WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The COPD Foundation announced the appointment of Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Dillon as the new Honorary Ambassador for the DRIVE4COPD campaign, the country’s largest public health initiative dedicated to raising awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Dillon lost his paternal grandfather Stan, to COPD in May 2012, and this personal connection to the disease has given him the motivation to lead the charge in the fight against COPD.
On February 23rd, Dillon will drive in the DRIVE4COPD300—the season-opening event for the NASCAR® Nationwide Series held at the Daytona International Speedway. Since DRIVE4COPD is the official health initiative of NASCAR, Dillon will be supporting the millions of NASCAR fans and families living with COPD—a disease that takes one life every four minutes in the U.S.
“It means a lot to be able to work with DRIVE4COPD,” said Dillon. “It’s an honor to play a small part in helping raise awareness about COPD and work towards improving the quality of people’s lives.”
Dillon will help promote early diagnosis, which is key to treating COPD—a disease that affects 24 million Americans. He will encourage individuals to take a brief, five-question Risk Screener, which can be found at www.DRIVE4COPD.org/RiskScreener.
“Austin has a personal connection to COPD, and will help us build momentum to unite individuals who care about preventing, treating and ultimately, curing COPD,” says John W. Walsh, president of the COPD Foundation.
About DRIVE4COPD
The DRIVE4COPD campaign (www.DRIVE4COPD.org) is a landmark public health initiative led by the COPD Foundation, working to help individuals determine their risk and recognize the signs and symptoms of COPD and take action.
About Richard Childress Racing
Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) has earned more than 200 victories and 14 championships, including six in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
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