During the second year of his program “A Team on a Mission,” Mike Edwards with the support of fellow racers, business executives, and team owners was able to send more than 175 kids to a Young Life camp after raising in excess of $70,000 for the program in 2006.

To date the program has sent more than 300 kids to a Young Life camp. “This is what the racing family is all about,” Edwards said. “We are out battling each other on track, but when it came to helping the kids, we all came together as one team.

During the second year of his program “A Team on a Mission,” Mike Edwards with the support of fellow racers, business executives, and team owners was able to send more than 175 kids to a Young Life camp after raising in excess of $70,000 for the program in 2006.

To date the program has sent more than 300 kids to a Young Life camp. “This is what the racing family is all about,” Edwards said. “We are out battling each other on track, but when it came to helping the kids, we all came together as one team.

“My team races to help these kids and we know what we do every weekend is only a small contribution,” he continued. “But with the racing community getting involved as they did in such a worthwhile endeavor, it has made a lasting impact on a larger group of kids in not only building a better tomorrow, but an even stronger connection to motorsports.”

For 2007, Edwards is hoping to reach even loftier heights by sending double the number of kids to camp as the program did in 2006. “The idea for the ‘A Team on a Mission’ is to have drivers from all levels of NHRA competition make the pledge to send a kid to camp. The key is getting everyone involved. As a racing family, the sky is the limit on how many lives can be impacted through such a program and I just hope my fellow racers, car owners, and the racing business world can join forces to achieve what this program can accomplish.”

As part of "A Team on a Mission," an individual can make a single donation, a set amount per event, or for every round of competition that each individual driver wins during the NHRA POWERade schedule donate in the amount needed to send a kid to a Young Life camp, or match what Edwards accomplishes on the track.

In 2006, Edwards was joined by a large group from the racing public who made a contribution to the "A Team on a Mission" program, which includes NHRA Pro Stock drivers Jim Yates, Ron Krisher, and V. Gaines, as well as Pro car owners Evan Knoll and Kenny Koretsky. Given corporate support to the project are Applied Racing Technologies (A.R.T.), Jeg's Mail Order, Roger and Ann Stull, Marengo Forest Products, Dave’s RV, ProJacks, Tulsa Raceway Park, Burns Stainless, and Torco's CompetitionPlus.com.

Knoll, sponsor of a handful of cars in the Professional categories became part of this program because he wanted to make an impact off the racetrack. "I made this contribution not for recognition for myself but rather to draw attention to the great things Young Life provides for the at risk children of this world," Knoll said. "Money will come and go, but an impact you can make on the life of a child will last forever.

"I would encourage other team owners and people in the racing industry to make a contribution to the great cause," Knoll added.

To be part of this program, contact Mike Edwards Motorsports either at the track or by phone at (918) 486-6453.