The Hart to Heart Breast Cancer Foundation Pro Late Model 100 is held every year during the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing event. It is run out of respect and in honor of those who have lost their lives and who are still fighting against Breast Cancer and various other forms of this horrific disease.
The Hart to Heart Breast Cancer Foundation at New Smyrna Speedway was founded by Mrs. Jane Hart. Mrs. Hart saw the need to do something that would give back to the community through New Smyrna Speedway. After meeting many women and men in the community that were battling breast cancer, Mrs. Hart decided that she wanted to collect donations during intermission on Saturday nights at the race track with hopes of finding an organization to donate everything collected. As she began looking into the many breast cancer organizations there are, Mrs. Hart was unsure which ones would actually help the most and which ones would, in fact, keep it local. During her search, she was approached by many breast cancer organizations, asking to be the “one” that she donated to. Each time there was something that didn’t “click”. Mrs. Hart knew, for sure, that she wanted to give the donations to an organization that would keep them in the community and help the local women and men battling with this disease. On a Saturday night at the race track, a race fan approached our bartender and asked to speak with the track owner in regards to the donations that were being collected for breast cancer. Mrs. Hart met Evelyn Burroughs, she was a widow of four years and a mother to two young teenagers. Evelyn had expressed to Mrs. Hart that she didn’t donate during intermission, her reason being simple, she herself had breast cancer. Evelyn told Mrs. Hart she had asked and been denied by several organizations, because she didn’t meet their requirements. She also shared with Mrs. Hart that many of these organizations didn’t actually give 100%...60% or even 40 % of the donations that they receive to those in need. Most of the money not only doesn’t stay in the community but a large portion of what is collected is used for administrative costs. This conversation would finally give her the answer to which organization she would give the donations to...her own organization.
Mrs. Hart had been so touched that night with Evelyn’s story she knew she needed to start an organization of her own, one that would give 100% of the donations received to those local women and men battling the disease. She also knew that Evelyn Burroughs would be the first person that would be helped. With all the proper paperwork signed and filed the Hart to Heart Breast Cancer Foundation, a 501 (C) (3) at New Smyrna Speedway was started.
Evelyn Burroughs is an amazing and brave woman who has become a big part of the New Smyrna Speedway family and our official spokeswoman for the Hart to Heart Breast Cancer Foundation. It is a blessing to be able to help Evelyn and to be a part of her life and her family’s life and to see her smile and to see them smile. It’s such a great feeling to know all of the donations we have received over the past few years from all of our loyal racing family and fans have helped Evelyn and her family and given them HOPE and a chance at being a survivor.
We would like to thank each and everyone of you that have donated and continue to donate to the Hart to Heart Breast Cancer Foundation at New Smyrna Speedway. We would not be where we are today if it wasn’t for all the generous donations that we have received and continue to receive every Saturday night we race at New Smyrna Speedway.
Over the past several years in addition to helping Evelyn the Hart to Heart Breast Cancer Foundation has helped others in the community that are battling this disease and will continue to help thanks to the donations it received from various fundraisers and the sale of T-shirts, stickers & pins, 100% of sales goes to the foundation. Donations are appreciated and can be made year round if you would like to donate please contact the track at 386-427-4129.