CYSTIC FIBROSIS DOESN’T STOP THIS RACER

“Driver Has Sights Set On NASCAR”

 HUNTERSVILLE, NC (March 30, 2005) – In the sport of auto racing, drivers experience many rough days at the track.  Chris Fowler is one driver that never has a bad day at the race track – he just cherishes his opportunities in the sport and in life.  See, Chris has Cystic Fibrosis and battles everyday of his life - so being at the race track is an escape for this 29-year-old driver from Jacksonville, Florida.  The 2005 season will see Chris take one step closer to his overall goal as he will start the 2005 race season competing in the ASA Late Model Series.

 “Being diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) has created many challenges in my life, and I have learned to live each and every day to the fullest,” stated Chris.  “My dream to become a racecar driver began at age 9, and now at age 29, my dreams are coming even closer to reality. The one thing I want most out of life is to race cars full time, whether it be the NASCAR Truck series, Busch series or the Nextel cup series. Simply stated, I just want to be a professional race car driver.”

Chris was diagnosed with CF at the tender age of six months old.  Despite his condition, he began his racing journey at the age of 12 when he won a go-kart in a contest with 5,500 entries.  To date his racing efforts have been mainly concentrated on open wheel activities with competition in the Skip Barber Formula Series.  He looks to make the transition to the stock car arena with his participation in the ASA Late Model Series for the first three races of the schedule this season – starting with the first race on May 7^th at Baer Field Speedway.  In those races he will be sponsored by the Chiron Corporation which produces TOBI, a tobramycin solution for inhalation which is something that Chris has used daily since the age of 23.

“The challenges of being stricken with CF have given me the strength and determination, not only to succeed at racing, but in life as well,” said Fowler.  “I hope that my racing endeavors will help to create an awareness of Cystic Fibrosis. Ten percent of my race winnings will be donated to the CF Foundation, and I plan to attend as many fund raising and charitable events as possible to help raise money to find a cure for CF.”

Chris has been very active in promoting this serious disease in our society and his efforts have awarded him the “Heroes of Hope Living With CF” award presented by Genentech, Inc. – a program that recognizes people with CF who are living full lives and serving as optimistic role models while actively maintaining their health.

Chris also announces the addition of Integrity Sports Marketing (ISM) to his team as a full service sports marketing company focused on promoting Chris and his cause.  ISM will also focus efforts on securing additional sponsorship funds so that Chris can continue his dream and pursuit of participation in NASCAR.

Beyond the first three races of the ASA Late Model Series, the racing plans of Chris Fowler for the future remain up in the air as the quest for corporate sponsorship continues.  “We are actively pursuing some things that would allow us to run the entire ASA Late Model season or move up into the NASCAR ranks with participation in the Craftsman Truck Series,” said Chris.  “I am on a mission to race professionally in NASCAR and at the same time raise awareness and help find a cure for CF with my racing efforts.  I want to show everyone out there with special challenges like myself that with hard work and determination they can achieve anything in life.”

Companies who are interested in helping this extraordinaire young man fulfill his dream; please contact Brent M. Bushu with Integrity Sports Marketing at (704) 947-2300 or Brent@WinningWithIntegrity.com

For more information on Chris Fowler and his incredible story, please visit him at his new website at www.fowlerracing.com

  --About Cystic Fibrosis--

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease affecting approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States. A defective gene causes the body to produce an abnormally thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. These thick secretions also obstruct the pancreas, preventing digestive enzymes from reaching the intestines to help break down and absorb food.  More than 10 million Americans are unknowing, symptomless carriers of the defective CF gene. An individual must inherit two defective CF genes -- one from each parent -- to have CF. Each time two carriers conceive, there is a 25 percent chance that their child will have CF; a 50 percent chance that the child will be a carrier of the CF gene; and a 25 percent chance that the child will be a non-carrier.  CF occurs in approximately one of every 3,500 live births. About 1,000 new cases of CF are diagnosed each year. More than 80 percent of patients are diagnosed by age three; however, nearly 10 percent of newly diagnosed cases are age 18 or older.  The treatment of CF depends upon the stage of the disease and the organs involved. Clearing mucus from the lungs is an important part of the daily CF treatment regimen. Chest physical therapy is a form of airway clearance done by vigorous clapping on the back and chest to dislodge the thick mucus from the lungs. Other types of treatments include TOBI® (tobramycin solution for inhalation), an aerosolized antibiotic used to treat lung infections; Pulmozyme®, a mucus-thinning drug shown to reduce the number of lung infections and improve lung function; and azithromycin, an antibiotic recently proven to be effective in people with CF whose lungs are chronically infected with the common Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.