Target Drivers Visit with Kids of Target House
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (October 20, 2006) Target Chip Ganassi Racing drivers, Scott Dixon, Reed Sorenson and Dan Wheldon made a special trip to Memphis, Tennessee on October 18, 2006, to tour St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and visit the children of Target House.
This was a first time visit for both IndyCar driver Wheldon and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup rookie Sorenson who were impressed by the facilities but more so by the spirit of the kids living there.
"A lot of these kids have very serious illnesses, but they seem in such positive spirits. That's because they've been put in a very positive environment," said Wheldon who, along with his teammates, posed for photos, signed autographs and spent some time with the kids. "I've never seen anything quite like it to be quite honest."
"It seems like every room you go in here, it's amazing what they've done here," said Sorenson, who will return to Memphis next week for the Sam's Town 250 Busch Series race. "They've built character into every room. It makes it an enjoyable place to be."
IndyCar driver Dixon was in his third visit and has taken part in various team promotions throughout the years to raise awareness and funds for the Target House. His favorite was last year’s Indianapolis 500/Coca Cola 600 project in which all the Target drivers wore helmets with designs created by the kids of Target House. He sees the yearly visits as a great reminder and motivator to continue those efforts.
"It's rewarding for us because we can see what we can do to help out," Dixon said. "Not many people get to see this side of it. A lot of people try to block this kind of thing out of their mind. But it's the individuals who make places like this run. The only problem is that you can't bring everyone here to see it because it is fantastic to see how they accommodate these kids."
Wheldon was particularly impressed with the people who work and volunteer at the facility.
"The people involved in Target House are like a race team. You can have everything right, but if the people aren't working in the same direction, you aren't going to get results," Wheldon said. "The people here are doing it right. It's truly nice to be associated with people who take the time and effort to do something like they're doing here."
Since 1997, Target Chip Ganassi Racing (TCGR) has raised more than $440,000 for St. Jude and Target House by donating $5,000 for each victory, $1,000 for each pole position and $25 for each lap led.
With the success of the IndyCar and NASCAR teams throughout the 2006 season, Target Chip Ganassi Racing will be able to make another sizable donation to Target House. The $61,450 donation raised by TCGR this season to date was highlighted by five $5,000 victories, one of which was the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona with Dixon, Wheldon and Casey Mears, and includes two wins each by Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldon in the IndyCar Series, as well as three $1,000 pole positions in the IndyCar Series.
This is in addition to the $24,400 worth of laps led by the IndyCar drivers and $6,800 in laps led during the Daytona 24 hour race. Rookie Sorenson has led 90 laps in his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Target car in 2006 so far, for an additional $2,225.
Funded by Target Stores and its vender and celebrity partners, Target House is a home away from home for families with children receiving life-saving treatment at St. Jude Children’s Hospital. As an extension of St. Jude’s commitment to care for any child regardless of the family’s ability to pay, Target House provides residents the privacy of a furnished two-bedroom apartment, free of charge.
Founded in 1962 by late entertainer Danny Thomas, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., is the largest center in the United States for the treatment and research of pediatric cancer and other life-threatening childhood diseases. The unique hospital, which shares its treatment procedures upon request with other hospitals for free, has increased childhood cancer survival rates from 20 to 70 percent overall.