Team Jeg's a big part of $1.4 million cancer research fundraiser

National Dragster, Jul 11, 2003

Several representatives of Jeg's Racing were on hand when more than $1.4 million was raised at the Five Star Sensation fundraising event for the Ireland Cancer Center at University Hospitals of Cleveland. The biannual event, held in Beachwood, Ohio, was a celebration of American Food and Wine and featured the cuisine of Team Jeg's personal chef Nicky Morse.

"It was great to see so many people committed to such a worthwhile cause," Jeg Coughlin Jr. said. "Everyone was enjoying themselves and meeting others who share the passion to fight cancer. It was a win-win situation to be involved with."

Two-time POWERade Pro Stock champion Coughlin and wife Karen were joined at the gala affair by Troy Coughlin and wife Julie, team publicist Scott Woodruff and wife Jennifer, and Mike Coughlin's wife, Kriss.

World-renowned chef Wolfgang Puck invited 35 of the world's finest culinary artists to help with the fundraiser, and Morse was given a special invitation from Puck to join the elite group of chefs.

"Being part of the Five Star Sensation was such an honor, and it was great to represent NHRA POWERade Drag Racing and the Coughlin family," Morse said. "I met a lot of really great people through the experience. All of the chefs did most of the prep work the day before the event in the kitchen at Cleveland Browns stadium. That was a blast. Out of nowhere you would hear someone yell for you to try what they were working on."

The Jeg's Mail Order team brought its race rig with the full kitchen onboard to show the guests, and the team displayed the 2002 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock championship Jeg's Mail Order Chevy Cavalier with the Jeg's Foundation logo proudly displayed on the hood. The transporter proved to be a big hit with the crowd. The inside was decorated with framed pictures, plaques, articles, trophies (including the 2002 NHRA POWERade Pro Stock championship trophy), and a video that gave people a taste of NHRA POWERade Drag Racing.

The Ireland Cancer Center is one of two cancer research institutions with which the Jeg's Foundation has teamed to create awareness and raise money to fight cancer. The other facility is The Ohio State University James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.