When Kelly "Girl" Sutton was just a little girl, her mom asked her what she wanted to do when she grew up. Her immediate response was to help people, and be a race car driver. Little did either one of them know the twists or turns that lay ahead ultimately would help Sutton achieve both goals.

"I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in 1988 when I was only 16 years old," explained Sutton. "Like many people, I was devastated. But, through prayer and support from family and friends, I realized my diagnosis didn't have to stand in the way of a racing career. I wanted to change the face of MS and encourage others with MS to realize their dreams."

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), Sutton is one of more than 400,000 Americans currently living with MS, a disease where women are two to three times more likely to be diagnosed than men. Sutton's mission is to raise awareness of the treatment options available to manage the disease. She accomplishes this, in part, by sharing her personal story and experiences in most cities she visits. Saturday, Nov. 12, Sutton will sign autographs by her race truck at the Camelback Inn at 9:00 a.m., in Scottsdale, and she will speak at 10:30 a.m. For more information on this free event for those affected by MS, please call 1-800-887-8100.

"There are more than 4,700 Arizona residents affected by MS, and almost half of all people living with the disease are not taking one of the approved therapies.

The 34-year-old single mom also uses the media exposure gained by her presence as a driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) to show her peers in the MS community that it is possible to manage the challenges of everyday life after a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Impacting People's Lives

Kelly Sutton's story resonates far beyond just the racing world, spreading to the hundreds of thousands living with MS. Whether newly diagnosed, or living with the disease for many years, men and women of all ages identify with Sutton's determination to overcome her challenges. Her positive attitude and determination to "make lemonade from lemons" has kept her focused on reaching out to the MS community and pursuing her passion for racing. Sutton's courage and resolve earned her the 2004 Gene Autry Courage Award from the Tempe Sports Authority and the distinguished 2003 Wilma Rudolph Courage Award presented by the Women's Sports Foundation.

"No matter where I travel, I meet someone with MS who touches my heart and makes me feel connected to all the other people who are fighting the same battle I am," said Sutton. "There is no way to describe the awesome feeling I get when someone tells me something I did inspired them to take action in managing their MS. I receive e-mails from people all over the country who have heard me talk about my MS at an educational program, read about my story in their morning paper, or watched an interview on their evening news. Helping others is my dream, and I am living it every day!"

Racing Against MS

A third-generation driver for Sutton Motorsports, Kelly "Girl" Sutton's desire to race began as a five-year-old leaning against her dad's race car and has blossomed into a career in the hard-charging NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Despite competing in a typically male-dominated sport, Sutton has posted nearly a dozen top-25 finishes, a handful of top-20s, and a top-15 finish in her short time in the series. Sutton currently holds the record for career earnings and race starts by a female NCTS competitor, as well as the best starting position or finish by a female NCTS driver at several tracks on the circuit. She hopes to add the one-mile Phoenix International Raceway to that list of accomplishments Nov. 11.

Sutton says she is living the dream she envisioned so many years ago, and her accomplishments on and off the track have inspired thousands of people living with MS to find their own passion. She continues to put herself in the public eye sharing her personal challenges, and has paved the way for those with MS, and women, to keep focused on a checkered flag of their own.