Delaware Foundation “races” for cancer cure

Race cars on Rodney Square isn’t a common sight, but in this case there was a positive message behind it.

The race team of Al Carter and Hugh Plumb were showing off the cars they will be driving this weekend in the Grand AM Rolex Car series in Millville, NJ.  The car is an official race car sponsor for the B+ (positive) foundation.

Joe McDonough heads up the foundation in honor of his son Andrew.  His son was a 14 year Salesianum student who died from leukemia.  McDonough’s foundation now raises money for research on childhood cancers.

McDonough was joined in Rodney Square by Al Carter of Wilmington, himself a cancer survivor, and Carter’s partner Hugh Plumb.  The duo travels to various children’s hospitals before each of their races.  They took time to go to A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children before this weekend’s race. 

“This car is a great marketing tool.  People don’t realize that 46 kids will be diagnosed with cancer today and because of this car people will realize that and all while having fun,” said McDonough.

Plumb says it’s the first year that his group has been a part of B+(positive).  His team is based in Illinois and travels around the country pitching the foundation’s message. 

Mayor James Baker (D-Wilmington) praised the group.  “One day I think we are going to be at that point where we can say we are going to have that disease licked,” Baker said.  He was surrounded by several children who themselves have been impacted by the foundation’s work.

The story of McDonough’s effort will be profiled by Taunya English of WHYY’s Health and Science Desk on the July 29th edition of First, which airs Fridays at 5:30 p.m. and again at 10 p.m.

After the mayor was presented with a B+ t-shirt, the drivers got back in their cars and raced off Rodney Square. 

Joe McDonough and Hugh Plumb talk about their efforts.