News:

10-10-2005
Day At The Races at California Speedway
Foundation Offers Treat to Patients and Families

On Saturday, October 15th, Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation along with Andretti Green Racing will host guests from area hospitals and rehabilitation centers for a day of racing action, food and inspiration in the infield at California Speedway. The program, “Day At The Races,” allows Schmidt to share his inspirational story and his exciting motorsports career with spinal cord injury patients and their families.

“There are a lot of people who would love to come to the race track, eat food prepared by Andretti Green Racing’s marvelous staff, and tour the garage and pits while they see IndyCar racing up close and personal. This is a big treat and I love offering it to fellow paralysis patients,” explains Schmidt.

“I have had guests who have been drawn out of their rehab centers or even their homes for the first time by the Day At The Races program - being in the garage is a powerful attraction. That’s why I use it. I want people to get out of their comfort zone, into unfamiliar territory to see that a spinal cord injury isn’t the end - for me it’s been a whole new beginning.”

Schmidt, a former IndyCar racer and now Indy Racing League team owner, was injured in his race car in January of 2000 in a practice session crash. He is recovering from severe upper spinal cord injuries that left him paralyzed from the chest down.

During the Day At The Races program, Schmidt encourages, even challenges his guests to live life with passion and a purpose. His foundation provides guests with information about local resources they have available.

“California has a wonderful climate that encourages people to be very active biking, surfing, horseback riding and, consequently, the state has a large spinal cord injured population,” says Ida Cahill, President of Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. “Our goal is to inspire, encourage and offer assistance to these people. It’s really a very rewarding and uplifting day.”

Cahill has worked with spinal cord injury patients for years, including working for the late Christopher Reeve. She is always touched by the individuals she meets at the Day At The Races programs.

“I’ve been involved with spinal cord injury for a number of years and in my travels around the country have met some of the most courageous people I’ve ever had the privilege to know,” says Cahill.

Day At The Races is a treat not just for those who’ve suffered spinal cord injuries, but to the whole family.

“Because a spinal cord injury impacts not just the injured person but the entire family, our Day at the Races program centers around the family,” explains Cahill.

“We contact rehabilitation hospitals, spinal cord injury associations and veterans’ organizations inviting them to the Day at the Races program. Besides providing much needed resource materials, we encourage our guests to exchange contact information with one another to lend support when it’s needed. Let’s face it, there are days when being injured can get a person down but if they are able to telephone another person who understands just how they feel, it has to help.”

Schmidt, a winning race car driver who is now a quadriplegic car owner in the Infiniti Pro Series, is founder of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation (www.samschmidt.org), which helps individuals overcome spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders by funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances. This research also benefits stroke victims and people diagnosed with ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. SSPF also addresses quality of life issues benefiting people with paralysis and other disabilities through its Day At The Races program, and works tirelessly promoting advocacy concerns.

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