Sam Schmidt was a race car driver that our mom and dad used to watch race at Indy in the late 1990's.
But he got paralyzed in a really bad crash practicing at Walt Disney World Speedway in 2000.
Since he couldn't race anymore he started a race team to help other drivers race.
He now owns cars that race (and win alot) in the Indy Lights Series and in Indycar (where he got his first win with Simon Pagenaud in Detroit on Sunday).
He also started a charity to help find a cure for paralysis.
Each year for the past 14 years before the Indy 500 there is a Racing to Recovery Gala and auction to benefit the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation.
Many drivers attend the event and support the foundation. This year included Tristan Vautier, Katherine Legge, Simon Pagenaud, Pippa Mann and Ed Carpenter.
Our dad is paralyzed too, just not as badly as Mr. Schmidt, so this is one of our favorite charities that was started by and is supported by drivers.
We hope they continue to raise lots of money to cure paralysis some day.
And THANK YOU to Sam Schmidt for starting his foundation, and to all the drivers who support it!
And THANK YOU to Sam Schmidt for starting his foundation, and to all the drivers who support it!
