This summer, Bonney Lake residents Lori and Stephen Newby are merging their passions for vintage car racing and giving back to their community.
The couple met at a Canadian racetrack more than 35 years ago. Born in England and emigrating to Canada in 1953, Stephen’s racing career began at 14 racing slaloms. For the last 50 years, he’s primarily raced British vintage automobiles. Lori herself has been on the motorsport scene for about 40 years. Indeed, it’s been a match made in heaven.
Lori and Stephen also have a history of philanthropy, which they credit to their generous parents. On Lori’s side, her father was a founding member of their hometown Lions Club, and her mother was actively involved in their church and other charities. Stephen’s parents survived World War II and moved to Canada to build their lives anew, bringing with them the philosophy that everybody helps everybody.
“People choose their charities, and to us, MultiCare and Good Sam were a natural fit,” Stephen explains.
“We’ve had experiences at Good Sam as patients, and have been treated with respect and compassion,” Lori adds. “We’re very passionate about what we do for MultiCare, and have been involved with Corks & Crush (a winetasting and fundraising gala in May) since its inception and Come Walk With Me (a breast cancer walk in October) for about six years.”
This year, inspiration struck for the Newby family, and “Come Race With Me” was born. Through this campaign, Lori and Stephen have challenged their group of racers — which consists of more than 50 individuals with mostly British cars, such as MG Midgets, Bugeye Sprites and Austin Minis — to pledge a dollar amount for every race lap completed during the Society of Vintage Race Enthusiasts (SOVREN) series’ racing season. Proceeds will support critically needed breast cancer programs and services at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital, and spectators are also encouraged to donate to the cause.
“Come Race With Me was another opportunity for us to spread the word among our group of racers and the general public,” Lori says. “When you see the passion in someone’s eyes and hear it in their story, it’s not hard to bring people along with you. When we came up with Come Race With Me, everybody thought it was a great idea. After all, (breast cancer) is a disease that can affect anyone.”
Unfortunately, the statistic that one in eight women will develop breast cancer also rings true for Team Newby.
“One of our Team Newby drivers, supporting Come Race With Me, is dealing with his wife going through chemotherapy right now,” Stephen says. “So that really brings it home to all of us. Fundraising is the right thing to do as far as we’re concerned.”
With each vintage racecar that makes its way around the track, adorned with a pink Come Race With Me ribbon, Lori is reminded of her friend and former MultiCare Good Samaritan Foundation director Barb Granger Herbert. Barb lost her breast cancer fight too soon and is the inspiration behind Lori’s longtime Foundation partnership. We race in remembrance of people like Barb, in celebration of breast cancer survivors making their victory laps and in solidarity with patients currently going through treatment.
Ensuring access to breast cancer programs can’t happen without the generosity of donors. Many who need this critical care face economic barriers, such as being underinsured. Yet MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital, supported by MultiCare Good Samaritan Foundation, strives to provide access for every East Pierce Countian.
You can help breast cancer patients in East Pierce County access services close to home by fundraising alongside Team Come Race With Me. Register today at comewalkwithmenow.org.