As an adult, he has attended several races, including returning to Daytona International Speedway (DIS) in July 2007, the year following his accident. The award, named in honor of the foundation’s late founder and chairwoman, honors NASCAR fans who are accomplished volunteers working for children’s causes in their communities throughout the United States.Ī NASCAR fan nearly all of his life, Farler grew up at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway where his dad worked as part of the fire crew. He recruited Noah, a young boy born without hands and only one foot, to ABR’s services and he’s now a starter on his middle school basketball team.įarler, from Franklin, Tennessee, is one of four finalists for The NASCAR Foundation’s 10th annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award.

She’s now competing at the upper levels of track with her eye on the Paralympics. He helped Hannah, a young girl with only four fingers and no feet, learn to love running. Farler is a powerful advocate within the limb-different community, not only serving as a mentor for the pediatric clients of ABR, but also raising nearly $100,000 for the organization.įarler’s work with children is wide ranging. He believes that every child should have the ability to run. He gives to others what he’s been given – the joy of mobility and speed.

RELATED: Learn more about the 2020 Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award

“Working with our grant recipients has shown me the true spirit of the individual,” Farler said. Transforming his pain into an opportunity for others to achieve a more active lifestyle seems to be his calling. He shares his client’s personal loss due to an unfortunate accident that led him to lose sight in one of his eyes, hearing in one ear, and undergo a partial amputation of each finger and amputation of both legs.Īfter relearning to walk and run, Farler began competing in foot races as an amputee athlete.

Editor’s Note: This is the third installment of a four-part series on the four finalists for The NASCAR Foundation’s 10th annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award.Ī very personal circumstance led Daryl Farler to help found Amputee Blade Runners (ABR), an organization devoted to providing free running and sports prosthetics to lower-limb amputees.

Led fan editor