Street Kids Care Help BMW Raise
Money for Breast Cancer Awareness
Goal is to reach $1 million this year throughout all BMW locations
Money for Breast Cancer Awareness
Goal is to reach $1 million this year throughout all BMW locations
Story taken from Tristan Henry, WSBT-TV
You might have noticed white and pink BMWs driving
through South Bend Saturday. Breast cancer survivors
and supporters took a ride to raise money for breast
cancer research with the BMW Ultimate Drive at
Basney BMW.
"It's a lot of fun, I never thought I'd have a chance to
drive a BMW," said cancer survivor Joan Pethe.
"Awesome. The girl in front of me was not driving fast
enough. I wanted to pass her," joked Lezlie O'Hara.
She's been cancer free for three years and was excited
her hair has grown back long enough to enjoy feeling
the air blow through it in a convertible.
BMW allows anyone to test drive a car for free on a
14-mile track. The company donates $1 for every mile driven to Susan G. Koman Race For The Cure.
"I'm on a mission to keep as many cars in motion while I'm here that I can, because that's the object to put on mileage so they
can raise money," said Pethe.
This is her third year driving in the fund raiser. The Ultimate Drive will stop in 210 cities. Anyone who has taken part in the
fund raiser can add their name to a signature car.
It also features a local hero from each stop. Basney BMW picked Linda Jenkins as this year's hero. She's been in remission
for six years.
"When I was diagnosed I said, 'OK, there are two ways you can go
about this — it can be devastating or you can look into it and see what
opportunities God has for you,' and that's the way I choose," said
Jenkins.
Jenkins is part of a support group called "Young Survivors." They reach
out to younger women about the importance of breast cancer screening.
"We want them to do those self breast exams, get that early detection
because that early detection can save your life and it has for so many
of us," said Kim Zobrosky, a cancer survivor.
The group hopes rides like this will became a road map to a brighter
future for breast cancer patients.
"I think most of the women here will tell you it can be a very positive
thing because it can open your eyes to what is important in life. Are you focusing on the right things? Are you doing as much
for other people as you can?" said Jenkins.
Street Kids Care, the charitable division of the Street Kids/Suburban softball club in South Bend, helped build the awareness
for the event, partnering with Basney BMW to promote the event on
their popular website, as well as promoting the Ultimate Drive on a
local radio station.
"Breast cancer has effected my family in the past and as an organization,
we want to be involved to do our part to help bring awareness to this
terrible disease," said TJ Jorgensen of Street Kids Care, who are
sponsored by Home Comfort Experts. "I had the chance to talk with
many people today, many survivors and people involved with Susan
G. Komen for the Cure. Today reassured me that the things we do -
walking in the Making Strides event in October as well as being involved
with the Relay For Life - are not going unnoticed. Our goal is to change
lives, and I believe we are doing our part to reach that goal."
Street Kids Care will be working with "Young Survivors" in the near
future to help promote their program in the community. Young Survivors
has a mission to help other women affected by cancer, including providing
complimentary services to these women. One of their new projects that Street Kids Care will help take part in is an exercise
program for women who are several months out of treatment.
"We know that exercise is crucial to help prevent re-occurance," said Zobrosky. "It reduces that risk by 50%."
In the last 11 years, BMW has donated $12 million to cancer research through
this fundraiser.
The next drive will take place in Kalamazoo on Monday.
To learn more about Street Kids Care, visit the SKC home page.
To learn more about the Susan G. Komen For a Cure, click here.
To learn more about BMW, click here.
You might have noticed white and pink BMWs driving
through South Bend Saturday. Breast cancer survivors
and supporters took a ride to raise money for breast
cancer research with the BMW Ultimate Drive at
Basney BMW.
"It's a lot of fun, I never thought I'd have a chance to
drive a BMW," said cancer survivor Joan Pethe.
"Awesome. The girl in front of me was not driving fast
enough. I wanted to pass her," joked Lezlie O'Hara.
She's been cancer free for three years and was excited
her hair has grown back long enough to enjoy feeling
the air blow through it in a convertible.
BMW allows anyone to test drive a car for free on a
14-mile track. The company donates $1 for every mile driven to Susan G. Koman Race For The Cure.
"I'm on a mission to keep as many cars in motion while I'm here that I can, because that's the object to put on mileage so they
can raise money," said Pethe.
This is her third year driving in the fund raiser. The Ultimate Drive will stop in 210 cities. Anyone who has taken part in the
fund raiser can add their name to a signature car.
It also features a local hero from each stop. Basney BMW picked Linda Jenkins as this year's hero. She's been in remission
for six years.
"When I was diagnosed I said, 'OK, there are two ways you can go
about this — it can be devastating or you can look into it and see what
opportunities God has for you,' and that's the way I choose," said
Jenkins.
Jenkins is part of a support group called "Young Survivors." They reach
out to younger women about the importance of breast cancer screening.
"We want them to do those self breast exams, get that early detection
because that early detection can save your life and it has for so many
of us," said Kim Zobrosky, a cancer survivor.
The group hopes rides like this will became a road map to a brighter
future for breast cancer patients.
"I think most of the women here will tell you it can be a very positive
thing because it can open your eyes to what is important in life. Are you focusing on the right things? Are you doing as much
for other people as you can?" said Jenkins.
Street Kids Care, the charitable division of the Street Kids/Suburban softball club in South Bend, helped build the awareness
for the event, partnering with Basney BMW to promote the event on
their popular website, as well as promoting the Ultimate Drive on a
local radio station.
"Breast cancer has effected my family in the past and as an organization,
we want to be involved to do our part to help bring awareness to this
terrible disease," said TJ Jorgensen of Street Kids Care, who are
sponsored by Home Comfort Experts. "I had the chance to talk with
many people today, many survivors and people involved with Susan
G. Komen for the Cure. Today reassured me that the things we do -
walking in the Making Strides event in October as well as being involved
with the Relay For Life - are not going unnoticed. Our goal is to change
lives, and I believe we are doing our part to reach that goal."
Street Kids Care will be working with "Young Survivors" in the near
future to help promote their program in the community. Young Survivors
has a mission to help other women affected by cancer, including providing
complimentary services to these women. One of their new projects that Street Kids Care will help take part in is an exercise
program for women who are several months out of treatment.
"We know that exercise is crucial to help prevent re-occurance," said Zobrosky. "It reduces that risk by 50%."
In the last 11 years, BMW has donated $12 million to cancer research through
this fundraiser.
The next drive will take place in Kalamazoo on Monday.
To learn more about Street Kids Care, visit the SKC home page.
To learn more about the Susan G. Komen For a Cure, click here.
To learn more about BMW, click here.
| Watch the WSBT-TV news highlight of the Drive! |
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