Be the Match Teams Up with Performance Tech

Performance Tech Motorsports is proud to partner with Be The Match, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program, for the Rolex 24 At Daytona to bring awareness to marrow donation and innovation.

Be The Match is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding marrow transplant donors and matching them to blood cancer patients in need. In addition, they provide ground-breaking research, innovative technologies, patient support and education to both patients and potential matches.

In 2018 Performance Tech Motorsports driver Dr. Robert Masson became the registry’s selected doctor to re-invent the bone marrow biopsy, donation and transplant procedure, something that has not been rethought for over 20 years. Through his unique relationship with the non-profit, Performance Tech has formed a partnership with Be The Match focused on raising awareness about the innovative commitment to optimize the bone marrow donation and transplantation process for donors and patients.

Be The Match selected Dr. Masson, a world-renowned minimally invasive spine surgeon who is well known for his procedure and medical device innovation, to be the medical investigator to study and optimize the procedures and process necessary for safe and lifesaving bone marrow transplantation treatment. This merges multiple worlds for Performance Tech as Dr. Masson continues to use his passion for racing to increase an overall health, recovery, optimization and survival message. Dr. Masson, a spinal reconstruction patient himself, is passionate about teaching people how to navigate their own health care experiences and celebrate extreme recovery and survival in the face of these adversities.

Dr. Masson’s younger sister, Calley, is a 20-year cancer survivor and has gone through the bone marrow treatment process further motivating his passion to optimize this treatment.  Performance Tech and the Masson family have previously committed to supporting Camp Boggy Creek, on behalf of IMSA, the governing body of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, and now are bringing technology and innovation to the forefront of treatment for Leukemia and Blood dycrasias.

“My family and friends who know about my participation in racing understand that racing has given me structure and clarity about the importance of safe, simple, incremental perpetual improvements in performance” Dr. Masson said. “When I was asked if I could help in optimizing the bone marrow treatment process, my experience with my sister’s cancer journey, my professional commitment to improving spine surgery, my passion for extreme recovery and survival, all came to a crossroads. 

“I am so proud to help Be the Match in this initiative to make bone marrow treatment easier, safer and more effective. I also hope to inspire people to become donors themselves and will continue to remind everyone I can that each donor is the lifeline for so many countless people in their lives as we continue to battle cancer”.

Team Principal Brent O’Neill is proud to have Be The Match represented on the No. 38 Centinel Spine ORECA LMP2. It’s yet another symbol of what racing can accomplish in worlds outside its own.

“We hope that through our channels we can reach a different audience and expand public knowledge of Be The Match,” O’Neill said. “Having their surgeon who is re-inventing this incredibly important process in our car during the biggest race of the season is really a big deal. It gives them the opportunity to tell the world what they’re doing. Someone who may not pay attention to news revolving medicine may pay attention to our sport. They’re learning about an opportunity they may need one day, or maybe they’ll be inspired to donate. You never know what could happen.”

Be The Match and Performance Tech Motorsports take to the track Saturday, Jan. 26 through Sunday, Jan. 27 for the twice around the clock endurance classic, the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The race takes place at Daytona International Speedway and is broadcasted on NBCSN, NBC Sports and IMSA.tv. Catch the Pre-Season Show Thursday, Jan. 24 or watch the re-air before the race Jan. 26. For a detailed broadcast schedule check your local listing. For tickets visit http://daytonainternationalspeedway.com.