April 22, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDYCAR SERIES DRIVER JOSEF NEWGARDEN TEAMS WITH OUTRUN THE SUN

AS NEW SUN SAFETY AMBASSADOR

Indianapolis, IN: IndyCar Series driver Josef Newgarden is teaming with Indianapolis-based nonprofit Outrun the Sun, Inc. (OTS) to bring sun safety awareness to race fans nationwide. An Indianapolis resident, Newgarden drives for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing.

“Sun safety is vitally important, particularly for race fans spending hours outside at a track,” Newgarden notes. “We’ve all seen people leave with bad sunburns after they’ve been sitting in the stands all day. It makes sense to work with Outrun the Sun to remind fans to be sun smart whether they’re in the stands or just out in the sun this summer.”

Outrun the Sun is an Indianapolis-based nonprofit organization that supports skin cancer education and melanoma research. Newgarden is featured inOTS public service announcements for radio and television. He and his mother, Tina Newgarden, recently taped a PSA together that will kick off National Skin Cancer and Melanoma Awareness month in May. It also will highlight Mother’s Day in May and encourage everyone to keep the women in their lives sun safe.Newgarden is reaching out with sun safety messagesthrough social mediaand can be followed on Twitter at @josefnewgarden.

According to Anita Day, Executive Director of Outrun the Sun, “Josef recognizes the important role that he can play in helping educate race fans, as well as the general community, about the importance of sun safety. His enthusiasm captures attention and he’s the perfect advocate to reach a very important audience. We are thrilled to have Josef on board with Outrun the Sun and look forward to watching him race this year.”

Registration is now open for one of the non-profit’s annual events, the Outrun the Sun Race Against Melanoma. The event takes place at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis on Saturday, June 8. The 7 p.m. start time supports Outrun the Sun’s mission of keeping people out of the sun’s harsh daytime rays. The event includes a 5-Mile timed run; 5K run/Walk and 1-Mile fun walk. Enjoy live music, refreshments and a Kids’ Zone with kids’ race, activities and more. Teams are welcome. Proceeds from the event support Outrun the Sun’s year-long programming and melanoma research.

The event is sponsored in part by Indiana University Health, WISH TV, The Indiana Lawyer, WZPL, Sun Guard, BMO Harris Bank, Raymond James, Chegar Facial Plastic Surgery and Taft Stettenius & Hollister. Registration is open at (Race poster attached)

About Josef Newgarden:Born in 1990, Newgarden was the 2011 IZOD Firestone Indy Lights champion. In 2012, his rookie year with the IZOD IndyCar Series, he was the fastest in practice for the Indianapolis 500 on three of six practice days, qualified 7th for the race and was the top rookie and top Honda-powered qualifier.

About Outrun the Sun:Outrun the Sun, Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded in Indianapolis, IN to support skin cancer education and melanoma research. OTS partners with organizations including Girls on the Run International, USA Track & Field and Road Runners Club of America to foster sun safety education nationwide. OTS also has supported melanoma research at Indiana University, Mayo Clinic, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, NYU, University of Chicago, UC-Irvine, UC-San Francisco, Kimmel Cancer Center and Wake Forest University Medical Center.

Skin Cancer Facts:

  • Skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer in America. More than 3.7 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annually, which equates to more than breast, prostate, colon and lung cancers combined.
  • In 2009, it cost $8.6 billion to treat skin cancer in the United States.
  • One American dies of melanoma every hour.
  • Melanoma is the most common cancer in people ages 25 to 29.
  • Melanoma affects people of all ages and ethnicities.
  • Over exposure to ultraviolet radiation is the main cause of skin cancer and melanoma.
  • Skin cancer is highly preventable.

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