[Racer Duck]

By Dave Lewandowski
IndyCar.com

In 19 years, Racing For Kids has donated more than $5 million to children's hospitals and children's health organizations in the United States. National spokesman Robbie Buhl sees another tangible benefit of the program – the priceless smiles of pediatric patients during hospital visits.

Racing For Kids, which uses motorsports to focus public attention and funding on the healthcare needs of children, donated $200,000 in 2007 to children's hospitals and child health organizations. In addition, the Racing For Kids team of celebrity race car drivers visited more than 2,500 children at 25 children's hospitals in the United States and Japan last year.

"It's a great way to give something back to the sport I love," said Buhl, a former IndyCar Series driver and co-owner of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
Racing For Kids, which holds a variety of fund-raisers during the year, also is supported by corporate and individual donations.
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"The generosity of the business and racing community has been outstanding," Racing For Kids founder Dr. William Pinsky said.

Drivers making visits in the past year include IndyCar drivers Buddy Rice, Sarah Fisher and Danica Patrick; Indy Pro Series racers Tom Wieringa and Ryan Justice; and members of the Star Mazda Racing series.

"Doctors, who care for these youngsters, say that these visits are an important part of each child's recovery therapy," said Pinsky, a pediatric cardiologist.

J. Patrick Wright, Racing For Kids executive director, said the majority of the donations were earmarked for hospital playroom development or for a specific need identified by each institution.

"The Child Life specialists we work with at the hospitals tell us that the best medicine doesn't always come from a prescription bottle," he said. "Sometimes it's a game or toy or craft project that helps a child to forget that he or she might be in pain or lonely or frightened."