Thank you

I quote:
"Joe asked me to speak to the drivers about the impact their participation in this event has on the children and their families – luckily for me he ran out of time, so I don’t have to make a twit of myself in public, but can rather ‘put pen to paper’!Rather than try to just say thanks, I would like you to imagine yourself, or your own children in place of these very special, very brave kids you drive around the track.Your day usually starts early, because you need longer than other people to get ready. If you have managed to have a decent night’s sleep, meaning there were no medical scares during the night, like problems with your breathing, low sugar readings, fits, drop in blood pressure, reaction to chemo, you can't physically move without help, or you were lucky enough not to be in a noisy hospital ward, you have the energy to start your day well. You now sit around if you are lucky enough to be at home, listening to the rest of the family running around, talking about all they’re going to do, and knowing that you can’t join in. If you’re in hospital, you face the soul-draining, never-ending routine day dictated by hospital rules. Off to school on the days when you are feeling well enough – this can be very involved if you’re physically impaired, or in a wheel-chair, especially if your parents don’t have their own transport – taxis won’t pick you up, so you will need to be pushed. At school you are always behind with your work because of the amount of school you miss out on, usually you can’t take part in sport, often can’t go on the outings, so you are always aware that you are not the same as other children. Kids being kids, you also have to endure some name-calling, possibly some bullying.Days when you are not feeling well enough, you stay home, or go into hospital. You may have to endure another battery of tests, treatment like chemo, radiation, or dialysis. Your school work may be falling behind, but you are an expert in medical terms most adults won’t have heard of. Your pain is always with you, as well as the lack of dignity that is often involved in being reliant on others, or medical procedures. You are always aware that you are different to other children. If you stay at home, you are aware that you are a cause for financial/emotional worries in the family. If you need to stay in hospital for an extended period, you are then away from your family altogether, in a strange environment, sick, in pain and alone.This is what some of these children live with – some have it easier, some have it worse. Most of them live in the grey area, somewhere in the middle.Now picture this child getting a call, telling them that a bunch of strangers, all of them financially able to own and keep top of the range cars, who could be out on the golf course, or relaxing with their families, are volunteering their time, wear & tear on their cars, to drive them around Killarney race track! I’ve been privileged to have been at the last 2 events and watched the kids go from that ‘deer-caught-in-the-headlights’ look when they climbed in the 1st car, to absolute bravado and swagger by the time they were in the 3rd or 4th car.This is the gift that you are giving them – not just a once in a lifetime opportunity to be in a fancy car, on a real race track going fast, but the sheer thrill of conquering this experience. My own child, Zach, can’t go on normal fairground rides, or do any of the spills & thrills that his brothers and friends can, but he has been around Killarney in a fast car!Unfortunately I doubt if the kids remember all your names, but they do remember the wonderful way you speak to them while they are in your car. I heard 1 child at the last event saying in awe that the driver thanked the child for riding in his car! The cars are a different story – every detailed is memorized, every speed has a good few km/h added onto it with every retelling.Children in general have their lives dictated to them – adults set the rules with good reason, but these children have almost no choices in their lives. Their condition is no-one’s fault, but because of it they can’t chose to play sport or not, to go to the beach or not, to go to a friend, to a movie, to a school function, what course of medication or treatment to follow – they have so little control over their lives. On this one afternoon – YOU give them power – they can chose to go for that 1st ride - they can chose which car they want to get into – they can chose how many times they go around the track – they chose how fast they want the cars to go – I cannot over emphasize how important this gift is that you give them.Please know that what you do here makes a huge impact on these kids – it is a treasure they keep to relive time and again when they go back to their daily struggle. Please pass our thanks on to your families who also give up their time with you so that you can be here. Thanks also to the marshals and the people working in the background to help get the event together, as well as manning the refreshment table. You quietly get on with the job, but please know that your part is no less important than the drivers.Sorry Joe – this is me – ask for a few words & you get a few pages…………" - Sandy, Zach's mom.