NHRA drag racing has always been a fan-driven sport, but this month superstar driver Alexis DeJoria is driving fans to think and act when it comes to breast cancer detection. Dejoria, partnering with Baylor Health and Nevada Health Care Systems, brings mammography onto the track via mobile units during the AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals (October 14-15 at the Texas Motorplex) and at the NHRA Toyota Nationals (October 28-29 at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway).
Mammograms for the Fans is an impactful program and labor of love for DeJoria who is celebrating the project’s fourth consecutive year of offering female fans and ticket holders age 40 and up free screening. The collaboration between the team, state-of-the-art health centers and the NHRA has helped make mammography accessible and easy for female fans. And in the process, everyone at the track is reminded of the importance of wellness care and early detection when it comes to beating breast cancer. “NHRA was wonderful in working with us and allowing us to use part of their space at the track for this,” DeJoria says.
DeJoria and her medical and racing collaborators recognize that making screening available is just one part of early detection. The racer admits that at the onset of Mammograms for the Fans, she worried that women might hesitate to break the race track spectator mode and actually get a mammogram. But the racing community and medical teams have helped dispel any stigma and are instead watching women take charge of their health via this free service.
“You know, we’re all in this together and…[it’s] just the price of the ticket,” adds DeJoria. “I’m really, really excited about that.”
Listen to Nancy’s interview with Alexis DeJoria on iTunes and follow the podcast on Facebook.
Read more about NHRA racing on Parade.
View the original at Parade or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Google+