Chevy Indy 500 Essay Contest Winner

CHEVROLET HOSTS LOCAL HERO AS AN HONORARY PIT CREW MEMBER AT INDY 500  
FOR HER FIGHT AGAINST MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND FIREFIGHTING EFFORTS

Winning Honor Comes as Grand Prize for Friend's "Salute Your Hero"
Winning Essay

    INDIANAPOLIS - Carmel, Ind., resident Joy Lorch raises money for
multiple sclerosis research, serves as a volunteer firefighter, organizes
charity walk teams, volunteers at the Wheeler Mission and is the mother of
three children.  As the honoree of Chevrolet's "Salute Your Hero" essay
contest, Lorch will add "Indy 500 pit crew member" to her list of
accomplishments, thanks to the contest's winning essay written by Claire
Horton, a seventh-grade student at Clay Junior High School.

    Throughout April, the Central Indiana Chevy Dealers hosted the
second annual "Salute Your Hero" essay contest asking middle school
students to nominate a person who has been a personal inspiration. 
Horton's essay was chosen among more than 100 entries.  

    "When I found out Claire entered me in Chevrolet's 'Salute Your
Hero' essay contest, I was truly amazed and kept asking 'why me?'"
explained Lorch.  "The volunteer work we do with MS and the Wheeler Mission
are just a part of my family's daily life.  This recognition is an honor,
but nothing we ever anticipated.  The organizations I work with are the
true heroes here with the unconditional work they do to better the lives of
others.  The people I work with are not blessed because I'm in their lives.
I'm blessed that they are in mine."

    As the essay winner, Horton will receive a $2,500 U.S. savings bond,
a matching donation to her school and six suite tickets to the race.  
Horton also is scheduled to ride in a Chevrolet Silverado SS during the
parade lap.  While Horton rounds the track, Lorch will begin her duties as
an honorary pit crew member for the Hemelgarn Racing team and its driver,
1996 Indy 500 winner Buddy Lazier.

    "Joy Lorch is exactly the type of person we want to honor with the
'Salute Your Hero' essay contest.  She's an everyday woman doing
extraordinary work for her community and family," said Kate Hardy,
Chevrolet Marketing Manager.  "The caliber of essays we received
demonstrates that many people are making a difference in Central Indiana
and earning recognition from their kids, neighbors and friends.  'Salute
Your Hero' provides an excellent platform for the Central Indiana Chevy
Dealers to learn about the wonderful people in their backyards and reward
their efforts."

    Second-place honors and four tickets to the race go to Samantha Bowers,
a seventh-grade South Montgomery Junior High School student from Ladoga,
Ind., who nominated her father who fought for his life after a severe work
accident. Two entries tied for third place:  Elissa Holman, a seventh-grade
Tri-West Middle School student from Pittsboro, Ind., who nominated her
hard-working father and Ashley Miller, a seventh-grade Pendleton Middle
School student from Pendleton, Ind., who nominated her adoptive father. 
Each will receive a Chevy Racing Pack and two tickets to the race. 

    Following is a copy of Claire Horton's winning essay:

Salute Your Hero
Claire Horton

    When I first heard about this contest, I immediately thought of my
good friend, Joy Lorch. Joy is an amazing mother of three, and I respect
her greatly. Joy's husband has multiple sclerosis, but she doesn't let that
be a negative. She has taken the disease as a challenge to help find a
cure. To do this, Joy has formed the nation's largest MS team to walk in
the MS Walk and help battle the disease. This year, the team raised $21,000
for the MS Foundation! Joy is also a volunteer firefighter. Although the
gear she must wear weighs seventy pounds and Joy only weighs about ninety,
she doesn't let that stop her! I can't think of anyone I would rather have
rescue me. Joy is the bravest person I know, and she is absolutely amazing.
I am extremely lucky, and I have the privilege of babysitting Joy's
wonderful kids. She has been a superb role-model for them, and also for me.
It's no wonder her parents named her Joy, for she exudes happiness in
everything that she does! Joy is my personal hero for all that she does!