A monster fight for kids

Bryce Kenny has always felt the need for speed.

When Kenny was a kid, his grandfather, chiropractor and track owner John “Doc” Sipple, helped him pursue his passion for Top Fuel drag racing. Crisscrossing the country, Kenny regularly raced cars capable of hitting 300 miles per hour in just four seconds.

Later Kenny would transfer that Top Fuel passion into a career of racing and freestyling much more imposing vehicles in Monster Jam events. Known widely as the Great Clips Mohawk Warrior, he was the first driver to break 100 miles per hour in a monster truck – an impressive clip that presumably has nothing to do with his moniker.

That passion for testing the limits of vehicular speed eventually drove Kenny to an epiphany: that life has gears, and the trick to getting one’s life back on track is not simply putting the pedal to the metal, but finding the right gear in a given situation.

“There may not be a secret formula for living well,” Kenny often says, “but there are gears we must learn to shift in and out of at the right time. Ever since, Kenny’s life purpose has been to help people stuck in neutral find the right gear – largely through his Live Like Warriors nonprofit.

“There may not be a secret formula for living well, but there are gears we must learn to shift in and out of at the right time.”

– Bryce Kenny, Great Clips Mohawk Warrior and Live Like Warriors executive director

Rallying the troops

Based in Virginia Beach, VA, The Insurance Boutique has a personal connection to Kenny through the spouse of its principal, Nicki Kopassis. Kopassis’ husband, Alex Blackwell, is himself a decorated Monster Jam driver who’s taken part in the Monster Jam World Finals 10 times.

“Ever since I met Bryce, I knew he was special,” says Kopassis. “When I learned that this gifted role model, father, driver and author had started a nonprofit, I wanted to do anything I could to help.” Kopassis soon joined the Live Like Warriors Army, working alongside other warriors to come to the aid of those in need – particularly kids fighting aggressive cancers as their families fight crippling medical bills.

While the agency focuses primarily on cash donations and volunteering for the Army, it also takes part in the nonprofit’s annual classic car rally. Each year, Kopassis and Blackwell join other drivers for a meet-and-greet with fans, signing autographs and merchandise.

“It’s so amazing to see how hard Bryce works to put on these events, pouring his own money into the staging, vendors and entertainment,” says Kopassis.

“Ever since I met Bryce, I knew he was special. When I learned that this gifted role model, father, driver and author had started a nonprofit, I wanted to do anything I could to help.”

– Nicki Kopassis, owner of Nicki Kopassis Insurance Agency, Inc.

In it for the long haul

The kids Live Like Warriors supports all struggle with life-threatening health issues, but the primary objective isn’t to pay medical bills. More often than not, Kenny summons a Warrior Chain simply to help a child feel normal again.

That was the case with Ollie, a young cancer patient whose predicament first spurred Kenny to take action and kick his nonprofit into gear.

Ollie had two loves: watching the Great Clips Mohawk Warrior drive and building Lego sets. Catching wind of Ollie’s plight, Kenny reached out to friends and family, raising enough money to buy and giftwrap 12 Lego sets, then delivered them to Ollie personally.

Following the obligatory rounds of hugs and high-fives, Ollie set to opening his presents one by one. What Kenny witnessed was not a boy preoccupied with a deadly disease, as you might expect, but one battling with his all might to be a normal boy. When life takes a bad turn, they say, you quickly learn who your real friends are. Many pull away, afraid to take part in the suffering. True friends are in it for the long haul, always there to remind you that you still matter.

Kenny’s definitely in it for the long haul – and, if you don’t mind, he would like to stay in the fast lane.

Help Nicki Kopassis Insurance Agency, Inc. win $10,000 for Live Like Warriors by clicking the vote button. Get them an extra vote by cheering them on in the comments below by May 31, 2024.