Logano finding a charitable side in games near home

For a few moments this week, Matt and Chris Zapel forgot they were sick.

They forgot that at any given moment they could be admitted to lengthy hospital stay as both teenagers -- two brothers from New Hampshire -- were born with Cystic Fibrosis. Although, when you have such a tremendous distraction as a visit from your favorite NASCAR driver, forgetting your struggles tends to become a little easier.

"The fact that we were sick didn't even come up, not once," said Matt, 19. "It was like we were just all hanging out playing video games, relaxing ... but it was with Joey Logano."

Matt and Chris Zapel hung out with Joey Logano on Thursday.

Traveling to New Hampshire Motor Speedway this weekend, Logano, the 18-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing driver, made a visit to David's House, a charitable outlet that provides a home-away-from-home environment for families with children receiving treatment through the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth in Lebanon, N.H.

Upon his arrival, Logano brought with him two Nintendo Wii game systems, two Xbox 360s and a handful of games, as well as special controllers from his sponsor, GameStop.

The children staying at David's House, along with the Zapel brothers, were elated. No. 1, they had new electronics to keep them entertained. And No. 2, they had an expert gamer to show them new techniques.

"We played NASCAR Kart Racing for Wii and I know we had a conversation but I can't remember really because I was so concentrated on beating him. It was a pretty serious game. We were all into it," Matt said.

The memories Logano left with the Zapel brothers will be talked about for weeks to come.

But for Logano, entering NASCAR's world of charitable acts and philanthropic foundations isn't always going to be upbeat and pleasant. The responsibilities aren't always going to be filled with cheerful ribbon-cutting ceremonies, check presentations in front of a grateful crowd or even the opportunity to shower sick teenagers with gifts.

Being a NASCAR driver, or a philanthropist such as Logano who is in a position to do impactful work, requires expressing true emotion and the ability to display extreme compassion.

As Logano learned for the first time in 2007, it is difficult walking in to a hospital full of sick children and teenagers his same age, struggling with illnesses they may never overcome. (Continued)