Car race to benefit Parkinson's research

By Valari Hyatt
Published: Monday, April 7, 2008 1:49 PM CDT

Times correspondent

PEKIN - The Peoria Speedway will open the 2008 race season by hosting the Don Bohlander 100 to benefit Parkinson's Disease.

Known as a racing legend in local racing circles, what is not well known is that Bohlander has Parkinson's Disease.

Born at home on Washington Street in Pekin, Bohlander was 3 years old when his family moved to Glasford, where he lived until 1988. He started racing in 1954.

In his 45-year racing career he has raced for Olive Buhs, Victor Bastien, Darrell Coale, Russell Ewalt (No. 57), Donnie Robertson (No. 12), Chuck Thompson (No. 72), Wes Larson (No. 82), Dick Coon, Randy Robinson, John Kelly (No. 07), and Stan Shields (No. 84).

Bohlander is the Illinois State champion seven times and has won more than 350 feature races. He was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame at the Peoria Civic Center in 2000. He's raced all over the country, including twice in Daytona. Iowa has dubbed Don a Mississippi Valley Racing Legend.

His racing status is what led one of his biggest fans, Peoria Speedway announcer Scott Shults, to honor Bohlander by naming a race after him.

Shults chose the call the race “The Don Bohlander 100 Race for Parkinson's” because Bohlander has won more 100-lap features than anyone else.

“Sherry Hamilton, owner of Peoria Speedway, and Scott (Shults) offered us the opportunity to use this night to raise money for Parkinson's Research and to raise community awareness about the disease,” said Bohlander's wife, Valerie Bohlander. “Most people know that this is the disease that Michael J. Fox has but few realize how many people in our own community are struggling with this debilitating disease.

“Our primary goal is to bring this disease to the forefront, to get people to talk about it, test for it and hopefully, to find a cure for it. The jury is still out on the cause of Parkinson's disease. The experts seem to be leaning toward pesticides and environmental causes in addition to heredity.”

Bohlander's mother and grandmother have the disease. And his four children and nine grandchildren have the potential to develop it.

Through it all, Bohlander remains realistic about his future.

He knows that a cure is unlikely in his lifetime but he hopes to help others. “In February, Don went to Rush Memorial Hospital in Chicago and was put through a battery of tests in hopes of getting into a movement disorder research study,” said Valerie Bohlander. “Unfortunately, he didn't qualify.”

But he didn't give up.

“While there, he volunteered to donate his DNA for a database that the doctors are developing for research,” she said.

Although the disease is challenging at times, Valerie Bohlander said her husband is grateful that he wasn't afflicted until in his late 60s.

“We have a friend from Glasford in his early 40s who is facing many of the same challenges,” she said, noting that her husband's positive attitude has provided hope for others who look up to him as a hero in the fight to combat Parkinson's.

“Our thanks go out to everyone for their time, donations and support,” Valerie Bohlander said. “We look forward to seeing everyone on race night, April 19.”

The Peoria Speedway will open the 2008 race season by hosting the Don Bohlander 100 to benefit Parkinson's Disease. Bohlander's friends and family are working to raise money to fight this disease.

But they need help.

Anyone can help by being a sponsor of the Don Bohlander race shirt. Gold level is $500, Silver level is $250, and Bronze level is $100. The sponsor's name is printed on the back of the shirt.

Lap sponsors are also being sought. The sponsor or business will be acknowledged by the speedway announcer (before and during the race) and on a flyer that will be distributed on race night. The cost is $25 per lap or $50 for lap 50 (half-way point) or $100 last lap.

A silent auction is also slated for April 19 at Peoria Speedway.

Valerie Bohlander said auction items will be on display. So far, they have numerous gift certificates from area businesses, four rounds of golf for four foursomes plus carts at Lick Creek Golf Course, cheese cakes, embroidered blankets, Caterpillar merchandise, and more.

“There will also be an evening of auctions, 50/50s, and more the night before (the race) at Mooney's Pub, on Farmington Road, which is the home of the Old Timers Racing Club,” she said.

For more information call 347-6929 or 389-5634.