Accomplished NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski has joined the #GroganStrong movement.
Stephen Grogan, the Pensacola police officer fighting an aggressive form of terminal brain cancer, felt the love and support all the way from Las Vegas last week, where Keselowski was photographed holding the black-and-blue #GroganStrong banner to help bring nationwide awareness to Grogan’s fight.
Pensacola Police Department spokesman Mike Wood, a huge fan of both NASCAR and Keselowski, made the connection.
“I’ve met him several times and he’s very into supporting first responders and veterans, so much so that he built a foundation for them,” Wood said.
Grogan’s fight: ‘It gives us hope:’ Pensacola rallies around police officer with brain cancer
While watching the races in Las Vegas at the end of February, Wood met with staff members of Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation to pitch the banner idea.
“Brad was receptive to it and said he wanted to do it,” Wood said. “We just wanted a different way of bringing attention to Officer Grogan’s situation. And Brad has a lot of fans and I just thought that would be an appropriate way to do it. And he thought the same thing.”
Pensacola police posted a photo of Keselowski holding the banner on the department’s Facebook page Thursday afternoon, and the post was shared more than 640 times in 24 hours.
Pensacola Police Department Chief Tommi Lyter took the Keselowski-PPD relationship a step further by making Keselowski, the 2012 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion, an honorary PPD officer.
Keselowski received his very own badge and nameplate as part of the ceremonial gesture.
“He appreciated it very much, those are things that aren’t just handed out,” Wood said. “It takes a lot to get one of those.”
Tickets are on sale now for the Grogan Strong Gala, a black-tie event and fundraiser April 27 at the Studer Community Institute to raise funds for Grogan and his family.
Jake Newby can be reached at [email protected] or 850-435-8538.
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