Shane Hmiel Set to Get Back Behind the Wheel of a Racecar at Rockingham Speedway

Shane Hmiel Set to Get Back Behind the Wheel of a Racecar at Rockingham Speedway

Accessible Racing has teamed up with Hmiel to share freedom, hope, & inspiration & to build the morale & welfare of the disabled that will help them reintegrate into society post injury

(Charlotte, N.C. Dec. 18, 2012) Ever since Shane Hmiel’s accident that left him paralyzed while attempting to qualify for a USAC race at Terra Haute, Indiana on Oct. 9, 2010 his Road to Recovery has been nothing short of miracles and has served has an inspiration to many. Doctors initially told Hmiel and his family he had a 10 percent chance to live and that he would never walk or breathe on his own again. He wasn’t supposed to ever move his fingers again. He wasn’t supposed to ever move his arms again. He wasn’t supposed to ever move his toes or his feet again but he has defied the odds and overcome all those things.

For Hmiel, none of this would have been made possible without all the support, prayers, and donations from his loving family, friends, and fans across the country. And now, with continued support, Hmiel has the opportunity to get back behind the wheel of a racecar with Accessible Racing at Rockingham Speedway on Saturday, January 26, 2013. For more information on how you can be involved to help make this special event happen, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/cxq7wfy. Donations are being accepted now through January 26.

Accessible Racing is the brainchild of Co-Founder and President Brian Hanaford and is a program built on the mindset of breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for disabled Vets and civilians. Hanaford grew up in an auto racing family but choose a different path in life. Running became his passion but a car accident resulted in a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) that changed the course of his life. After years of recovery and emotional distress, he decided to modify a racecar to assist the physically challenged. Hanaford explains, "Seeing the look on other disabled peoples’ faces when they took a ride in my racecar was a life changing experience for me. Improving somebody’s quality of life in this way is more fulfilling then any self help book or organization I learned of in 30 years. I want to continue sharing with others what has been a gift from God to me.”

The Accessible Racing driving experience provides an exciting and therapeutic experience that helps disabled individuals rediscover their capabilities. It opens up the possibilities in their lives after an accident, illness or injury. It allows individuals to experience the excitement of competition and the thrill of victory, as well as the agony of defeat. These experiences help prepare individuals after rehabilitation to face the adversity of a disability in their lives and to learn to bounce back in the face of challenge and change. To find out more about Accessible Racing please visit www.accessibleracing.com.

Contributions and continued support will help Hmiel take another huge step on his Road to Recovery and continue the positive impact Accessible Racing is providing for our disabled Vets and civilians.

Race to the Rock Event

 

 

 

Race to the Rock Event

Objective

In conjunction with Accessible Racing & Rockingham Speedway, CMG will be providing support around the January 26, 2013 ‘NASCAR Arrive & Drive’ event on behalf of Shane Hmiel and 3 Wide Life. Through the use of Shane Hmiel’s likeness, the primary focus will be to position Accessible Racing as the leading rehabilitative race car experience for wounded Veterans and the physically challenged through targeted media relations outreach across national, regional, and local platforms in TV, magazines, print, radio, and online mediums.

Assets to Leverage

Key assets to leverage and pitch to the media to increase the likelihood of significant coverage around this event are as follows:

Shane Hmiel – Hmiel continues to defy the odds since a racing accident left him paralyzed proving he is a miracle and inspiration to many. He is a national figure and his story is certainly of national scope. It will be very meaningful news for Hmiel to get back behind the wheel of a racecar and on a racetrack for the first time since his accident.

Accessible Racing – Accessible Racing’s mission in and of itself is a very strong storyline for the media and to add to that, the world’s only hand-control equipped, NASCAR-style racecar provides for a great visual and is an excellent additional news hook for the media.

Rockingham Speedway – The location really legitimizes this event and provides for a visually appealing backdrop for the media. The track’s internal media relations department should also have an extensive media distribution list to help with dispersing news on the event.

Media Relations Outreach

Core tactic will be a month long news bureau leading up to the event that will focus on national media outlets. Secondary focus will be on regional outlets with the tertiary focus being on local outlets. Time on this will need to be spent:

• Researching and identifying all relevant/potential media outlets
• Drafting communication materials and pitches
• Conducting proactive media outreach to targeted media outlets securing interviews
• Conducting aggressive follow-up to strengthen media placement opportunities
• Maintaining contact with targeted media outlets

Sample of target media outlets that will be pitched for this event are as follows but are not limited to:

TV – 3 Wide Life nationally syndicated TV show that’s in 70 million households and reaches nearly one million viewers per week, all ESPN/ABC programming, SPEED Channel, ABC, NBC, CBS, & FOX national news feeds to local affiliates, CNN, HLN, FOX News, ABC World News, NBC Nightly News, CBS Evening News, local Rockingham TV affiliates (ABC, NBC, CBS, & FOX)

Print / National Wire Services– Associated Press, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, NY Times, LA Times, Reuters, Bloomberg News, Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service, Charlotte Observer, Indianapolis Star, Rockingham daily newspaper

Magazines – NASCAR Illustrated, ESPN the Mag, AutoWeek, National Speed Sport News, Speedway Illustrated, Circle Track Magazine, Sprint Car & Midget Magazine, ESPN the Mag, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Men’s Journal, Best Life, Men’s Health

Radio – Sirius NASCAR Radio, MRN Radio, PRN Radio, ESPN Radio shows, Sporting News Radio shows, Fox Sports radio shows, ABC Sports radio shows

Online Sites – ESPN.com, NASCAR.com, FOXSports.com, Jayski.com, Yahoo Sports, SBNation.com, CBSSports.com, etc. and also push video of the event out virally to additional men’s interest’s sites and bloggers

Utilize Social Media Channels – Utilize Facebook, Twitter, etc. of 3 Wide Life, Rockingham Speedway, Accessible Racing, & Shane Hmiel to distribute timely news about the event.

Created by Colborne Media Group

 

 

ALL,

 

making progress, just need to fire up the fund raising (http://tinyurl.com/cfwwte7)with this added value below from media and put on best show ever.

-Brian

Race 2 The Rock Hmiel ticket!

 Accessible Racing focuses on Possibilities, not Disabilities

As a person living with disability, you know how hand controls have helped you regain your independence on the road. But what if you could help other members of the disabled community build their self-confidence with the thrill of victory?

Using a passion for racing as a vehicle for change, Accessible Racing has been tearing up national race tracks since 2007. With the worlds only hand-control equipped, NASCAR-style race car, their “arrive and drive” events have put disabled veterans and citizens behind the wheel for the experience of a lifetime.
professionals value sports and recreation to promote physical recovery. With Accessible Racing, individuals rediscover life’s’ possibilities through a fast, fun, hands-on experience that rejuvenates the spirit as well as the body.

And they need our help. Accessible Racing is now raising funds to launch their next NASCAR Disabled Driving Experience event at Rockingham Speedway in January 26, 2013. With your support, civilians and veterans will experience the thrill of victory.
Help fuel this important event and raise awareness for the disabled community at    http://www.indiegogo.com/worlddrivingchallenge.

As a proud sponsor of Accessible Racing, DADC is pleased to share this opportunity with you and your friends.

Thank you for your consideration,
Brian E. Hanaford