For racecar drivers zipping through the twists and turns at Waterford Hills race track things can change in a split second with unexpected crashes and equipment failures.
During races this summer, visitors to the track, on Waterford Road in Independence Township, can raise money to fight lung cancer and honor the memory of a local racecar driver whose life off the track was cut abruptly short.
During the six amateur racing events at Waterford Hills Road Racing Inc., Groveland Township’s Dan Criss is racing to raise money for ‘Racing for Jim.? The program was started by his friend Sammi Hawkins of Waterford, whose 40-year-old husband, Jim, passed away on Dec. 17, 2005, about six months after being diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer, which spread to his brain.
As Criss earns points during the races piloting Jim’s dream racecar, donors make pledges per point he earns, all of which go to the Lung Cancer Alliance.
‘When he was diagnosed, I was working on-line every day looking for an answer,? said Hawkins, who married Jim in August 2005 following a 16-year friendship. ‘When Jim got sick, I was incredibly overwhelmed and scared.?
While desperately trying to help the husband she thought would be in her life forever, Hawkins was impressed by the information and resources provided the Lung Cancer Alliance. The information galvanized her will to both save Jim and get the word out about lung cancer.
‘What stuck with me throughout his battle was the chemotherapy drugs are the same ones they used 10 years ago that didn’t save anyone then,? said Hawkins, who believes too many people think of lung cancer as a disease restricted to smokers.
According to Hawkins, that stereotype causes the disease to get less attention than other cancers. She acknowledges Jim smoked, but says the disease is taking non-smokers and smokers much too early.
‘People are dying younger and younger. People think this is an old man’s disease and it’s not,? said Hawkins.
Following his June 9 diagnosis, Jim’s amateur racing career ended after two races just as he finished his dream racecar and finished driving school in the spring of 2005.
Although Jim is not physically present, signs of the former mechanical engineer’s presence, impact and personality are every at Waterford Hills ? many of the race cars sport ‘Racing for Jim? stickers.
Jim’s 1982 Ford Mustang, which he owned in college and brought to Michigan from his native Tennessee during the winter of 2004-05 can still be seen on the track driven by Criss. During races, Criss even dons some of Jim’s gear and has a large ‘Racing for Jim? over the glove box.
‘To know Jim was to love Jim. He could connect with a 9-year-old or a 57-year-old. He covered the spectrum. If Jim wasn’t Jim, we wouldn’t be sitting around talking about this,? said Criss.
While maintaining the car, Criss experiences change from sadness over his friend’s death to anger when thinking about what he and Hawkins say are shortcomings in detection that could prevent premature deaths.
‘The people are living their life (like Jim) and then they are gone because it’s not being detected,? said Criss.
Hawkins and Criss hope through the fund-raiser that continued research can result in increased success against lung cancer as people detect the illness well before it includes brain metastasis like Jim experienced.
Up to the race on June 24, Criss accumulated 20 total points in races. This means contributors who pledged $1 a point would be committed to a $20 contribution thus far. Last year, Criss finished with 75 points.
Visitors to the June 24-25 racing event could also contribute a $1 donation and get their picture placed on a souvenir magazine memorializing Jim and calling for a cure.
For more information on ‘Racing for Jim? visit www.racing4jim.com. or call 248-674-1688. There are three more racing events scheduled: July 28-29, August 26-27, and September 23-24. In addition to pledges based on Criss? racing, onetime contributions are also being accepted. To learn more about the Lung Cancer Alliance visit lungcanceralliance.org.