BUNNY BURKETT ON A MISSION
Tue, 2007-04-24 15:07
Alcohol Funny Car driver Bunny Burkett is known as one of the toughest female competitors on the track, but make no mistake, she is one of the toughest you will ever find off of it as well.
Alcohol Funny Car driver Bunny Burkett is known as one of the toughest female competitors on the track, but make no mistake, she is one of the toughest you will ever find off of it as well.
Burkett, 61, who spent most of 2006 battling breast cancer, now has a new lease on life and is on a mission to spread the word about early detection. “I went in for my annual mammogram, and a couple days later I got a certified letter in the mail telling me a I needed to come back in for a closer look,” said Bunny. “I had breast cancer. I had a double mastectomy in September of last year. But I was back driving my Funny Car in October, and I think God is sending me on a mission.”
“I have the platform and the opportunity to spread the word about early detection,” said Burkett. “If I save just one woman’s life by telling her to get her annual mammogram, then my mission is complete. God left me here to tell that story for a third time.”
Burkett says third time, referring to the fact that she has been involved in life-threatening situations that many times during her Alcohol Funny Car racing career. Some have even been bad enough to warrant safety changes to the cars and to the tracks, similar to the situation brought on by the tragic loss of NHRA funny car driver Eric Medlen. Each one has only strengthened her faith in God and her belief that she has been given a mission by Him.
In 1995, Bunny suffered a particularly horrible crash and significant injuries, bad enough for the doctors to count her out and for the priest to stay by her hospital bed for seven days.
“They said I would never make it, much less drive again,” said Burkett. “Eighteen months later I was back driving a brand new Funny Car.”
Then came her battle with breast cancer, and in February of this year, Bunny had a complete hysterectomy. True to form, however, on March 31st she was back in her car, ready to race, and ready to spread the word. Early detection saves lives. Bunny Burkett is living proof of this.
Alcohol Funny Car driver Bunny Burkett is known as one of the toughest female competitors on the track, but make no mistake, she is one of the toughest you will ever find off of it as well.Burkett, 61, who spent most of 2006 battling breast cancer, now has a new lease on life and is on a mission to spread the word about early detection. “I went in for my annual mammogram, and a couple days later I got a certified letter in the mail telling me a I needed to come back in for a closer look,” said Bunny. “I had breast cancer. I had a double mastectomy in September of last year. But I was back driving my Funny Car in October, and I think God is sending me on a mission.”
“I have the platform and the opportunity to spread the word about early detection,” said Burkett. “If I save just one woman’s life by telling her to get her annual mammogram, then my mission is complete. God left me here to tell that story for a third time.”
Burkett says third time, referring to the fact that she has been involved in life-threatening situations that many times during her Alcohol Funny Car racing career. Some have even been bad enough to warrant safety changes to the cars and to the tracks, similar to the situation brought on by the tragic loss of NHRA funny car driver Eric Medlen. Each one has only strengthened her faith in God and her belief that she has been given a mission by Him.
In 1995, Bunny suffered a particularly horrible crash and significant injuries, bad enough for the doctors to count her out and for the priest to stay by her hospital bed for seven days.
“They said I would never make it, much less drive again,” said Burkett. “Eighteen months later I was back driving a brand new Funny Car.”
Then came her battle with breast cancer, and in February of this year, Bunny had a complete hysterectomy. True to form, however, on March 31st she was back in her car, ready to race, and ready to spread the word. Early detection saves lives. Bunny Burkett is living proof of this.
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