Every handprint tells a story. Brightly painted palms pressed onto the bodywork of a Porsche have become the most recognizable symbol of Racing for Children’s, a grassroots effort that has grown into one of North America’s most inspiring motorsport programs.
What began as a small way to bring joy to children battling cancer has since become a championship-winning partnership with Kellymoss, Porsche’s most successful North American team.
Over the years, the handprint Porsche has carried some of the sport’s top young talents to glory. Riley Dickinson claimed the 2023 Porsche Carrera Cup North America title in the car, while Dutch driver Loek Hartog added another championship to its résumé the following year.
Kay van Berlo became a 13-time race winner in the livery, cementing his reputation as one of the most dominant drivers in the series. Michael McCarthy, a former Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama champion, brought his own deeply personal connection to the program—he was named after his father’s best friend, who passed away from cancer.
Multiple Pro-Am class champion Efrin Castro turned the livery into a Pro-Am powerhouse while giving back to the kids who inspired the effort last season.
Together, these drivers proved that the handprint Porsche was more than a symbol—it was a winner.
Now, the Racing for Children’s mission has extended to anyone willing to participate through the High Five Challenge. The concept is straightforward: donate $5, challenge five friends to do the same, and collectively help the organization reach its ambitious $1 million goal.
September was Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Awareness Month, but the challenge will continue through the end of the racing season, with each high five representing another step toward critical research funding.
For Dickinson, the significance of the Race for Children’s program extends far beyond competition, with every handprint on the car serving as a poignant reminder of the children it represents.
“Every handprint on this car represents something incredibly special—each one belongs to a child who has come through the program over the years,” Dickinson said.
“What’s unique about this livery is that every single handprint truly represents a child, many who were able to beat their battle with childhood cancer and blood disorders. However, some lost their fight. It is very meaningful to be able to honor them and continue their legacy through this program.
“When I joined the program in 2022 with the livery unveiling at Barber Motorsports Park, it completely changed my perspective—not just on racing, but on life. For three years prior, I had competed against the Racing for Children’s Porsche, which was always at the front, fighting for wins and championships.”
While Dickinson was once chasing the Kellymoss-run Racing for Children’s Porsche, he now holds the record for the most wins in Porsche Carrera Cup North America at 16 – all wearing this distinctive livery.
“This is such a powerful program, and to see the smiles we can bring to these kids’ faces is just amazing,” he said.
“To play even a small part in that is a tremendous honor. For us, it’s about giving these kids something to look forward to during the most challenging times imaginable. If we can make them smile or give them hope, that’s what it’s all about.
“These kids are incredible. No matter what they’re going through, they always seem to have the biggest smiles, always in good spirits. The same goes for their families. It really puts things into perspective—anytime you feel like you’re having a bad day at the track, you remember it’s still a good day compared to what some of these families face.”
The origins of Racing for Children’s trace back long before the championship triumphs. At Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, a group of local instructors were challenged by track founder George Barber to use their passion for racing to do good in the community.
Around that time, a friend’s young daughter had been diagnosed with cancer. The instructors invited her to the circuit for a day of distraction, introducing her to drivers, teams, and the paddock.
“Toward the end of her visit, she was offered the chance to take a hot lap in a Porsche,” said Allison Turner, executive director of Racing for Children’s.
“She left the track beaming, her family grateful for a rare day of joy in the middle of hospital visits and treatments.
“Weeks later, the doctors noted her treatment had gone better than expected. The family could only point to her day at the racetrack as the difference.”
Inspired by that reaction, the group decided to take further action. Soon, more children were invited out for hot laps, and a quiet program was born that would eventually become Racing for Children’s.
For years, these experiences flew under the radar—small groups of kids given a chance to escape their diagnosis for an afternoon at the track. Then the founders realized they had not just a literal vehicle, but a potential fundraising platform as well. They began organizing auctions, hosting families and caregivers trackside, and telling stories of the children whose lives they touched.
Eventually, they placed a car on the grid at Barber wearing a design unlike any other. It was covered in handprints—bright colors, tiny fingers, each one belonging to a child receiving treatment. The children’s families knew exactly what it meant to see their kids’ handprints racing around the circuit: hope.
Momentum grew when the organization partnered with Brumos Racing in 2013. The legendary Porsche team embraced the handprint concept, blending the famous red, white, and blue Brumos stripes with the multicolored handprints of children.
Drivers Andrew Davis and Leh Keen carried the car not only at Barber, but also at Road Atlanta, where Brumos ran its final professional race.
“That weekend marked the first time the handprints appeared outside Alabama, and the impact was lasting,” said Turner.
“The symbolism resonated with Porsche fans across the paddock, and the seed was planted for something bigger.”
Two years later, Racing for Children’s found the partner it needed to expand its mission. Porsche legend Hurley Haywood introduced the group to Kellymoss, where team co-founder Jeff Stone had recently lost his brother to cancer.
After visiting Children’s of Alabama, Stone committed to making the handprint car a full-season entry in Porsche competition. From there, the program never looked back.
“Parents often describe their time at the racetrack as life-changing,” said Turner.
“Amid a daily routine dominated by hospital visits, medications, and uncertainty, a weekend with Racing for Children’s offers an escape. For the kids, it’s a chance to feel normal, to be celebrated, to see their handprints powering a Porsche around the track.”
For families, it’s a reminder that they are not alone—that a whole community stands behind them. For the drivers, it’s a powerful responsibility. Every lap, every photo, every interaction carries meaning far beyond the sport itself.
The authenticity of Racing for Children’s has always been its hallmark. The organization is volunteer-run. No one is paid. Every dollar raised goes directly to research or to creating unforgettable experiences for the kids.
Its presenting sponsor, Medical Properties Trust, has stood by the effort from the very beginning, with executives and staff taking part in events not for publicity, but simply because they believe in the cause.
The impact has been amplified through teams like Kellymoss and ACI Motorsports hosting children and carrying handprints on their cars, spreading the message beyond Carrera Cup into IMSA’s Michelin Pilot Challenge and SRO competition.
For Racing for Children’s, the finish line is not a checkered flag but a cure. Until then, as long as there are new handprints to add, the work continues. The High Five Challenge is the latest way for fans and supporters to take part, to put their own “handprint” on the effort, and to ensure that these children have not just moments of joy at the racetrack, but a future filled with them.
