INVERNESS, Fla. — The Children’s Dream Fund 50 is set to return to Citrus County Speedway on Feb. 27 – March 1.
This second annual event, held in honor of Sadie Dutton, will benefit the Children’s Dream Fund, a Florida nonprofit organization dedicated to granting wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses. The nation’s best sprint car drivers will compete in this prestigious event, racing for the kids and a $10,000 top prize.
Founded in 1981, the Children’s Dream Fund fulfills dreams for children ages 3-21 living in West Central Florida who are diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. Referrals come from doctors, nurses, child life specialists, social workers, families and even other patients. Since its founding, the Children’s Dream Fund has made dreams come true for over 4,000 children.
“The primary goal of the event is to raise funds and awareness for the Children’s Dream Fund while showcasing some of the best sprint car drivers in America,” said the event organizer J.J. Dutton.
Motivated by the courage of his young daughter Sadie, who has been battling cancer for several years and inspired by the generosity of the Children’s Dream Fund, Dutton has once again assembled a dedicated team to host this meaningful and prestigious event.
A dream-come-true provides a much-needed bright spot in a child’s medical journey, offering hope and joy that renews the spirits of both the child and their family.
“My young daughter has had to fight for her life,” Dutton continued. “During her treatment, the Children’s Dream Fund reached out to our family and gave Sadie a reason to smile through the tough times. That kindness is something I’ll never forget.”
As a sprint car driver himself, Dutton experienced a moment of pure joy at the conclusion of the inaugural event, which featured courageous kids as guests of honor and a packed house of fans. Joe Liguori claimed the victory, with a talented top-five lineup including Colton Bettis, Aaron Willison, Bobby Santos III and Daniel Miller.
Additional details on the Children’s Dream Fund event will be forthcoming over the next few weeks.