Driving Awareness for Relapsing Polychondritis

Race for RP is a partnership with race car drivers, teams, owners, sponsors, and enthusiasts to drive awareness and accelerate research for relapsing polychondritis (RP) and other autoimmune diseases. Whether you’re a professional driver, amateur racer, or a weekend warrior passionate about racing, connect with us to learn how you can Race for RP.

What is Relapsing Polychondritis?

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a severe, chronic autoimmune disease marked by the inflammation and breakdown of cartilage. This potentially fatal disease can affect any part of the body with cartilage, including the ears, nose, airways, joints, eyes, skin, heart valves, and brain.

The Impact of Relapsing Polychondritis

Not much is known about this rare and degenerative autoimmune disease that afflicts millions of people. That’s why we invest in research to better understand and treat it.

5,000

Number of people in the U.S. with Relapsing Polychondritis

50/50

Relapsing Polychondritis impacts men and women equally

40-60

Age most people begin experiencing symptoms

1 of 150

Relapsing Polychondritis is often associated with other autoimmune disorders (including VEXAS)

Fueling Groundbreaking RP-Focused Research

The Race for RP and the Relapsing Polychondritis Foundation are accelerating research and studies to help diagnose, prevent and cure relapsing polychondritis and related autoimmune diseases. Together with our talented collaborative research partners, we are driving RP and autoimmune diseases to the forefront of ground-breaking discoveries. We are also improving patient access to specialized, multi-disciplinary teams of clinicians and are fostering a greater understanding of RP among clinicians, scientists and the broader community. We recognize the vital need for funding to support the next wave of progress and sustain the important research that’s forging the path to a cure.

$ 0 k+

Invested in collaborative Relapsing Polychondritis and autoimmune research

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Research projects and studies, and growing

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Collaborative research partners (so far)

HELP US DRIVE DISCOVERIES. PARTICIPATE IN OUR EXCITING, INNOVATIVE FUNDRAISING EVENTS.

RP Warrior 5K Walk - Oct 14-15, 2023

We’re honored to support the Relapsing Polychondritis Warrior 5k Walk organized by RP Warrior, Dan Smith.

The founding of race for RP

Race for RP’s inception comes from Nancy Linn’s story. After years of painful and debilitating symptoms with no clear cause, Nancy was diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis. She found strength and the courage to persevere by choosing to live with purpose. Race for RP raises awareness about RP in clinical, scientific, and broader community arenas, and advances research efforts for this and other autoimmune diseases to catalyze discoveries that improve diagnosis, patient outcomes, and ultimately, lead to a cure. With countless other patients afflicted with autoimmune disease and facing similar struggles, Nancy’s purpose is our collective purpose.

RP The Ride of My Life

This powerful documentary follows Nancy and her family’s experience with a rare disease, highlights the challenges of finding answers where there were none, and reveals how she found her purpose in becoming an advocate for RP and autoimmune research.

PART TWO OF THE DOCUMENTARY COMING SOON!

Why Motorsports?

Driving awareness and accelerating research for autoimmune diseases is a race with no finish line, but the racing community is uniquely suited to tackle this challenge. They help us go full throttle to enable more research into the mysteries of autoimmune disease.

Race for RP Today

We have never lost sight of our purpose and have become a catalyst for awareness and research on treatments and cures for relapsing polychondritis and related autoimmune diseases.

Our Partners

Our world-renowned research partners are driving ground-breaking discoveries in relapsing polychondritis and related autoimmune disease research.