Drive to Survive | Video

Jessica Roose | 8/17/2012

Friday night, the fifth annual Drive to Survive stock car races was at Dakotah Speedway. Friday afternoon, the community was invited to meet the drivers and see their cars, all for a good cause.

For many of these kids seeing a racecar up close was the highlight of their day. Some drivers even let the kids see how it feels to be behind the wheel. Nylee Boyce has been racing since 2009, but she says this race is a special one, since it raises awareness for cancer.

"I take it more seriously because of the fact of now that I`ve lost a friend with it you look at it way different. I hope that brings kind of awareness to some people who haven`t went through anything like that personally and hopefully they don`t wait till they actually have to you know go through something like that."

Her friend Bonnie Beeter passed away last month, after being diagnosed with Brain cancer in June. Boyce says she is racing in her friend`s memory and mom`s honor.

"The white ribbon was the one for Bonnie Beeter with the brain cancer and then we got my mom, she had the ovarian cancer and that is the teal colored ribbon. That`s where my mom is, seven years cancer free."

Money raised from tonight`s race will benefit the Bismarck Cancer Center to help those who have been diagnosed.

"The foundation was formed about five years ago and what that does is it raises money for extra assistance for patients who are going through a treatment here. It also offers monetary assistance for those who can`t afford treatment. So nobody`s ever been turned away from cancer treatment at the Bismarck Cancer Center," said Sara Kelsch with the Bismarck Cancer Center.

And the hope is that no one ever will.

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