Contact: Shawn Miller
Inside Line Promotions
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Big Al Kids & Motorsports Foundation Creates a Unique Trip

Inside Line Promotions - COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. (July 17, 2013) - You can hear the excitement in his voice as it cracks with anticipation. The countdown is finally over and Johnny Gibbs is headed to the Northwest for a special visit.

"We are so excited," he said of his first trip to Oregon. "I had a grandma tell me that it's Bigfoot country. That's about it."

The Big Al Kids & Motorsports Foundation set up the unique, week-long trip for Gibbs, who is a 15-year-old from Cedar Hill, Mo. Gibbs has been battling Pilocytic Astrocytomas, which has given him three tumors on his brain and one on his spine.

"I started off not doing so well, but with continued prayers and belief, we're getting there now," he said. "The three tumors in the head, thank the Lord, they really haven't given me any problems. The one in my spine keeps me from stretching my legs. If I were to stand up and bend down, I can't go much farther than my knee. I don't do sports anymore.

"When you think of tumors you think of big masses, but it's more like lines webbed in and out of things. They don't want to risk trying to take them out and have something happen."

Gibbs has completed multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, but two of the biggest things that have helped him have been the support of the racing community and his desire to help others. Gibbs' family established the Johnny's Army Foundation, which provides 100 free support t-shirts to any family who has a child diagnosed with cancer.

"I know that when I was sick, one of the coolest things is that my dad and I made t-shirts," Gibbs said. "First, it was Team Johnny. I just remember the times I could go to school that first year, every time I went there I was always known as the kid with the t-shirt. Everybody I saw had my t-shirt with my face on it. That was really special. When we made the Johnny's Army t-shirt, all my friends would wear them. It felt good to be really supported like that."

Johnny's Army took off at the Chili Bowl last January, which is when Big Al Kids & Motorsports Foundation Founder Al Tschider met Gibbs for the first time.

"He was a really nice kid and we talked about a half hour," Tschider said. "When I left I said I'll get a hold of you and we'll see if we can do something this summer. On the way home from Tulsa I had plenty of time to think. I decided it'd be cool to bring a kid from Missouri to the West Coast where the foundation is. The ASCS National Tour race made a lot of sense and that's how the ball got rolling."

Gibbs and his family fly out on Wednesday to Portland, Ore., for a week of action, including the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour doubleheader at Cottage Grove Speedway in Cottage Grove, Ore., this Friday and Saturday.

The itinerary includes a trip to Winchester Bay, Ore., on Thursday to ride quads on the sand dunes, a pinewood derby race on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at the Village Green Resort and a world-class guided salmon fishing trip on the Columbia River on Monday.

Gibbs will also serve as the captain of the National team during the Big Al Kids & Motorsports Foundation's Kick-It for Kids Cancer kickball game at the Village Green Resort on Sunday at 11 a.m.
"I just want him to have fun," said Tschider, who noted that the three other families his foundation has helped will also be at the races and kickball game. "I don't really have any expectations. I just think the Northwest is a pretty unique, awesome place. I thought it'd be really neat for all of my supporters to meet him."

Gibbs said he is looking forward to meeting a bunch of new people, especially those in the racing community who have supported him, and to spread the word of Johnny's Army.

"I owe all my success to God," he said. "He's helped me through this whole thing. I've been through some pretty rough times. You just drop to your knees and pray. If you believe, he'll do whatever you're asking for."

JOHNNY'S ARMY -
The goal of Johnny's Army is to help children who have been diagnosed with cancer, by providing them with free benefit t-shirts to raise money in support of their family. The foundation knows first-hand the positivity, something as simple as a t-shirt, can bring to show support for a child who is fighting cancer. A t-shirt allows friends, family and peers the opportunity to support their loved one in a unique way during their battle.

For more information, visit http://www.JohnnysArmy.org .

BIG AL KIDS & MOTORSPORTS FOUNDATION -
Big Al Kids & Motorsports Foundation was created to provide motor sports trips and racing opportunities for kids battling life-threatening conditions and illnesses. For more information, visit http://www.BigAlKidsandMotorsportsFoundation.org.

"I really believe in motor sports and it gives these kids something to look forward to," Founder Al Tschider said. "They spend a lot of time at the hospitals or just doing stuff that the normal kid doesn't have to do."
Big Al Kids & Motorsports Foundation would like to thank Steve Forler Trucking, Village Green Resort, FX Signs, Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series, Brenton's Outdoor Adventures, MyTrafficMan.com, Joe Jones Entertainment, Satellite Solutions, Liquid Lime, Northwest Powder Coating & Sandblasting, Ridge Runner Wings, Randy Price, Steve Beitler, JSR Motorsports, Pro Mod Engines, RS Products, XXX Race Co., OPC, JOES Racing Products, Design 500 Racewear, SpeedMart, Vic's Old Gas Pumps, Moka Joe's Coffee and all of people who have donated time and money for their continued support.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS -
Website: http://bigalkidsandmotorsportsfoundation.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigALkidsMSF
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Al-Kids-Motorsports-Foundation/331823116849496?ref=ts&fref=ts

INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS -
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations, media management and merchandising services for sprint car teams. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and your sponsors' return on investment.