Sat. Dec. 1st — Home from Vegas
Ali with racing fan and 11 yr old B+ Hero, Nathan Silpath, who she invited to join her for the NASCAR Awards Banquet in Las Vegas.
I want to thank everyone for voting for Ali over the past few months for the NASCAR Humanitarian Award contest. Ali’s week was packed with activities from a private cocktail party with the top 12 NASCAR drivers to a victory lap down the famed Las Vegas Strip to an appearance on a Vegas morning show to going on stage during last night’s nationally-televised black tie banquet. As a Finalist, Ali has kindly designated the foundation that she co-founded, The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, to be the beneficiary of the $25,000 check that she will be receiving from NASCAR. This will go to tremendous use to help deserving families of kids with cancer.
But, I have to talk about Ali specifically.
My heart just broke when Ali came back to the table from being backstage after the announcement. As I gave her a hug, through her tears, she said to me “I’m sorry”. She has nothing to apologize for. She hasn’t let us down, she hasn’t let Andrew down…even though she thinks she has. If anything, I let her down because I couldn’t generate enough votes for her. The fact that we couldn’t get more votes than another finalist does not, in any way, diminish the impact that she’s making in the world.
This recognition was about Ali and not The B+ Foundation. I could not be more proud of who she has become and how she has lived her life in the face of unthinkable tragedy. Ali was selected as one of only four NASCAR Humanitarian of the Year Award national finalists not simply because of her work with The B+ Foundation, but for several reasons including:
volunteering for two summers at Delaware’s only oncology camp (Kay’s Kamp).
volunteering as a grief counselor at a local non-profit organization.
400 hours of field work in the Social Work department of the hospital where her brother died.
‘being there’ for kids all over the country. You have no idea how many kids – those battling cancer and siblings of kids with cancer – who Ali keeps in regular touch with to help them in any small way.
working on a college dance marathon for four years and co-leading it last year to raise $470,000 to help fight childhood cancers.
educating people about childhood cancers at racetracks, banquets, media events, and informal conversation. This is especially impressive when you realize that Ali is a very introverted person.
visiting kids in hospitals around the country.
and, yes of course, co-founding The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation.
What people don’t realize is that Ali’s work fighting childhood cancer never stops. She’s always reading about the latest research, reaching out to kids, heading our efforts in the social media world, raising money, and on and on. She is so passionate, perhaps even obsessed, with fighting for other kids. She knows that none of this will bring her brother back to this world. Andrew was always proud to say that he is “Ali’s brother”. I know he still is.
Ali, your Mom, your brother, and I are so proud of you. Congratulations on your well-deserved recognition.
Ali & Andrew’s Dad