checkered_dreams_testimonials

Thank you Sue and Checkered Flag dreams for pouring so much time, effort, energy, and love into this experience. My son
believes he is truly a rock star because of you and as he will tell you he has the trophy to prove it. In fact, my son has not stopped talking about the rock star race experience from Checkered Dreams. The entire experience has catapulted my son into stardom. From meeting Nascar superstars such as Ernie Irvan, Jeff Burton, John Andretti, and Chad Little to sitting in some of the cars and pretending to race the entire experience was amazing. My son loved receiving the helmet and getting autographs but when the driver presented him with his very own trophy he exclaimed, “I’m the best, the winner!” The most memorable part of the night was when he got the pace car victory lap sitting next to the track beauty queen and waving the checkered flag. The smile on his face when he got out said it all. He loved talking to the announcer and the crowd on the mic and receiving such a warm introduction at the drivers meeting. His favorite part of the night was getting the huge bag of toys and goodies at the end of the night. He was so excited! He thought it was Christmas in August. He went through the bag on the way home and talked about all of his amazing memories of the evening. The next morning when he woke up he immediately wanted to redecorate his bedroom so that he could put up the drivers autographed pictures and stickers that he received as well as display his trophy and helmet. You truly gave my son the victory lap that he deserves!

Michael had the best time of his life. I'll never forget when you gave him his trophy he tried to hold it up and he was yelling "I won, I won". He went to sleep with it last night. Mark said when they were in the pace car Mike was screaming at the top of his lungs he was having so much fun. What you all put together is unbelievable from the food to the goody bags are great!!!! And by the way I had the meatballs and they were very good. The drivers that we met couldn't have been nicer I'm so happy they took the time to talk and take pictures with Mike. I hope you can continue to give this great experience to a lot more kids like my son. God bless you and your family for giving us this GREAT night out.

Sue -
First, let me thank you so much. You guys did a great job and we really appreciated it. It was so much more than we could have hoped for. Nicholas had the time of his life, and what good luck that Ray was there and was so friendly with Nicholas. He wants to know when we can go back again. I asked him what his favorite part was and, of course, it was when he got to say "Drivers start your engines!" He was so in his element that night and everyone was so friendly and accomodating. I cannot thank your team enough for that! It truly was a dream come true for Nicholas!
It would be great if I could help you guys out. I would love to promote what you all do at our event on the 25th. Attached is the flyer that we discussed. Please let me know if you can make it.
Also, what was the gentleman's name who seemed to be running things at the track with Ray? He was the one who actually invited Nicholas up to the booth. I cannot remember. I would like to send him a thank you as well for all he did and for working with your organization.
Thanks so much!
Wendy Batley

HEY! SUZY...THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR INVITING US TO CAROLINA
SPEEDWAY LAST FRIDAY. IT WAS A NIGHT I SHALL NEVER FORGET. I LOVED
SEEING SAMMY BEING A ''STAR'' AND REALLY ENJOYED THE ATTENTION,
RESPECT, AND LOVE HE RECEIVED FROM EVERYONE. WE'RE STILL TALKING
ABOUT ALL THE FUN WE HAD, AND ALL THE FUN I HAD EXPERIENCED IN THE PIT
AND INNER CIRCLE. THE NIGHT WAS AMAZING. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, AND
HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON...SINCERELY, ANITA (GRANNY) WALTERS

Event: Sammy~May 29, 2009~Carolina Speedway, Gastonia, NC

My son Jonathan has benefited from the Checkered Dreams team. We first met the team when they resided in Pennsylvania. Jonathan was supposed to receive a day at the races at a local racetrack in October 2005. It turned out to be a miserable rainy day and the event was cancelled. The team still kept us on their list for a future event. The team had moved to North Carolina, but was planning on doing a race in Pennsylvania during June 2007. They called/ e-mailed us and asked if we were still interested in having Jonathan do a "Checkered Dream Day at the Races". I said "Of course! When?". Well, it just so happened that Jonathan and I were going to be on vacation that week in Alabama. I asked the team if maybe we could do it at their local track in North Carolina the next week? They said that would be fine with them.

When Jonathan and I arrived in North Carolina a few days before the race, the Checkered Dreams team invited us to their home. They gave Jonathan and I a tour of their race shop, provided dinner for us, gave us a ride on their boat on Lake Norman. They even left Jonathan steer the boat. Jonathan was very happy and excited that day. I was very happy with how the team treated Jonathan. They were very nice!

On the day of the race, because we were not familiar with where the racetrack was, we went to the Checkered Dreams team home and followed them to the racetrack. Jonathan rode along with the team in their hauler. He loved it!!!!!!!! When we got to the racetrack, the team was very accommodating to us. Was always tending to our wants and needs. They introduced Jonathan to the racetrack drivers and fans, had Jonathan get his helmet signed by the different drivers and gave Jonathan many gifts from the sponsors and drivers. Jonathan was able to take a few laps in one of the race cars. Had his picture taken with the winner of the race.

I will forever cherish the experience that my son had with the Checkered Dreams team!

Thank you very much Checkered Dreams team! You made a dream come true! God bless you!

Sincerely,
Anita Snyder
mother of Jonathan Snyder
2795 Carlisle Pike Apt. A
New Oxford, PA 17350

At 7 years of age, my son, Curtis, became very ill with pain, high fevers, fatigue, and weight loss. Over a period of 2 months, his condition became progressively worse as his symptoms escalated. He was fading away. In a dire state, Curtis was admitted to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) unable to walk or tolerate a hug due to the pain throughout his body. After a week of grueling tests the doctors at CHOP diagnosed Curtis with Poly Arteritis Nodosa (PAN). PAN is a form of Vasculitis, a potentially life threatening Autoimmune Disorder causing inflammation of the arteries and interrupting blood flow to organs of the body.

Curtis spent the next 8 months in and out of the hospital. At one scary point, he was transported by ambulance from a local hospital to CHOP because of his fragile condition. Curtis underwent 4 surgeries over this time and was treated with medications. Eventually, Curtis’s condition improved and his PAN went into remission.

It was around this time that our family received a call from Checkered Dreams. Having heard of Curtis’s challenges over the previous 8 months, Checkered Dreams wanted to offer him a night out at the races with his family and friends. As a family, we agreed that a night out at the races sounded like a lot of fun. Never did we imagine how much fun and how special that night would be.

Checkered Dreams treated Curtis like a celebrity. They gave him a hat and shirt so everyone at the races identified him and welcomed him with open arms. We all enjoyed a wonderful meal and abundant supply of treats provided by Checkered Dreams. Curtis received an official racing helmet and was so honored when all the drivers made it a point to come to the stands to greet him and sign his helmet. To this day, Curtis warmly displays that helmet in his room. It is such a treasure to him.

I think the highlights of the evening were taking a Victory Lap with driver Marissa Nelmes in her 2am Thriller race car and acting as official starter of the races. I can’t describe how awesome those experiences were to an 8 year old boy. It is also difficult to describe my feelings as Curtis’s mother. After watching my young son go through more pain and suffering than most people experience in a lifetime, the look of sheer joy on his face that night out with Checkered Dreams is something I will never forget.

When someone you love suffers with a life threatening illness, it envelopes you completely. Your life becomes all about doctors, tests, hospitals, meds, etc. You forget that life is still going on around you. Checkered Dreams gave us all an escape from that heavy, heavy load for a night. In fact, this escape lasted well beyond that night as we rode the waves of those wonderful feelings for quite some time.

We are forever grateful to Checkered Dreams for giving us an experience of a lifetime; for giving our son a night away from his heavy burdens; an award for being so brave and strong. We hope that Curtis will stay in remission from his PAN for a long, long time. Curtis will always have PAN but, luckily, he will also always have his memories from his night at the races with Checkered Dreams.

Hey Sue, thank you for the night of dreams. I had a lot of fun and I just wanted to tell you some of my favorite moments of that night.

One of my favorite moments was taking a lap around the track and then standing in front of the crowd getting a trophy. While I was standing inside the track, everyone got to hear all about me and what my condition was. The second favorite moment was getting a helmet that was plain white. Then I took the helmet around to the different drivers and have them sign it. I have a shelf that is inside my closet that ever since that night has been a home for the signed helmet. When I took the helmet to get signed the drivers that I met were very nice and were very generous. Some of the drivers gave me t-shirts and hats; I still have them in my drawer.

That night had a good beginning, a bad middle but a great ending. The middle of the night was not the best because when I was walking through the pits meeting the drivers, I over tread my ankle. I was in a lot of pain and thought that my night of fun was over. My mom gave my some medicine, you got me some ice and you finished getting my helmet signed. While I was waiting for you to come back, Jackie let me sit in her car and they started it up. I got to drive it for about of foot but even that short distance made my injury not so bad.

When the night was over my family and I had to drive home. While we were driving I got a chance to stop and take the time to sit and look through my goodie bag that I received. I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated that night you put a lot of hard work into for me to have a good time.

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