Photo: Racing for Kids

It was "Ladies Day" at Cincinnati Children's Hospital when Racers Milka Duno of the Indy Car Series and Ana "Bia" Beatriz of the Firestone Indy Lights Series visited 100 hospitalized youngsters and their siblings Thursday, July 30 .

The two hour event saw the drivers spend time with young patients in two hospital playrooms and bed-to-bed visits, signing autographs, handing out hats and coloring books, posing for pictures and entertaining questions about their careers as well as their races this weekend at The Kentucky Speedway.

Afterward, Duno, who drives for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, and Beatriz, who drivers for Sam Schmidt Racing, moved to the Cincy Hospital entrance where they helped gleeful youngsters in and out of an "official" IndyCar, an Indy Racing League show car on display.

One particularly happy patient was Kevin, who had just had a tracheal tube removed, which had been with him for 10 years after being inserted when he was just nine days old. While Kevin did not have much to say, he was high-fiving the drivers and several other Racing For Kids representatives on hand.  

Lisa Hall, Cincinnati Hospital Children's Child Life Specialist, said the annual visit from Racing For Kdis is a "highlight" on the hospital's active events calendar. It was pointed out to Duno and Beatriz that their appearance attracted an especially large crowd of young girls and their moms, all eager to learn more about IndyCar racing and the career paths of their new heroes.

Major sponsors of Racing For Kids include Humana, sanofi-aventis, Bridgestone Firestone, TranSystems, I-Rex and Benson Ford, Jr.

from: http://www.racingforkids.org/News/View/It+Was+Ladies+Day+at+Cincinnati+Children's+Hospital