A Letter from the CEO
Hello all,
This message is more than overdue! However better late than never!
To update you:
You may well be aware that the Race4Life board have decided to put our energy into Events for Palliative Care patients. The Wish service albeit wonderfully successful, with over 600 wishes being granted over 8 years, was not financially sustainable. COVID certainly did not help our beautiful cause!
If you were to go to our website you will understand the redirection and our new focus:
Our HOME page outlines our Mission Statement / Vision /and Values:
Our Mission & Values
We facilitate events for Palliative Care patients. These events connect patients, families and communities.
We do this with:
· Passion
· Integrity
· Empathy
We are committed to raising the spirits and well-being of patients, family and community in a sustainable manner.
In 2024 we held three major Track Day events.
Our Hampton Downs Track Day event was again simply stunning with 95 patients and their families attending. We had our stalwart supporters lining up for the 16th anniversary, with coverage of the day shared by 6 film crews. The 7 Sharp rendition featured on TV a few nights later:
Before COVID, we took the Track Day event to the South Island in 2019 and 2020. Teretonga Motor Sport Park in Invercargill was the venue. Albeit a much smaller event, the passion and adrenalin was running high. Due to the impact of the pandemic, and financial restraints, we were unable to hold the event again until 2024.
Tuesday the 12th March 2024, saw the resurrection of this awesome day, with a total of 250 people including 45 patients and their families attending. The interest in this event continues to grow, with 65 patients and their families enjoying this day of high octane rides in 2025.
Four fantastic, keen and passionate students from Southern Institute of Technology (S.I.T.) joined us on March 11th this year for our Teretonga Track Day to create a video that captured the spirit of the event. And boy oh boy, did they do a great job!!
In 2024 our Board made a commitment to start another event in Central New Zealand using Manfield Chris Amon Circuit as our home base. This Track Day was held on the 9th October 2024.
There was huge support for this inaugural event, not only in Palmerston North, but hospices in Lake Taupō, Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Manawatū and Wairarapa were all very keen to be a part of this stunning occasion. We had nearly 70 patients attend the day with 200 volunteers focused on their needs. In 2025 the Manfeild Track Day is scheduled for November 26th with patients already registering for this fun filled day.
Peter Martin and the team from The Ultimate Rally Group (URG) have again given Race4Life the opportunity to be their chosen charity. This year is the 30th Anniversary of the Targa event and promises to be something special.
The Race4Life Team of volunteers work hard throughout this event, spoiling drivers and their teams with daily treats, a lunchtime BBQ and plenty of opportunities to buy raffle tickets and auction prizes!!
Donate to support the work we are doing in the palliative care community!
We would so appreciate any support you can give us, to ensure that these awesome events continue. Track Days allow us to reach so many families who are struggling with their situations. These special days allow patients to forget about their illness and to concentrate on having some serious fun!!
If you are in a situation to help us out please consider supporting us by clicking below.
https://givealittle.co.nz/org/race4lifetrust
Thank you so much!
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