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Shane Weeks, Teen Cancer Patient, Races With Custom Car (VIDEO)

Teen Cancer Patient Races With Car Built By Friends
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NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |

Shane Weeks, a racing enthusiast, has been watching the Tulsa Shootout car races from the stands every year for most of his life. When the 19-year-old was diagnosed with cancer, his friends Alex and Evan decided it was time to give Shane a real shot at participating in the race he loved so much. So, they built him his own custom car.

According to NewsOn6.com, car parts and donations came from across the country, and they surprised their friend with the gift -- which was worth $30,000 -- at Thanksgiving. On Sunday night, Shane debuted his car at the Tulsa shootout.

"My heart was pounding," Shane said. "I couldn't breathe."

Watch the video above for the full story and click over to NewsOn6.com to see how Shane placed.

Another inspiring teen made his dreams come true last month when he joined his favorite football team for their final homegame of the season. Seventeen-year-old Will Fahey, whose cerebral palsy often makes it difficult to walk, was invited by the team's coaches to take the first snap of the game as a player. It was their way of saying "thank you" for his dedication as a fan over the past 6 years.

"[Football] is my passion," Will told CBS News. "My dad did it in high school."
Watch Will's amazing football moment here.

And earlier this month, an 11-year-old basketball prodigy from Florida made waves in his community by accepting a starting spot on the high school varsity team.

What stories are inspiring you this week? Share your favorite feel-good links in the comments below or tweet @huffpostteen.

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Before You Go

Lessons From HuffPost Teen Bloggers
Loving Yourself Means Loving All Your Identities (01 of24)
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Sabrina Lee discusses the challenges of coming out in a traditional Korean family -- and in a school where most of the LGBT population is white. She writes, "It's sometimes tough being a queer person of color. We're underrepresented and stuff. To be honest, though, I really wouldn't have it any other way. I love my identity. I love all of my identities." (credit:Sabrina Lee)
Nothing Can Stand In Your Way If You Don't Let It(02 of24)
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18-year-old Drew Kirk grew up with a rare disorder that causes his bones to break easily -- in fact, he has broken over 400 in his short life. But still, he's maintained a positive outlook and never let his challenges stand in the way of anything he wanted to do. By focusing on what he has instead of what he lacks, Drew has created a life that he loves. (credit:Drew Kirk)
Don't Be Afraid To Take A Stand On Big Issues(03 of24)
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When Shireen Younus witnessed a shooting at her own high school, she didn't sit quietly by. The young blogger took a big stand on gun violence, urging the president, "It is time for you to take a clear stance on gun control in America -- one that will keep students safe in schools."
Rock Your Own Style -- No Matter What Other People Think Of It(04 of24)
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Scottish singer and blogger Tallia Storm has a unique personal style, and nothing -- not even the fashion police! -- can keep her from wearing what she loves. (credit:Getty Images)
Nobody's Perfect -- Not Even Celebrities (05 of24)
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Two of our favorite stars -- singer Ariana Grande and Secret Life of the American Teenage star Renee Olstead -- might seem perfect on the outside, but they deal with the same issues as any teen. Ariana opened up about her struggles with bullying, while Renee battled an eating disorder during her teen years. (credit:Alamy)
Always Stand Up For Your Family(06 of24)
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20-year-old Kristen Wolfe had a big message to send : You should always stick up for your family. And her message was heard by millions of people -- Kristen's blog post a boy who defending his little brother was shared over 100,000 times on Facebook. (credit:Alamy)
'Pretty' Is Just A Word(07 of24)
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Alexis Jane Torre opened up about living with the skin condition vitiligo. After year of trying to be 'pretty,' she realized that she was beautiful as she was -- and that there were more important things in life. She writes that we should remember "... that 'pretty' is just another word, that there are so many adjectives to describe ourselves with that we shouldn't be so focused on just one."
Demi Lovato Is The Best Thing That's Ever Happened To Pop Culture(08 of24)
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There are many reasons that Lovatics love Demi Lovato, from her bold style to her infectious pop hits, but her message of self-acceptance has inspired her fans perhaps more than anything else. Blogger Becca Fritz, who became a Demi fan when she was in rehab for an eating disorder, writes: "he has not only publically addressed her struggles but also continues to make a point of talking about them in the hopes of helping others who are dealing with the same or similar issues." (credit:Getty Images)
Don't Be Afraid To Have Different Beliefs (09 of24)
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Overwhelmingly, high school students are a liberal, democratic bunch. Although most of her peers didn't agree with her beliefs, Republican blogger Abby Weinstein decided to "come out" and declare her party affiliation. Now, she hangs Romney stickers proudly in her locker. (credit:AP)
There Are A LOT Of Things Parents Don't Understand About Teens(10 of24)
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Like the fact that not ALL teens are into Justin Bieber and One Direction. Sixteen-year-old Sam Koppelman pointed out 10 things that parents just don't understand about teens -- and inspired HuffPost parenting expert Lisa Belkin to write a rebuttal of things that parents really do understand about their teenagers!
You Never Know Who You Might Inspire(11 of24)
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When Omnia Saed wrote a blog post about how much she loves Michelle Obama, she never expected to reach the first lady herself. But not only did the sincerity of her piece attract the attention of Michelle -- she also got invited to see her rally in Virgina! When Omnia met Michelle backstage, the first lady looked her in the eye and said, "You inspire me." (credit:Getty Images)
Reading Is The Most Underrated Key To Success(12 of24)
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Teenage venture capitalist Alex Banayan has achieved more success in his young life than many do in a full lifetime. He shared with us 20 of his biggest secrets to success, which include good old-fashioned reading.
You're Defined By What You Do, Not What Happens To You(13 of24)
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Suffering from a chronic illness has taught teen blogger Jen Rubino a few things about what's really important in life. She writes in a deeply personal blog post, "If I only focused on what I don't have, I would never be happy.... Simply being alive is such a gift and that's why it is so important to focus on all that you have." (credit:Jen Rubino)
Hard Work Can Make Your Wildest Dreams Come True(14 of24)
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David Boone once lost his home to gang violence -- and now, he's started his first year at Harvard on a full scholarship. His incredible story proves that hard work and determination can make your biggest dreams become a reality. (credit:David Boone)
You Can Be Your Own Best Date Ever(15 of24)
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Singer and anti-bullying activist Benni Cinkle didn't have a date for homecoming, so she instead spent the evening at home -- and had an amazing time. She learned: "It's OK if you're not asked. It doesn't mean you aren't pretty; and it doesn't mean nobody likes you, or you aren't worthy. It just means that, for some reason, things just didn't work out this time." (credit:Benni Cinkle)
Adults Make Mistakes, Too(16 of24)
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16-year-old Zane Vanderberg watched his family fall apart as a result of his father's cheating -- and he vowed to never make the same mistake. He says, "I have made countless promises to myself that I will be a better man than my father, and I have every intention of keeping them." (credit:Zane Vanderberg)
Kindness Is Everything(17 of24)
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On the anniversary of a devastating tornado in her hometown of Joplin, Missouri, 16-year-old Laela Zaidi witnessed firsthand the importance of kindness, which slowly helped to rebuild her community. (credit:AP)
Your Opinions Are As Important As Adults' (18 of24)
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Music blogger Judah Joseph wrote a dynamite review of Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto, and his expertise didn't go unnoticed. He was quoted as a Huffington Post reporter alongside USA Today and Rolling Stone in a roundup of critical reviews. Way to go, Judah! (credit:Parlophone)
Mitt Romney Is Actually A Lot Like A Lobster... (19 of24)
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We never would have thought, but blogger Gabriel Frankel actually makes a pretty good case when he argues, "Romney is the type of lobster you'd get at Red Lobster, not the freshly caught ones by the Maine seashore." LOL. (credit:AP/Shutterstock)
Treating College Like One Giant Party Is NOT A Good Idea(20 of24)
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There are a few things NOT to do when you make the transition from high school to college, and partying the night away four nights a week is one of them. Florida State University student Shawn Binder reminds us, "You're here to learn something, and I hope you learn something other than numerous sex positions and the fact that you have an intolerance to tequila. You don't need a degree for that." (credit:Alamy)
High School Has Its Own 'Rules Of The Road'(21 of24)
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Blogger Luis Ruuska insists that there are unspoken rules for navigating high school hallways. Rule #1? There IS a speed limit. (credit:shutterstock)
Never Underestimate The Power Of Twitter(22 of24)
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According to social media enthusiast Patrick Mott, Twitter can be the perfect tool for job-hunting, customer service, money-making, becoming famous and more. In other words, Twitter is never a waste of time. Patrick, we agree. (credit:PA)
Finding Your Passion Will Take You Far(23 of24)
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Mega sports-fan Jake Fischer took his passion for the game and is already turning it into a lucrative sports journalism career for himself. Jake has written many informative, smart blog posts on the sports world -- and now he's at Northeastern University's school of journalism launching his future career. (credit:AP)
Your Generation Will Change The World(24 of24)
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Young people fueled global movements like Occupy Wall Street this year, proving that Generation Z can and will change the world. Chase Guttman, a 14-year-old photojournalist, was on the ground at Zucotti Park exploring what he calls "My Generation's Woodstock." (credit:Chase Guttman)
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