Family Enters NASCAR Race to Raise Endometriosis Awareness

Salina Family Enters NASCAR Race to Raise Endometriosis Awareness
Posted: Feb 25, 2010 3:36 PM
(SALINA, Kan.)

A Salina teen is diagnosed with a disease that causes extreme chronic pain. Endometriosis affects millions of women each year, but the cause is still a mystery. Now one family hopes to raise awareness.

Shellby Humbargar is a junior in high school and loves playing the drums.

“I just turned 17,” she said.

When she was 14 she started having severe pain in her back and sides.

“It hurts like you can’t describe,” Shellby said.

Just six months ago, she was diagnosed with endometriosis; a disease that creates lesions on the inside of the body and causes extreme chronic pain.

“It sucks. One day your fine and the next you can’t get out of bed because it hurts so bad,” she said.

But the pain isn’t just physical. Shellby says the disease has really taken a toll mentally, especially on her school and social life.

“There’s already enough drama in high school, I don’t need any more. Some of my relationships have gotten stronger, but some have just disappeared,” Shellby said.

There’s no cure for Shellby’s disease. Her mother has had to sit by and watch as Shellby suffers.

“Other than medications there’s not a lot you can do,” said Debbie Beamen, Shellby’s mom..

So Debbie took matters into her own hands. After seeing a NASCAR contest advertised on TV, she decided to design a race car in Shellby’s honor, in hopes of bringing awareness to the disease that has caused her daughter so much pain.

“If there is any way I can help people understand and raise awareness about this disease then I’m going to do it.” she said.

There are hundreds of car designs, but Shellby’s is the only one of its kind.

“The yellow is the official color of endometriosis, and the pink splotches represent the lesions that are inside her body causing the pain,” Debbie said.

People can vote for their favorite car online. The winning design will actually be put on a race car.

“We may not have the best car, but we want people to vote so that endometriosis can be out in the public eye,” said Debbie.

“If we don’t take a stand and raise awareness about this, who will?” asks Shellby.

This is where you can vote for Shellby’s car:
http://www.sponsafier.com/#/gallery/view/8784

March 2, 2010 Edit:
Thanks to all who voted for the Endometriosis Awareness NASCAR for Shellby! Her car got 847 votes! Now it’s off to round 2 for this car: “Between April 1, 2010 and April 15, 2010, ten (10) finalists will be posted for public voting on www.toyotaracing.com”.
Check out http://www.sponsafier.com/rules/ for more, or to enter your own car…

April 6, 2010 Edit:
It doesn’t look like Shellby’s car made it to round 2 of voting, but she had a good first run and garnered 849 votes. Thanks again to all who voted! 🙂