Apr 05 2008
(KTVI – myFOXstl.com) –
It’s not unusual to see stock cars covered with advertisements and sponsor’s logos. In Warrenton they unveiled some cars with special signs. They are adorned with the pictures of missing children. It’s all part of Shawn Hornbeck Foundation and Team Hornbeck Racing. 17 year old Kara Kopetsky disappeared last May. Her mother is glad the teenage girl’s photo is on a stock car. The mother, Rhonda Beckford told Fox 2, “The public forgets so fast you have to do things to make sure it stays out there because if people don’t look she’ll never be found.”
Craig Akers the C.E.O. for the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation said, “The ultimate goal would have this lead to the recovery of one of the children featured on the cars.” They are using age progression photos in the cases of kids who have been gone for a long time. Becky Klino’s son Branson Perry disappeared 7 years ago, she said, “Does it get easier to live with? No. There’s still that emptiness still that heartache.”
The stock car drivers are happy to be part of a winning cause. Lane Ehlert is a driver, he said, “I really hope we can find them just keep awareness up saying we’re still looking for them.” Organizers say the program also promotes child safety.
