( CNN ) -- At the age of 5 , NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin knew something was n't quite right with his cousin . `` I remember going to his house and I never understood why he had to take so much medicine every single day . I just did n't understand it and really until I got a little bit older did I realize that he had a disease that there was no cure for , '' Hamlin says . Hamlin 's cousin Kevin Jones has cystic fibrosis , a chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system . According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation , those affected by the disease have a defective gene that causes the body to produce abnormally thick mucus , which can cause the lungs to clog and lead to life-threatening lung infections . It can also block the pancreas and make it difficult for the body to break down food . The cousins grew up together and watching Jones battle the disease profoundly affected Hamlin . `` He 's ( Jones ) had a couple lung transplants that have been successful , which is really good and he leads a very normal life . But for me it touched me , knowing that one of my family members had to go through that struggle every single day , '' says Hamlin . His cousin is never far from his mind , even when he climbs into his race car every week to compete in NASCAR 's elite series . `` We 've always run a slogan on the back of our race car ever since I was 16 -- `` so close yet so far , '' which is the slogan of the Cystic Fibrosis ( Foundation ) , because they are so close to having a cure . '' The effects of watching Jones ' struggle ultimately led Hamlin to establish the Denny Hamlin Foundation in 2008 . The foundation 's primary goals are to raise awareness and funds for children dealing with cystic fibrosis . In the foundation 's short existence , it has raised more than a million dollars for the cause . The Hamlin foundation contributes to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as well as to several children 's hospitals that treat kids with this disease . One such hospital is the Children 's Hospital of Richmond at VCU in Hamlin 's hometown . He has donated to the hospital 's clinic and research lab . `` The research center at VCU has really done a great job of welcoming us in and we 've contributed a lot of money to them because they do a lot of the research for cystic fibrosis . They 've shown significant gains as far as trying to find a cure for it in just the last few years and I 'd like to think we had something to do with that , '' Hamlin says . The connection between Hamlin and the people at VCU is obvious . He relates to the young patients he visits with , but the staff as well . Banners bearing his picture hang throughout the clinic , as well as messages wishing him good luck in his attempt to win a NASCAR championship . In the restricted area of the research lab , appreciation and understanding of the gift he has given is deeply felt . There is a tiny cardboard cutout of Hamlin in his race suit on top of a refrigerator that contains cells . Staff members joke that they call him the Guardian of the Cells . Hamlin 's quiet determination is clear on his face . He is dedicated to fighting for his cousin and all who suffer the same turbulent life . According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation , the current median age of survival is late 30s . This is not enough for Hamlin . He says he will continue to raise money through events like his Short Track Showdown and a celebrity golf tournament . He will march on in his fight until , as he says , C.F . no longer stands for cystic fibrosis , but `` eventually we hope C.F . means cure found . ''
NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin is dedicated to raising money to find a cystic fibrosis cure . Hamlin was inspired by his cousin Kevin , who has cystic fibrosis . Score: 6 Foundation contributes to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as well as several children 's hospitals .