Duncan Dobie, a longtime outdoor writer-photographer and Deer & Deer Hunting contributor, is a finalist for an extraordinary award sponsored by NASCAR – the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award.
Dobie is one of four finalists, who were announced Oct. 1 by the NASCAR Foundation. This is the third year for the award, which is presented to one dedicated NASCAR fan who has made a profound impact on children in his or her local community. The four finalists receive $25,000 for the charity of their choice.
Through an easy-to-use, online voting system that will be in open until Dec.5, 2013, the finalist receiving the highest number of online votes will become the grand-prize winner. That person will receive $100,000 for his or her charity at the nationally televised NASCAR awards ceremony in Las Vegas on Dec. 6.
Visit NASCAR.com/award for details on voting. To cast your vote, watch the video, select the “vote” button for that video, and then complete the form by providing your complete name and e-mail address or log into your Facebook account from the website. You may only submit one (1) vote per day.
Dobie was named a finalist for his 31 years of volunteer service to Camp Sunshine, an organization in Georgia that conducts year-round programs for children who have or have had cancer. By the end of this year, Camp Sunshine will have conducted more than 130 different programs for children of all ages and their families including a week-long summer camp during 2013 alone.
Dobie said he has been privileged and inspired to work with these courageous cancer kids in many different capacities over the past 31 years – as a photographer, counselor, swimming instructor, lifeguard, and supervisor on fishing, white-water rafting and snow-skiing trips.
His involvement with Camp Sunshine began with the first summer camp in 1983 where his then 14-year-old daughter Katherine, who had been diagnosed with leukemia at age 6, was a camper. Dobie has also more than 20 excursion trips to Washington, D.C., and three trips to participate in Outward Bound wilderness programs in Leadville, Col., especially designed for teenage cancer patients. Dobie has also taken several teenage boys who attended Camp Sunshine on deer hunts in Alabama, Georgia and Texas.
“Although I am honored to receive this award, it’s not about me,” Dobie said. “It’s about Camp Sunshine and I need your help and support in soliciting as many votes as possible for this very worthy organization. I can’t begin to tell you how special it would be for Camp Sunshine to receive this money. All of us have been touched by cancer in some way, but it’s particularly heart-wrenching when children are involved.”
Camp Sunshine has hosted and inspired more than 12,000 children in the past 31 years and has had an incredibly positive influence on the lives of countless people; including siblings of campers, parents, other close relatives and friends.
Camp Sunshine organization has always raised 100 percent of its own funds. The France Humanitarian Award money would help pay for dozens of special programs for children of all ages. Needless to say, fundraising has not been easy during the past few years due to the weak economy, and this money would be a Godsend to Camp Sunshine.