By Jerry Jordan, Editor
LEXINGTON, KY. – David Ragan may, or may not, have lost a remote-controlled car race against children at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Medical Center, on Thursday, but the kids didn’t care either way – they were hanging out with a big-time NASCAR driver.
For Ragan, the mission of the Shriners is so important that he became one. It wasn’t good enough for him to donate the money he received for being a member of the Coca-Cola Racing Family, he wanted to do more and now the veteran driver has visited with hundreds of children across the country and toured most every facility the Shriners have. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship that brightens Ragan’s day.
“A lot of times, you know, I come to hang out, give them some encouragement, give them something fun to talk about and maybe take their mind off of a surgery or rehab or occupational work they are doing but in return they give me some confidence and something smile about because they are generally happy and they don’t let their issue get in the way of their life,” Ragan told Kickin’ the Tires, as he signed autographs for his young fans. “So, it’s neat to see their attitude and see what kind of fun they are having too.
“When I first visited a hospital, I thought, ‘man, this is a great group, it’s a great charity, they do a lot of great things for kids’ and kids are the future of our world, so I was just a spokesperson and an ambassador for the Shriners Hospitals for Children but the more I got to learn about what the fraternity means and what they do, as a whole, operating these hospitals, making sure the hospitals have the funding to treat all these kids, I felt like man, I really need to be a Shriner.”
And he did just that. Although he drives racecars at 200-plus miles per hour, wears a big helmet and a funny-looking firesuit, he still isn’t qualified to drive one of those little cars the Shriners ride around in during a parade. Ragan said some people miss out on the philanthropic side of what the Shriners are all about and he wanted to spread the word so the group can continue helping children.
“It’s one of the best organizations in the world,” Ragan said. “They spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year operating these hospitals and making a big difference in the world. I want people to know that connection, that those Shriners they see driving funny cars in a parade or, maybe, having a circus in your hometown, they are the ones that run these hospitals around the world.
“They always joke that I am not qualified to drive ones of those cars yet. I have got to win a few more races and have a few more years under my belt before they will let me drive a 5hp go-kart in a parade.
For the Shriners, having Ragan as an ambassador is a way to get attention for their organization, which allows them to continue helping children with severe burns or orthopedic issues. The partnership is something the Shriners are proud of.
“It means a ton to us to have David involved and to have a Shriner ambassador, who does what he does for our children around the country,” said Anthony West, who serves on the Shriners Hospitals for Children Board of Trustees. “I think this is his fourth hospital this year. He’s already visited about half of our hospitals and the kids just love him to death. He just does so much for the morale of our children with what David does for us and we just can’t thank him enough.”
Tony Lewgood, who is the hospital administrator for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Medical Center that Ragan was visiting, said the relationship with Ragan and his NASCAR connection is good for Shriners and the children they serve. He also explained the Lexington facility isn’t necessarily a “hospital” but more of an outpatient surgery center, therapy facility and clinic tasked with helping children with orthopedic issues. The facility has an agreement with Kentucky Children’s Hospital should a child need inpatient care but 95-percent of what the Shriners provide there is on an outpatient basis.
“We are just so grateful for the time that he dedicates back to Shriners Hospitals for Children,” Lewgood said. “To have an athlete and celebrity of his caliber come in and generate awareness here at the facility and all of the various media platforms that he donates his time, image and notoriety is just so gratifying and so appreciated.”