Hands On™ Updates
YOU CAN FLY, YOU CAN FLY, YOU CAN FLY!
Through Believe In Tomorrow’s Hands On Flying Adventures, children and families across the country now have the opportunity to soar high above their hometowns aboard the nation’s most exclusive mode of transportation – a blimp! Believe In Tomorrow’s national partnerships with MetLife and DIRECTV give critically ill children and families the ride of a lifetime as these airships touch down in cities across the country. MetLife’s fleet includes the recognizable Snoopy One and Snoopy Two blimps, which each visit a different location every weekend. The DIRECTV blimp is a one-of-a-kind airship featuring a 2100-foot LED wraparound screen, which will be showcasing Believe In Tomorrow’s mission and families as it flies high above the ground.
If you happen to catch a glimpse of these fascinating blimps, be sure to wave in case Believe In Tomorrow’s children and families are on board!
BELIEVE IN TOMORROW FAMILIES FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE PBR (PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDERS, INC.)
Believe In Tomorrow families from New York City to Arizona and everywhere in between can experience a Hands On Adventure with the PBR during the 2012 Built Ford Tough Series National Tour. In addition to Believe In Tomorrow’s Hospital and Respite Housing Programs, the foundation has established a strategic partnership with the PBR to give families one-of-a kind, inspirational opportunities that help them look forward to tomorrow. Believe In Tomorrow children tour behind the chutes, meet the bulls and the riders, and receive autographs on their custom Hands On Bullriding t-shirts.
Full Speed Ahead: NASCAR
An invitation from NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Ryan Hackett may lead to a new partnership that would expand Believe In Tomorrow’s ability to create more days at the races and Hands on Adventures for children and families.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Ryan Hackett hosted some special guests at Dover International Speedway on Friday, May 29. Brothers Brian and Michael Mills and their Mom and Dad; Dennis Wimer and his Mom and Dad; and J.T. Scott and his Dad, received a behind-the-scenes tour of the speedway, VIP access to the infield and the NASCAR Camping World Truck garage and had lunch with Ryan and his racing crew in his team’s race hauler. Ryan and his team couldn’t have been more gracious or welcoming. The focus, stamina and energy Ryan and his crew need to stay on their game on the speedway, was even more evident, when the team explained that races are won and lost in the blink of an eye, literally – and that if an auto part is even a quarter of a millimeter off – it could mean the difference between first and last place or even a crash. Ryan also gave the kids the opportunity to make their mark on his truck – with paint and their handprints.
Thank you Ryan, Pat, Pam and team for creating such a unique opportunity for Believe In Tomorrow families. Believe In Tomorrow is hopeful this event will be the first of many to come and that the organization can soon add Team Hackett to our list of Hands On Adventures partners, which include the Professional Bull Riders Association (PBRA), the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and the Lightship Group, who provide blimp and other aerial experiences for Believe In Tomorrow children.
Up, Up, and Away
Believe In Tomorrow families on beach respite will also receive special treatment as VIP guests of the OC Air Show, June 13 and 14 on the O.C. Beach & Boardwalk. The 2nd Annual show returns to dazzle and soar to new heights using a lineup of military and civilian performers, including US Air Force Thunderbirds. Military pediatric families who stay with Believe In Tomorrow in the three Beach Respite properties will get to “ooh and ahh” at aerobatic performers and close formation flying teams. Imaginations will take off.
The National Hot Rod Association: Serious VIP Treatment
Hands On Racing, the partnership between the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and Believe In Tomorrow National Children’s Foundation, is accelerating, full speed ahead.
The renewed relationship between the foundation and the national drag racing organization took off March 14 in Gainesville, Fla. and since then dozens of NHRA stars have jumped on board to make every child’s experience a memorable one.
The Noles family of McDonough, Ga. recently discovered just how memorable the drivers and tour guides of the NHRA can make one afternoon while attending an event in Atlanta.
David Fankhauser, who led the tour of the race pits for the Noles, said the family met team owner/legend Kenny Bernstein and he immediately escorted them to a drag racing car to take pictures in the driver’s seat.
Later, Tony Schumacher, six-time world champion, signed the boys shirts and passed them some U.S. army hats. Jack Beckman, the winner of the “Funny Car” class, brought the boys to the hospitality pavilion to rest from all of the action and excitement.
Probably the most impressive display of giving, however, showed in a couple drivers who went out of their way to make sure Nick Noles, who has leukemia, and his brother, Lucas Noles, received special treatment. Pro Stock driver Mike Edwards missed the family when they came by to meet him, but passed on the message that he’d send team items to the Noles’ home. Shawn Langond, an up-and-coming, young driver wasn’t in his pit when the Noles came by, but took the time to come find them, gave the kids autographs, and took a picture with them.
Frankhauser said in an email: “I spoke with Ken yesterday and he said the boys were just thrilled with the experience. This is the third time we’ve lead the tours for the NHRA and have enjoyed every one of the Believe In Tomorrow families.”
The next NHRA Hands On Racing Adventures will take place in: Topeka, KS, Chicago, and Englishtown, NJ. Check our Calendar to see when you can come along with us for a ride!
A Day at the NHRA
By Jennifer NelsonBelieve In Tomorrow recently jump-started a longtime relationship with the National Hot Rod Association as a continuation of its Hands On Racing program. Hands On Racing, like all Hands On Adventures, is meant to ignite the imaginations of critically ill children and inspire them to follow a particular person or event, compelling them to focus on the future rather than present or past treatment. This season’s first Hands On Racing event took place in Gainesville, Fla. Below is a first-person account from a Believe In Tomorrow family.
The day started off with a brief ride from our hotel to the Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida. Upon arriving at the gate we were greeted by Chaplain Larry Smiley. Mr. Smiley then introduced us to Lindsey from the NHRA and his fellow Chaplains: David and Sandy. This was the beginning of a very exciting day for the Nelson family.
We were given our tickets and headed into the gate to begin our adventure. We were taken to all of the trailers and were introduced to the drivers of most of the cars. Each driver was friendly and willing to sign autographs and our t-shirts. We went into their “pit” areas and looked at the truly amazing cars. The noise was so loud it reminded me of being on an Air Force Base with jets landing all around. This made it very exciting!
Our tour guides David and Sandy were very helpful and answered the millions of questions that Taylor had about the cars. Taylor and Joshua were especially excited when one of the drivers, Robert Hight, asked them if they wanted to sit in his car. This was the highlight of their day! They each got into the car and enjoyed a little lesson on how it worked from Mr. Hight. Then it was on to the races!
Once we finished with our personal tour of the pit area we were escorted to our seats to watch the cars that we had just seen up close. This was the really exhilarating part of the day. When sitting in the stands, we had to wear their ear plugs because the noise was deafening. When the cars raced by in front of you, the vibration could be felt throughout your whole body. It was so strong that your vision became blurry. The cars, which ran upwards of 300 miles per hour in less than four seconds, were very powerful machines. This would be exciting for anyone, but our teenage boy was in heaven. We had a truly wonderful day, thanks to the generosity of the NHRA and Believe In Tomorrow!
A Revived Hands On Adventure Begins: National Hot Rod Association
Members of the 35,000 licensed competitors in the National Hot Rod Association invite Believe In Tomorrow children from coast to coast to participate in an exciting season of top speeds and adrenaline.
On race day, whether it’s in Phoenix, Houston, or Chicago, critically ill children and their families will get a tour of open race pits, meet the drivers, place their handprints on driver’s memorabilia and receive special reserved seating for the event.
The goal of the program: to help critically ill children focus on the future rather than the present or the past. Oftentimes, children undergoing treatment get caught up in the routine of hospital visits. Thanks to the generosity of the National Hot Rod Association, children with life-threatening illnesses will receive a day they may never forget and a tool for speeding recovery.
Critically ill children will get the chance to visit one of seventeen major cities around the country to attend this event. Many children and their families who attend the event with Believe In Tomorrow become lifetime supporters and enthusiasts of drag racing.
Drag racing, or “hot rod” racing at speeds that sometimes topple 300 miles per hour, found its first supporters in empty plains of the arid West, and a lifetime supporter in Wally Parks, the founder of National Hot Rod Association.
In 1953, Parks saw the first official race of his association – meant to organize and keep drivers safe – zoom past on the track of the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, Calif. Forty-six years later, with an exponential accumulation of fans, the 2009 season for the National Hot Rod Association will begin again February 5.
Believe In Tomorrow will join the tour in Phoenix, Ariz., beginning Feb. 20.