Salisbury, North Carolina – Ryan Blaney’s late grandfather, Lou Blaney, suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease, which led to the creation of the Ryan Blaney Family Foundation. With a passion to help those affected and fight for a cure, the RBFF focuses on raising money and awareness around Alzheimer’s in hopes of someday seeing a survivor of the disease.
Lou, the patriarch to the family’s rich racing history, was diagnosed with the disease at the young age of 64 and succumbed to the disease just a short five years later. While an exceptional racer, he was most importantly an integral part of his family, being a kind-hearted grandfather. Missed greatly by his loved ones, the RBFF honors his legacy by continuing to be advocates for other families who share similar experiences.
This month, the RBFF is holding an initiative, “Helping Stop Alzheimer’s In Its Tracks”, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the NASCAR Cup race the weekend of July 29-31. With purchase of special RBFF Fan Pack, fans will receive the following: a reserved seat on Sunday, July 31, a limited edition RBFF Alzheimer’s Awareness t-shirt and cooling towel, and VIP access to a Q&A with Ryan. To purchase, please visit the following website: ims.com/blaneyfoundation.
A portion of the proceeds from ticket package sales will be donated to the RBFF, who will be donating the received funds to the Alzheimer’s Association. If you are at the race at IMS, the RBFF will have a booth onsite Friday through Sunday with Alzheimer’s information and RBFF merchandise for sale, with all proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Association, as well.
One in three seniors die with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, and more than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. This disease kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined, and the death rate has risen 145% from 2000 to 2019. These alarming statistics push the RBFF to continue fighting for those suffering and the caregivers who are alongside them.
To donate, please feel free to visit the Ryan Blaney Family Foundation website. The RBFF also has a text to give option: text RBFF to 56651.