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Our Story
On April 15, 2008 time stood still and all at once everything we knew about our lives and our futures was forever changed. After a routine visit to the doctor to address what we thought was a lingering cold or the possibility of anemia, Karsyn's physician ordered blood work which revealed that Karsyn had Leukemia.
We were instructed to take her to Iowa City immediately for treatment. The drive to the hospital was surreal. Karsyn was the child we prayed for and upon her arrival into the world she lit up our lives and along with her big brother Austin, was the sunshine in our every day. Andy and I were unable to convince ourselves that cancer had invaded her body and that her very life was in jeopardy.
When we made it to the 3rd floor which houses the Pediatric Oncology Unit, reality hit us hard. We left the safety and comfort of our familiar lives and were suddenly in a place filled with the bustling of busy doctors, nurses and other medical personnel. The brave fronts we presented deteriorated as we struggled to process the images of children strapped to IV’s and bald from chemo as we attempted to reconcile in our minds that our own sweet baby girl at an innocent age of 3 would face a similar fate.
How it All Began
Longtime race fans and sponsors Andy and Jessica Miller, along with their son Austin, would never have imagined that their daughter, Karsyn, would be faced with a cancer diagnosis at just three years old. It was in the midst of tragedy and the worst of times that they witnessed the very best in people. The generosity, caring, support and concern that they received was humbling and life-changing.
In addition to the Miller’s being longtime friends and sponsors of modified drivers Darin Duffy and JD Auringer, Jessica has been attending dirt track racing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she watched her dad’s modified take home the Super Nationals title. As memorable as that was, it would be 18 years later, when Darin and JD drove their cars on that same track in honor of Karsyn and in support of all of those who lost their lives to cancer or were fighting for another day, that racing turned into more than a passion for the family. It was then that it became their purpose! After nearly three years of battling the disease, Karsyn is now in remission.
However, the family has no intention of slowing down their effort. “We formed this organization to give back and help others who continue to battle this ugly disease. As long as we are able to attend races and have the support of others, we are going to volunteer our time with the purpose of making a difference in the lives of as many individuals as possible.”
The level of support, passion, generosity and positive feedback continues to be overwhelming.
As of May 2013, organization support included:
- 15 partner drivers in nine different states
- More than 6,000 fans on Facebook
- 6,000 items of clothing sold
- Over $200,000 collected through merchandise sales, partnerships, events, etc.
- National television and magazine coverage
- Endless support of tracks, fans, drivers, promoters, businesses, etc.
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