INDIANAPOLIS – On-track activity in May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is something every Verizon IndyCar Series driver looks forward to. For Stefan Wilson, there is another enjoyable part of the month that he has created as a tradition.

For the third year, Wilson visited pediatric patients and clinicians at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent on Thursday as an ambassador for Racing for Kids. The Andretti Autosport driver has made this trip annually to continue raising awareness and encouraging people to become organ donors through the Indiana Donor Network – and emphasizing the impact that being an organ donor has on so many lives.

“It’s great to be here with Racing for Kids and to support this longstanding charity. They’ve been in racing now for almost 30 years and have done amazing things. Just feels great to visit the kids here at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital,” Wilson said.

“This has given me a chance to tie in my current campaign for May, which is #Driven2SaveLives, and we have some patients (at the hospital) who are on the national wait list,” he added.

Wilson is passionate about the program that started after the death of his older brother, Justin, in 2015. “In his passing, he was able to save five lives as a registered donor,” Stefan said.

Wilson will drive the No. 25 #Driven2SaveLives Honda in this year’s Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil to further the cause.

“What’s cool with this year’s race car is that we are going to have 25 patient names (of those on the organ transplant waiting list) on the race car itself, which is really special,” the one-time Indianapolis 500 starter said.

As part of Thursday’s event, Wilson accepted a $1,500 check from Pat Wright, executive director and CEO of Racing for Kids, with the money earmarked for the organ transplant fund at St. Vincent. As excited as he was to take part in the check presentation, Wilson is moved as much with the chance to see patients and staff.

“This is the third year in a row that we have been coming here to the hospital on this day in May, and to see the doctors and children is special and just being able to help the community is awesome as well,” he said.

The feeling is reciprocated.

“It is always a pleasure for us to have these drivers visiting our patients,” said Dr. Hossain Marandi, president of Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital. “Hospitals are not fun places to be in and we want to help our patients to get better.

“These visits truly lift the spirits of the children and our staff as well as helps us provide better care for our patients.”

Racing for Kids arranges for INDYCAR drivers to visit hospitals and other children’s organizations in all race markets. Wright has seen the organization evolve over its nearly three decades and enjoys every happy moment that the drivers provide for the children they visit.

“The drivers are so great with the kids,” Wright said. “Twenty-nine of the 33 drivers who started the Indy 500 last year are on the Racing for Kids team, which means they do these types of visits and help with fundraising as well. It’s great.”

Wright has heard and seen first-hand the benefits that the visits mean for the young patients, many facing serious illnesses or extended recovery periods.

“These doctors tell us that the kids get better faster due to visits from celebrities like drivers,” he said. “It takes their mind off of what they’re battling and puts smiles on their faces. It’s an important part of the recovery therapy.”