Newsletter for December 2023

A Letter from the CEO

Hello All,

With Xmas beaconing, I thought it was timely to send a message to you all to update you regarding the state of play at the Race4Life office.

Faced with a crisis, caused by financial issues and the aftermath of COVID, the Race4Life Governing Board decided to continue with the Race4Life Hampton Downs event and to close down the incredibly successful Wish Service.

A hard decision in light of the fact that over the period of 7 years from 2015 to early 2023, Race4Life have fulfilled the wishes of over 700 people throughout the country. I am now back at the helm with an event administrator at my side, to bring staff numbers to 2.

The Hampton Downs Track Day event has become totally self-sufficient over 15 years, and an occasion that creates a special MAGIC among the 600 people who attend. For an idea of the event itself, please watch this 3-minute video:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=05_7XkV-p44&pp=sAQA

What we are trying to achieve in 2023, is to build this event into a series of events. Before COVID, we took this day to the South Island and had two very successful years in 2019 and 2020 at Teretonga Motor Sport Park in Invercargill, albeit a much smaller event. Due to the impact of the pandemic, we were unable to continue, with so many financial restraints. However, we have the event planned for 12 March 2024 and the community behind us.

The cost of running the event is around $15K with 45 patients and their families attending, plus around 150 volunteers. We are determined to fulfil our commitment and have an enthusiastic group of Otago and Southland residents doing all they can to make it happen.

On top of this our Board has made a commitment to start another event in Central New Zealand using Manfeild Chris Amon Circuit as our home base. We are in the throes of organising this event for 9 October 2024. We have the Motorsport contacts in Palmerston North already showing an interest in hosting the Track Day and the Arahonui and Lake Taupo hospices patients keen to be part of this spectacular occasion. 

I was approached by the Ultimate Rally Group who run Targa NZ, to be their chosen Charity again in 2024. This sponsorship will enable us to organise our volunteers throughout the country, and to pay for flights, accommodation and food etc: basics, that volunteers will be needing for the events. We are so grateful to Peter Martin and his team for this support. The volunteer team love fundraising at the Targa events. Next year the three Targa events and the Silverfern event will provide us with an opportunity to raise sufficient funds necessary to support our Track Days.

Eventually it would be our dream to restart the Wish Service, something the Board are discussing presently. The service to the New Zealand Palliative care community is immeasurable.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Christmas. Thank you for your support of our beautiful work. 

If you are in a position to donate to our cause, to make our journey in 2024 a little easier, we would so appreciate it. You can do so by following the instructions below.

Thank you very much

Viv James – CEO

Track Day 2024 Event Dates

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