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Contact: info@drivetowardacure.org
For the third consecutive year, Shelby Hall (driver) and Rori Lewis (navigator) will compete together as Desert Roots — Team 150, supported by non-profit Drive Toward a Cure and aiming for first place at the 10th Anniversary Rebelle Rally in 2025.
Shelby Hall is a 6x Rebelle Rally competitor, 2020 X-Cross Champion, 2024 Rebelle Rally second-place finisher, professional off-road racer, and granddaughter of off-road legend Rod Hall – together they competed in the NORRA 1000, and Shelby now honors his legacy and his challenges from Parkinson’s as an ambassador for non-profit Drive Toward a Cure, benefitting those living with Parkinson’s disease.
The Rebelle Rally challenges women to navigate without GPS across the deserts of Nevada and California relying solely on maps, compasses, strategy and grit. This year marks the 10th anniversary, drawing competitors from around the globe to celebrate the adventure and camaraderie of off-road rallying.
Rebelle Rally entrants Chicago-based journalist Jill Ciminillo (navigator) and Phoenix-based flight attendant Lola Wolford (driver) team for the first time together driving Wolford’s 2007 Honda Ridgeline – the two first met while previously competing against one another in the X-Cross Class of the Rebelle Rally, and this year supported by Drive Toward a Cure.
Automotive journalist Jill Ciminillo (left), who lost both uncles to Parkinson’s disease and her father to Lewy Body Dementia (which is closely related to Parkinson’s), returns to the Rebelle Rally this year in the X-Cross Class alongside teammate Lola Wolford.
October 7, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA – Drive Toward a Cure, a national nonprofit foundation uniting the automotive community in the race to end Parkinson’s disease, is proud to stand behind two teams of women competing in the milestone 10th annual Rebelle Rally, North America’s longest off-road navigation event.
Founded in 2015, the Rebelle Rally highlights the determination of women in motorsports, challenging participants to master driving, navigation, and endurance skills across 1,500+ miles of Nevada and California desert — all without GPS, using only maps, compasses, strategy and grit.
This year, two teams already associated with Drive Toward a Cure — each having had family members who lost their lives to complications from Parkinson’s — are extending their passion for adventure while continuing to raise awareness for the cause:
- Team 150, Desert Roots – Led by professional off-road racer Shelby Hall, granddaughter of legendary Hall of Fame inductee Rod Hall, with teammate Rori Lewis. Hall, a six-time Rebelle competitor and former X-Cross Champion, carries forward her grandfather’s legacy. After his 50th and final Baja 1000 race, Shelby raced with her grandfather together in the NORRA Mexican 1000, which was the final race in which he was able to drive. As a Drive Toward a Cure ambassador, Hall has also launched annual one-day trail adventures in her grandfather’s honor, raising funds and awareness while inspiring new generations of off-roaders. Desert Roots also hosts public navigation workshops, encouraging more women to explore and compete.
- Team 201, Sol Seekers – Automotive journalist Jill Ciminillo, who lost both uncles to Parkinson’s disease and her father to Lewy Body Dementia (which is closely related to Parkinson’s), returns to the Rebelle Rally this year in the X-Cross Class alongside teammate Lola Wolford. Driving Wolford’s specially prepared 2007 Honda Ridgeline, the duo unites across state lines — Ciminillo from Chicago and Wolford from Phoenix — in their determination to take on the grueling eight-day event for the first time as a team.
“The Rebelle Rally is not just a test of skill, but of resilience and purpose,” said Deb Pollack, founder of Drive Toward a Cure. “Shelby, Jill, and their teammates embody the spirit of adventure while carrying forward a mission that’s deeply personal — honoring loved ones lost to Parkinson’s and helping us fuel awareness through passion and performance.”
This 10th anniversary Rebelle Rally brings together competitors from across the globe to celebrate the spirit of adventure, community, and endurance — values that resonate strongly with Drive Toward a Cure’s mission to accelerate hope for those facing Parkinson’s.
Follow these Teams Throughout the Rally:
- Team 150, Desert Roots – Live tracking via rebellerally.com/live-tracking, Instagram @shelbyhalloffroad, and their YouTube series Desert Roots.
- Team 201, Sol Seekers – Updates via rebellerally.com and social media @rebellerally.
About Drive Toward a Cure
Drive Toward a Cure is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that blends cars and camaraderie to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s disease. Founded in 2016, the foundation has raised nearly $1.3 million to support Parkinson’s research, patient care, and outreach programs through unique automotive and lifestyle events across the country. The organization has additionally created its own ‘Access to Care’ and ‘Special Assistance’ grant programs to offer funding to organizations and individuals with special needs. For more information, visit www.drivetowardacure.org.
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