who has not yet decided whether she will make her NASCAR debut in the DRIVE4COPD 300 on Feb. 13 at Daytona or the Feb. 20 Nationwide race at Auto Club Speedway in California.
As part of the initiative, Patrick was in New York City on Wednesday with other celebrities – including four who will serve as the Nationwide race grand marshals: Emmy-nominated actor Jim Belushi, Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner, Grammy Award-winning country music star Patty Loveless and former NFL player Michael Strahan.
DRIVE4COPD will become the official health initiative of NASCAR, which will help educate fans by asking them to answer five questions to determine if they’re at risk for the disease. Participating fans may enter a sweepstakes with the grand prize being a VIP race weekend in Daytona for the July race and another chance for a trip to the 2011 Daytona 500.
The initiative is led by founding sponsor Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals (which sells drugs to help combat the disease) with partnering organizations including the COPD Foundation and the American Lung Association.
“COPD is the fourth-leading cause of death in the U.S., affecting an estimated 24 million people – half of whom are undiagnosed,” said NASCAR Chief Marketing Officer Steve Phelps. “NASCAR fans have a history of being receptive to and involved in health initiatives, and we believe we can make a difference in this unique partnership.”
