SONOMA, Calif. -- A full weekend of awareness building and research fundraising on behalf of the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF) “Fuel the Cure” program for the fight against Neurofibromatosis (NF) will take place this weekend during the Toyota/Save Mart 350k NASCAR race in Sonoma, June 22 – 24, including a partnership with Quicken Loans and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman.

As part of the “Fuel the Cure” campaign, Newman’s No. 39 Chevrolet will feature a special CTF paint scheme thanks to a donation from Quicken Loans, the nation’s largest online mortgage lender, and primary sponsor of the No. 39 car and Ryan Newman at Sonoma and eight other Sprint Cup races this year.

Neurofibromatosis – or NF – is a common yet under-recognized genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. The disorder can lead to blindness, bone abnormalities, cancer and excruciating and disabling pain. NF affects one in every 3,000 children born, making it a more common disorder than many more widely known illnesses, including cystic fibrosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

In total, CTF will be hosting more than 100 NF patients – or “Heroes” – and their families at Sonoma, including a very special young lady who will see her father enjoy a truly priceless experience while having a great day at the track herself.

Dakota Anderson is a six-year-old with NF who is currently undergoing chemotherapy to slow the growth of a tumor on her optic nerve, which causes a loss of vision. Her father, Mike Anderson, won a “Fuel the Cure” VIP behind-the-scenes experience contest that was donated by Quicken Loans and Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR). He will be joined by Cliff Daughtery, Dakota's great uncle, for a car hauler tour, meet and greet with Ryan Newman and the opportunity to sit on the pit box during the Sprint Cup race at Sonoma.

Quicken Loans, along with SHR and Newman, are the latest major players in the motorsports industry to step up in support of CTF and its “Fuel the Cure” program. This year’s goal is to raise $1 million during the 2012 racing season, and donations can be made at www.fuelthecure.org.

In addition to the No. 39 paint scheme, CTF will also be represented in Sonoma by Daniel Graeff who will be making his NASCAR debut in Saturday’s K&N Pro Series West race in the No. 07 GSR Racing stock car. Graeff is a founding supporter and lead driver of the CTF Racing4Research.org team that has raced Porsches in the last five runnings of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series Rolex 24 At Daytona. Graeff’s stock car will also display a special blue and green CTF paint scheme mirroring Newman’s No. 39 Chevrolet.

A third CTF “Fuel the Cure” stock car will also be on display at the Sonoma hospitality area where the NF “Heroes” will be able to pose for pictures in and around the car with their friends and families.

While this is CTF’s first stock car weekend, the organization’s sports car racing focused efforts have been very successful in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. In January, Quicken Loans was a sponsor of the No. 4 eBay Motors/eBay Mobile Children’s Tumor Foundation car that competed in the Rolex 24 At Daytona endurance race, an effort that raised more than $600,000 for the CTF cause. Graeff, Ron Yarab, Ryan Eversley and champion driver and SPEED television broadcaster Justin Bell comprised the around-the-clock driving team.

About the Children's Tumor Foundation and “Fuel the Cure”/Racing4Research: Developed by the Children’s Tumor Foundation, the “Fuel the Cure” and Racing4Research (R4R) programs utilize competitive, professional auto racing as a vehicle to increase awareness of neurofibromatosis and raise funds for research through corporate sponsorship, personal donations, and individual fundraising by NF Heroes: children and adults from around the country who live with neurofibromatosis. NF affects one in every 3,000 children, more than cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Huntington’s disease combined, and can lead to a wide variety of complications, including blindness, bone abnormalities, cancer, deafness, disfigurement, learning disabilities and excruciating and disabling pain. The Racing4Research program offers children and families living with the disorder a uniquely empowering weekend, and has raised over $2 million dollars since its inception five years ago. Donations can be made at www.racing4research.org.