NASA Great Lakes and Midwest Miata Parts have teamed up to raffle off a 1990 Mazda Miata to raise funds and awareness for FORCE, Facing Hereditary Cancer Empowered, an organization that provides support, education, research, advocacy and public policy about hereditary cancer.
Tickets cost $100 each and 100 percent of the proceeds go to FORCE. The drawing will be held August 28. To donate and enter to win, send $100 via PayPal to [email protected]. Use the “sending to a friend” option to avoid service fee. Donations also will be accepted in person up to the drawing on August 28 at approximately 6 p.m. Anyone can donate, from any NASA region, and the winner need not be present to win.
Midwest Miata Parts donated the Miata, which has been upgraded with a new 1.8-liter engine, 4.30:1 Torsen differential, Hard Dog roll bar and more.
Selecting FORCE as the charity was driven by NASA Great Lakes members Lauri and Marlon Sumlin after Lauri endured breast and ovarian cancers, and all the surgeries and treatments that come with those diagnoses. FORCE is a proponent of testing for hereditary cancer, and encourages people with cancer in their family trees to get tested.
“My mom had breast cancer. My mom had ovarian cancer. I ended up having both. So now I’m a big proponent of getting tested ahead of time, which I didn’t do. So I ended up having to act reactively because I got diagnosed with cancer, and then it was too late,” Lauri said. “Then I have to go through treatments. Whereas if you get your genes tested to see if you have the gene for any of those cancers, you can be proactive about it, especially with females. You can have a prophylactic mastectomy, you can have a prophylactic hysterectomy. If you’re not using it anymore, get rid of it, and it lessens your chances of getting cancer. So now I’m a big proponent of getting tested.”
FORCE also provides education and support for spouses and caregivers like Lauri’s husband Marlon, who has been by Lauri’s side throughout her diagnosis and treatment.
“We’re fortunate enough that Jay and the rest of our NASA Great Lakes community has jumped on board. This is our actual charity of choice. Last year, despite COVID, I think we raised like between $12,000 and $15,000 during COVID with just a few limited events and not having a lot of people here,” Marlon said. “But we saved that car for last because we wanted to do something even more. Now that the restrictions have been lifted and more people can come out, spend a hundred dollars and have a chance to win a car, or know that you have an opportunity to save lives.”
