With a pair of Ferrari 250 GTOs, a Ford GT40, a D-type Jaguar, a Corvette Grand Sport and a lot of other impressive hardware parked nearby, Jim Lange's 1965 Shelby GT 350 was far from the most valuable of historic racing cars on display at the second annual Wheels of Wellness show. But Lange's car comes with a story that's compelling in its perseverance, and perseverance is part of the heart of this show's benefactor, The Wellness Community Arizona.

The Wellness Community was founded in 1982 in Santa Monica, Calif., and has grown to include 28 facilities and 100 satellite offices in the United States and several in foreign countries.

The Wellness Community provides support and education programs free of charge to those whose lives have been touched by cancer -- survivors, their families and care-givers. Such people, the Wellness Community notes, may have been strong and independent, but suddenly can feel as though they have lost control of their lives. They struggle not only physically but emotionally.

Paula Hardison, executive director of the Wellness Community Arizona, said the facility tended to focus on women-oriented fund-raising events until a male staffer suggested they put together something more guy oriented. Hardison's husband, Bob, owns a vintage racing car. Tommy Thompson, a Phoenix cancer survivor, also is a vintage racer and they pitched in and recruited friends and fellow car owners and the first Wheels of Wellness was held in 2008.

The timing of the second Wheels of Wellness ties in with the start of the annual classic car auction week in Arizona, with seven collector car auctions taking place in the Valley of the Sun.

Jim Lange of Phoenix didn't buy his 1965 Shelby GT 350 at a classic car auction, however.