CHASE PELLETIER: CHASING HIS DREAMS Meet Chase Pelletier, a 19-year-old Brampton, Ontario native who began racing go-karts at the age of 10, and has trained in karate since age five. He was diagnosed with T1D just one month after his first competitive go-kart race. Since then, diabetes has done anything but slow Chase down. In fact, having diabetes only strengthened his resolve, letting nothing stand in the way of his racing aspirations. After climbing the ladder to rank among the top karters in Canada, Chase moved to open wheel car racing, winning the F1600 Canadian Championship in his second year of competition. Away from the track, Chase has achieved Shodan (black belt) status in Goju Karate at age 16, currently working toward 2nd degree. Chase s dedication for racing and karate is only matched by his passion for making a positive impact in the diabetes community. He regularly visits hospitals and diabetes camps, spreading inspiration to children facing the challenges of diabetes. Chase has been a guest speaker at seven international diabetes conferences and was presented with the Inspiration Award in 2011 by the Canadian Diabetes Association. Chase is also a strong supporter of the JDRF, helping to create 3rd party fundraisers that have raised in excess of $150,000 to date.
Chasing Your Dreams MORE THAN JUST MANAGING DIABETES with Chase Pelletier Guest Speaker: Chase Pelletier Meet Chase Pelletier, an international go-kart racer for Cameron Motorsports. Chase was diagnosed with Type I diabetes at age 10, but he has not let that hold him back. Recently, he has entered the international competition in the prestigious Florida Winter Tour against top racers from more than 24 countries. Chase and his father are the founders of High Velocity Motorsports, a racing team that gives back to the diabetes community. Join us as Chase shares his story of ambition and inspiration! Photo opportunity with Chase s go-kart capable of reaching speeds of 140 km/hr! Educational session - Fueling Your Engine: Advanced Carb Counting Meet other pumpers and health care professionals. SATURDAY, APRIL 24TH, 2010 1:00 4:00 PM Ballroom, Best Western Inn On The Bay 1800 2nd Ave East, Owen Sound RSVP your name and phone number: email: rsvp@lfsca.jnj.com or by phone: 1-877-291-1969 ext.2977 Proudly Sponsored by: Animas is a trademark of Animas Corporation and used under license. 2010 LifeScan Canada, Burnaby, BC V5C 6C6 All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. AW094-531A 02/2010 CHASING YOUR DREAMS It was pretty overwhelming at first. But I decided with my family early on, that we were not going to let diabetes drag me down - we needed to try to think of positive ways to deal with it. And that s exactly what Chase is doing. In addition to public speaking in the diabetes community, Chase put together his own workshop for the newly diagnosed children to help inspire them, particularly in the early stages. When I was diagnosed, I didn t know anybody with diabetes, and I didn t know anything about it. The workshop shows other kids that they re not alone with this. In the early days, Chase and his father brought their race trailer along to the clinics. Chase says, We brought the kart with us and let the kids sit in it and take pictures, and we just talked and made it more of a positive thing. We also go and speak to kids one-on-one in their house if they need that extra help when we can. I remember one little kid who was eight years old. He really wanted an insulin pump, but he was just a little scared of the infusion sites. I let him put a site in me, so after that he got comfortable with it. He moved onto an insulin pump after that, so it was a good experience
THE PRO MAZDA CHAMPIONSHIP THE SERIES The Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires debuted as a new series in 2013, replacing the Star Mazda Championship which ceased operation in 2012 after 22 years. The series is sanctioned by INDYCAR and owned and operated by Andersen Promotions. It is the second official step on the Mazda Road to Indy ladder system bridging the gap between the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda and Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires. The series champion is awarded a scholarship package from Mazda to advance to Indy Lights competition the following year. Santiago Urrutia of Team Pelfrey claimed the 2015 title and will advance to Indy Lights in 2015 via the Mazda scholarship system. HISTORY The series has served as a vital step on the career path of many of today s top drivers since 1991. Graduates include Verizon IndyCar Series drivers Marco Andretti, Jack Hawksworth, James Hinchcliffe, Sage Karam, Spencer Pigot, Graham Rahal and Tristan Vautier, NASCAR veteran Michael McDowell, and BMW Motorsport factory driver Joey Hand amongst many others.
THE PRO MAZDA SCHEDULE The 16-race schedule features five road course, two street circuit and two oval venues. With the exception of the ovals, all events will comprise double-header rounds. All but the season-ending finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, which features all three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy, are run in conjunction with the Verizon IndyCar Series. Round Date Track Venue Rounds 1/2 Rounds 3/4 Rounds 5/6 Rounds 7 Rounds 8/9 Round 10 Rounds 11/12 Rounds 13/14 Rounds 15/16 March 11-13 April 22-24 May 12-14 May 27 June 24-26 July 10 July 15-17 July 29-31 September 9-11 Streets of St. Petersburg Barber Motorsports Park Indianapolis Motor Speedway Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis Road America Iowa Speedway Streets of Toronto Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca 1.8-mile street course 2.38-mile road course 2.439-mile road course.686-mile oval 4.048-mile road course.875-mile oval 1.755-mile street course 2.258-mile road course 2.258-mile road course
Q & A with CHASE Chase spoke to members of the Carb DM community at a special event, describing the cars that he drives and sharing how he manages his diabetes on the racetrack. Chase also posed for photographs and answered questions from the audience. It was great to get to know Chase a little better! He is such an inspiring young man and we wish him the best of luck. Here are excerpts from Chase s Q&A session after his talk: When were you diagnosed? I was diagnosed in May 2007. I got out of the hospital the day before my 11th birthday. No birthday cake for me that year! Do you celebrate your dia-birthday? No, but I m waiting for my 10th dia-birthday! Then we ll have a big celebration. What do you eat on race days? I usually have an egg sandwich for breakfast. What I have for lunch varies because the racing schedule varies so much, so I have to roll with it. I try to stay with foods I know well and nothing too crazy on carbs. (Chase s father, Dave added, No pizza during race days! Chase prefers fast carbs, because it s easier to manage without worrying about blood sugar levels spiking later.) How do you prepare for a race? The key for my diabetes is to stay with what works. Plenty of sleep, healthy food with predictable carbs and watch my blood sugar levels very closely. My training consists of a mix of cardio and weight training. Since I can t do as many actual practice runs as I d like, my dad and I built a racing simulator so I can learn the tracks faster. How do you manage your blood sugars during a race? I move my target blood sugar level up slightly to help avoid an unexpected and possibly dangerous lows. To perform well in any sport, consistent BG levels are very important, so I test very often throughout the day. I monitor my blood sugar during my races via my CGM which is mounted on my steering wheel. If my blood sugar level begins to drop a bit, I sip Gatorade through a tube piped into my helmet, to protect against a low BG. I watch carefully to see what works, and take note of what doesn t. Have you ever pulled out of a race because your blood sugars were too low? So far, it hasn t happened, because I put a lot of work into making sure I stay one step ahead. My dad also helps a lot to ensure my diabetes is well controlled at the track, so I can spend more time focusing on racing. (Chase s father, added, Chase made the connection very early on that putting his diabetes management first was critical for him to perform at his best, and even to just enjoy things and have fun. It became a huge internal inspiration for him to manage diabetes instead of fighting with it ). Does it frustrate you when you re driving around town and you have to follow the speed limit? Actually, I m one of the slower drivers! I like to be on or under the speed limit, in a street car.
THE FIGHT AGAINST DIABETES Our mission is to prevent, treat and cure diabetes. Our vision is a world free of diabetes and its complications. Joslin Diabetes Center, based in Boston, Massachusetts, undertakes diabetes research, clinical care, education and health and wellness programs on a global scale. Joslin is dedicated to ensuring that people with diabetes live long, healthy lives and offers real progress in preventing and curing diabetes. Joslin is an independent, nonprofit institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School, and is recognized worldwide for driving innovative solutions in diabetes prevention, research, education, and care.
THE FIGHT AGAINST DIABETES Chase s passion for racing is only matched by his passion for making a positive difference in the diabetes community. With his racing program as a backdrop, Chase visits hospitals and diabetes camps, spreading inspiration and encouragement to children facing the challenges of diabetes with his Get Your Diabetes On Track workshop. He has been a guest speaker at 7 international diabetes conferences and was presented with the Inspiration Award in 2011 by the Canadian Diabetes Association. Chase is also the driving force behind the Academy Of Martial Arts (his dojo), Karate Chops Diabetes program. Having successfully achieved his Black Belt in Goju Karate in June 2012, Chase lead the way helping to raise close to $150,000 for JDRF to date, on the way to their goal of $250,000. True to his positive messages about diabetes, Chase aspires to compete at the highest levels of open wheel racing. Says Chase: Diabetes taught me I could accomplish anything if I put my mind to it. Martial Arts has given me focus and determination. Achieving my dreams won t be easy, but it is only a matter of time before it is a reality. Chasing Your Dream with Chase Pelletier Guest Speaker: Chase Pelletier Meet Chase Pelletier, an international go-kart racer for Cameron Motorsports. Chase was diagnosed w at age 10, but he has not let that hold him back. Recently, he has entered the international competition Florida Winter Tour against top racers from more than 24 countries. Chase and his father are the found Motorsports, a racing team that gives back to the diabetes community. Join us as Chase shares his story of ambition and inspiration! Photo opportunity with Chase s go-kart capable of reaching speeds of 14
PRESS RWM_SPRING.2010_EDITED:Layout 1 6/7/10 5:08 PM Page 1 001_017_IT_1807_Layout 1 8/15/2014 7:40 PM Page 1 EURO RALLY CROSS CHASE PELLETIER S FIGHT AGAINST DIABETES GRASS PASS THRILLS Spring 2010 Volume 2, No. 1 MAGAZINE BORN FOR SPEED? ARE YOU OUR LIST OF 20 things to do (plus 10) in 2K10 ALSO THIS MONTH... RACING HISTORY THE VINELAND SPEEDWAY... Long gone but not forgotten ALL ABOUT CHASE Behind the Gates of Monticello Motor Club Enduring Preparations at the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona Volkswagen s Jetta TDI Cup Helps Make Dreams Come True Began his own Keep Your Diabetes On Track workshop when he was 12, visiting hospitals to inspire other children living with diabetes Recognized by Canadian Diabetes Association awarded the 2011 CDA Inspiration Award Keynote speaker at the 2013 Options for Diabetes Conference for Health Care Professionals Kingston, ON presented at 6 international Children With Diabetes conferences between 2009 and 2015 Inspired the Karate Chops Diabetes fundraiser hosted by his dojo the Academy of Matial Arts raising over $125,000 to date on the way to a goal of $250,000 Obtained his Black Belt in Goju Karate at age 16 (training since hte age of 4)lead a group of 82 martial artists in setting a Guiness World Record for the largest kata Lead a track walk with Charlie Kimball at Mid-Ohio to raise awareness and funds for the American Diabetes Assocation Organized and lead a track walk fundraiser for JDRF Canada at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park In 2015, integrated his Racing Simulator into his onsite events in the diabetes community, allowing participants to Race Toward A Cure Currently a 2nd year, Automotive Engineering Student at UOIT (University of Ontario Institute of Technology http://www.teenink.com/nonfiction/personal_experience/article/200114/racing-towards-a-cure https://www.diabeteshealth.com/chase-pelletier-competitive-kart-racer/
WHO TO CONTACT: Ralph Howard Hansen President and CEO Pegasus Marketing Group 1025 West Everett Road, Suite 5 Lake Forest, Illinois 60045 Rhansen@pegasusmarketing.com www.pegasusmarketing.com OFFICE: 847.234.9270 MOBILE: 847.624.3500 Dave Pelletier Dave.Pelletier63@gmail ChasePelletier.com PHONE: 416.722.1241 Chase Pelletier C.Pelletier.HVM@gmail.com ChasePelletier.com PHONE: 416.722.1241