This past weekend the New Hampshire Motor Speedway saw an act of kindness from one local firefighter to another. Claremont’s Nicholas Koloski gave up his spot at the Speedway Children’s Charities CHaD Champions Breakfast on Friday to Newport’s Corey Conroy after Conroy had mentioned that his CHaD Buddy Karina and her family attend the breakfast and she is a big racing fan. Not only that, Koloski surprised Karina with two tickets to the race on Sunday.
Conroy was able to bring his daughter to the breakfast and enjoy the day with Karina and her family. The breakfast was attended by 2017 Monster Energy Champion Martin Truex Jr. and Xfinity Champion William Byron, who served as guest speakers. Karina is a huge Martin Truex Jr fan. Conroy’s daughter Payton and Karina received autographs from both William Byron and Martin Truex Jr.
Friday after the breakfast event, Conroy, Payton, and Karina and her family spent about six hours in the Speedway watching Modified Practice and Monster Energy and Xfinity Series practice, and also the Whalen Modified Tour All-Star 40 lap race. “It was an amazing chance to sit with them and just chat,” said Conroy. “Payton… my youngest daughter… and Karina started to share an amazing bond. The Jones Family and Karina are not just my CHaD Buddy family, but we have gained an amazing family connection. They are such fun and down to earth people.”
Both Conroy and Koloski have been doing what they can to raise money for CHaD. Conroy has raised about $2,300 for CHaD so far, as he will be participating the CHaD Battle of the Badges Baseball Game for the first time in August. As for Koloski, this was his second year in a row donating his pay for the weekend as a pit road firefighter at NHMS as well as fundraising and gathering toys and stuffed animals for CHaD’s toy room. Koloski has already raised over $410 from fundraising and will add his weekend’s pay on top of that. He has also purchased over 200 stuffed animals.
Koloski, on this past weekend at Loudon, said, “I was on Cloud nine being there for a great cause and it was truly an honor. This is a minor token of my appreciation for the CHaD. Those folks are the real heroes. I’m happy to support a fellow firefighter and be able to make a memorable experience happen for him as he is for his CHaD buddy. He is doing a great thing like all the emergency service workers who give so much and fundraise for the Battle of the Badges.”
Koloski went on to say, “During Saturday’s race I got a message from Corey’s CHaD buddy’s mother with a thank you. She said her daughter was excited before about the NASCAR tickets my mom and I gave her but had just seen me on TV and couldn’t wait for the race.”
NBC host Rutledge Wood gave Koloski a shout out Wednesday night on NASCAR America on NBCSN with Dale Earnhardt Jr and two other drivers. NBC came to do two more features on Koloski, one during the race on Saturday and another during the pre-race show on NBC on Sunday.
“I had no idea I was getting some national coverage as I was working,” said Koloski. “I did feel my phone going off under my fire gear on pit road but can’t access it. [Rutledge Wood] came to see and was careful not to bother me while working so I could stay alert. He did walk in to the pit box to give me a fist bump through my fire glove and said it was a pleasure to meet me. We exchanged a bro hug and he went on his way.”
“The entire weekend was a wave of emotion,” said Koloski, who was a patient at the CHaD predecessor Mary Hitchcock for trouble with his sight at a young age. “It began for me on Thursday when I was working at our family restaurant. A small child came in for dinner with his mom. He walked over to me and in a very adult manner, he said ‘May I speak with you for a moment? I want to say thank you for what you do for CHaD as that is my hospital.’ He gave my Mom a hug. I had to choke back tears. I’m socially awkward when it comes to thank you’s in general but from this small child it made me focus on how important it was. I’m nothing more than a dot-connector. I can see how to make things happen for other people. I try to do as much of that as possible behind the scenes. It’s better that way. The good stuff no one will ever hear about.”
Sometimes in sports, it’s not always about seeing who comes in first place, but using it as a platform to help others. For Koloski and Conroy, they are not only making a difference in their respective communities but they are working to help make a difference in CHaD kids’ lives and making sacrifices to put them first.
Along with the money already raised, Conroy and Team Fire are also doing a 300-spot raffle to assist in the raising of funds for CHaD. The great prizes so far include gift certificates to Dick’s Sporting Goods, MJ Harrington Jewelers, DW Diner, Texas Roadhouse, Salt Hill Pub, Applebees, The Anchorage at Sunapee Harbor, and also a two-person 18-hole golf certificate to the Newport Golf Club, and a two-person Mini Golf pass to Chucksters. If you want to make a difference and donate to the cause, check out Corey Conroy’s Facebook page or email [email protected].
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