“Stay in the Race”: How One IndyCar Team's Partnership Aims to Act Against Heart Valve Failure
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Rahal Letterman Lanigan (RLL) Racing and Edwards Lifesciences have announced a partnership using racing as a metaphor for heart valve health.
Stay in the Race is a national campaign made to recognize the importance of early detection of heart valve failure before the symptoms become life-threatening. It is also the title of the team’s documentary that is set to premiere on May 22nd ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500.
This partnership is close to the RLL Racing team’s metaphorical heart as Co-owners Bobby Rahal, David Letterman and Mike Lanigan have each faced varying heart health challenges.
Lanigan himself was treated with Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) following a diagnosis of heart valve failure.
“For our team,” said Rahal, “partnering with Edwards Lifesciences to raise awareness of treatable heart valve failure is deeply personal. We know firsthand that waiting until symptoms become life-threatening is a risk no one should take. That’s why we are sharing our stories to help spark conversations and encourage individuals, especially adults 65+, to prioritize their heart health – because one simple pitstop can change everything.”
On-site during the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race weekend, the Stay in the Race booth at the Long Beach Expo Center featured a variety of activities for fans to participate in, but most importantly, it offered free heart valve screenings every day.
The screenings were quick, unobtrusive and only required the use of an AI-enabled digital stethoscope. Fans were able to walk in and walk out minutes later, knowing the state of their heart valve health.
While they waited, the activation also featured a reflex test, a photo booth, racing simulations and a spot to sit down, relax and watch the trailer for the Stay in the Race documentary.
The documentary highlights the similarity between racing and heart health: every second matters. Every second you take to make a decision leads to higher risk, whether it’s when to brake to maximize corner entry in an IndyCar or when to get your heart looked at. If you take one second too long, the margin of error or the chance that something could go wrong increases.
“Everything that Edwards has done is phenomenal,” said Graham Rahal, son of Bobby Rahal and current driver of the No. 15 RLL Racing Honda, when asked about the partnership. “Heart health is something that everybody has to take so seriously. You get one shot at it. Getting a health screening doesn’t take long, and it doesn’t cost much.
I think what Edwards is doing to bring that to life is tremendous. It could save millions of us, so take the time, spend a little bit of money, or if you are here [at Long Beach this weekend], you can get the screen for free. Make sure you go get your heart checked – no doubt.”
To learn more about the partnership and to watch the documentary trailer, head to GetYourValvesChecked.com.