DRIVE ON KAT SCHOLARSHIP
The Heart of the Drive: The Story of Kat Cerruto and the Scholarship That Fuels Dreams
In the world of motorsports, we often talk about horsepower, navigation, and terrain. But at the Drive On Rally Foundation, we know that the most powerful engine is the human spirit.
No one embodied that spirit more than Kat Cerruto.
A Rookie’s Dream
Kat was a "Rebelle" in every sense of the word. In 2021, she was preparing to take on the Rebelle Rally—the longest competitive off-road navigation rally in the United States. It is a grueling, eight-day journey across 1,500 miles of unforgiving desert. There are no GPS units and no cell phones; just two-person, all-women teams using compasses, paper maps, and sheer grit to find their way.
During her pre-race physical, Kat received news that would change everything: she was diagnosed with cancer.
Resilience Beyond the Course
Kat fought her battle with the same tenacity she brought to the driver’s seat. Though she passed away just nine months after her diagnosis, her connection to the Rebelle Rally never wavered. Kat credited the rally—the community, the challenge, and the preparation—with giving her hope and inspiration during her toughest days.
Before she passed, Kat expressed a clear, selfless wish: she wanted other women to experience the transformative joy, the beauty, and the "rewarding exhaustion" of competing in this event.
Carrying the Torch: The Drive On Kat Scholarship
To honor her legacy, we created the Drive On Kat Scholarship. This fund isn't just about financial support; it’s about removing the barriers to entry for women who have the heart to compete but need a hand getting to the starting line.
The scholarship supports teams who embody Kat’s values:
Resilience: Pushing through when the path gets rough.
Integrity: Navigating the right way, not the easy way.
Community: Supporting the women beside you in the dunes.
Making an Impact in 2025
As we celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Rebelle Rally this past year, Kat was right there with us. Through your donations to the Drive On Kat Fund, her legacy was strapped into the passenger seats of teams across the desert, reminding every competitor that while the desert is vast, the human heart is even larger.
When you donate to this fund, you aren’t just paying for an entry fee—you are fueling a woman’s journey toward discovering what she is truly capable of.
