Be a part of the action! 2008 Make A Difference Day articles: NASCAR's Elliott Sadler on his charity work You can help others, too. By Jimmie Johnson. Ashley Judd: "Volunteering is spiritually rewarding." NASCAR's Kyle Petty on his Victory Junction camp and Paul Newman

Fourth in a series

How Kyle Petty built a camp to help kids

By NASCAR's Kyle Petty

The NASCAR Foundation: Our 2008 teammate The NASCAR Foundation Volunteer Network is the official teammate for USA WEEKEND's Make A Difference Day 2008. This inspirational story is one in a series from some of NASCAR's hottest drivers. Stay tuned for Make A Difference Day messages on air, at the racetrack and at NASCAR.com/foundation.

When you meet Paul Newman, you get an immediate sense of how special he is. Because he's such an avid racer, I teamed up with him in 2004 for the Rolex 24, a 24-hour event in Daytona. Paul got there before the event, and everyone wanted to talk with him about his movies. But he preferred to get serious, right then and there, about competing. He grilled me on what the car was likely to do at certain points in the race. Then he went out there and drove it like a pro.

It was great to work with him. He's done so much to help Victory Junction Gang, the camp in Randleman, N.C., that my wife, Pattie, and I started the same year as that race. When we knew we wanted to start the camp, we came up with some plans and then asked to meet with staff members from the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps to get their input. Paul launched Hole in the Wall, which now consists of 13 camps around the world, for children with serious illnesses.

The Hole in the Wall staff asked us in detail about our intentions. We told them we wanted the camp to be a place where seriously sick children could go and bowl, do crafts, swim and horse around in a setting something like "NASCAR goes to Disney World." We told them we'd have medical specialists on site to help meet the needs of the kids. And, most of all, we wanted children who participated to feel as though they were just like any other kids -- not singled out because of their problems.

The staffers were impressed, but they said it would take a lot of support, and they weren't sure we could do it. We told them we appreciated their time, and we were going to do it anyway. When Paul heard about that, he gave his blessing, as well as a generous donation of seed money. And we were officially welcomed into the Hole in the Wall family.

The NASCAR community gives so much, too. Back in 2004 when Tony Stewart and I were named Most Caring Athletes by USA WEEKEND for our work with the camp, we were getting help from lots of folks -- like Jeff Gordon, for example, who donated enough money to pay for a cabin. And that support continues today. Two-time reigning NASCAR champ Jimmie Johnson's contribution enabled Brunswick to build a genuine big-pin, four-lane bowling alley. Tony's contributions have made it possible for us to build the coolest clubhouse you've ever seen. It conveys the illusion of being in a treehouse, but, given that many of our kids are in wheelchairs, it's actually on the ground and accessible to the handicapped.

I'm thrilled that we're now able to host 3,000 kids every year. Of course, none of this could happen without our great camp volunteers and the wonderful fundraising efforts organized by the public -- ranging from bake sales to car washes to charity motorcycle rides.

Working as a camp volunteer is demanding. But most volunteers tell us they get as much satisfaction from the experience as the kids do.

That's the same kind of kick you'll get from Make A Difference Day. You think you're going to make a difference for someone else, but you end up benefiting, too.

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Be a part of the action

Register: Read tips about planning a volunteer project and then register your plans in the Make A Difference DaytaBank.

This searchable database will help you recruit volunteers and get publicity for your efforts.

Free cereal: As soon as you register your project, you're eligible to receive breakfast for your volunteers courtesy of Newman's Own. Ten projects will be selected to receive a donation of Newman's Own Sweet Enough cereal.

Network with moms: Swap Make A Difference Day ideas and chat with other moms at MomsLikeMe.com. This online meeting spot for local moms to connect will spotlight Make A Difference Day with group chats, photos and consultations from USA WEEKEND staffers.

YouTube yourself: Videotape your day's activities and share them at the HandsOn Network Action YouTube Channel.

Travel For Good
WIN A FREE TRIP! Take photos of your Oct. 25 action and submit one for a chance to win a volunteer vacation to the destination of your choice through Travelocity's Travel for Good program. Russia, Tanzania and Costa Rica are among the many countries where volunteers can help.

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About USA WEEKEND's Make A Difference Day

One day, millions of good deeds: More than 3 million people help 20 million others on this annual day of volunteering, held in partnership with HandsOn Network. Join in Oct. 25. Find out how at makeadifferenceday.com.

$100,000 for charity: USA WEEKEND and Newman's Own will salute Make A Difference Day volunteers by awarding $10,000 donations to charities selected by 10 national honorees.