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Los Angeles, CA - The Ute Mountain (Colorado) and Ak-chin (Arizona) became the latest Indian tribes to sign on to host a Team Diabetes Prevention Racing (TDPR) presentation with full-blooded Navajo race car driver Cory Witherill. The Ak-Chin presentation will take place on Monday July 14 at 9:30 am and the Ute Mountain presentation will occur the following day at 10:00 am. "I am really excited to speak to the children of these two communities", stated Witherill. "I have been wanting to visit these two reservations for a long time and now I get to do so and help the children of these communities understand the importance of maintaining their health to avoid developing diabetes."

Both presentations are following TDPR speaking engagements at the Fort Mojave Indian Community and the Native American Basketball Invitational in Phoenix. "We are certainly going to be busy this weekend", explained Witherill. "We have five presentations in four days, but it is going to be fun meeting so many different people. I am really looking forward to getting this program on the road." TDPR is a new program that Witherill and a USC professor Dr. Robert Tranquada developed to begin working with and educating Native Americans about diabetes prevention. Witherill hired Media-chase, a well-known graphics company that has created animation for such clients as the Disney Corporation to design his presentation. "I wanted to make the presentation fun for the kids as well as convey to them the importance of proper diet and exercise", claims Witherill. "I think we have accomplished our goals with this presentation. The kids are going to have a lot of fun this weekend." The program includes the 30-minute multi-media presentation along with a TDPR hat giveaway, diabetes prevention kits and Cory’s Indy show car on display at each event. "It means a lot to me that the program is exciting for the kids because I want to be a strong role-model for Native American youth and getting out there and working with them is probably the best way to have an impact on their lives."

The TDPR program is open to all tribes that would like to have Cory come speak to their youth. "Our plan is to try to speak with every tribe in the country", mentioned Witherill. "All Native Americans can learn something from my presentation." In an effort to make the expense of the presentations less burdensome on tribe’s that would like to host a speaking engagement, Witherill is planning to locate his show car in different regions of the country at different times of the year. "I am planning to locate my show car in New Mexico for the week of September 7 - 14 in hopes of attracting several speaking engagements in the southwest region", explained Witherill. "We know that it is expensive to the tribes to transport my show car from state to state. I think this idea will reduce the expenses involved with hosting an event and make it more feasible for tribes in these local areas to participate in the program. I am real flexible. I just want to see as many tribes as possible get involved and support our quest to get this important message to the Indian youth." Witherill will also be transporting the show car to Indianapolis for the entire month of October in an effort to reach the needs of the midwestern tribes. "Our schedule is pretty open for the rest of the summer and we would enjoy the opportunity to visit as many tribes as possible with this new program."

Witherill has been speaking to Native American children on topics of tobacco and alcohol prevention and building self-esteem for several years and works well with Native American youth. "I see the looks in the kid’s faces and I know that they are getting my message. I really think that this program is the strongest message that I have ever had to deliver because the diabetes rate in Indian Country is so absurdly high. We have got to put a stop to it and the first step is educating our children."

Any parties interested in more information should contact Cory’s manager Greg Sowers of Motorsports Management by e-mail.