"Thank you for a fabulous fun day. It was great to see that there are
still people who are willing “to give” up their free time."
"I had a great day and I could see that we were adding to people’s
lives. Grateful that I could be a part of this."
"What an event!!!"
"Thanks to everyone involved, especially Charl & Co for the recovery."
"Thank you for giving us the opportunity to spend the day with such
wonderful people. It’s an honour to be part of this great cause."
" I am privileged to have been part of this day, what a difference a
day can make."
"It was amazing to meet such courageous people, an eye opener, and
some memories that will live with me."
"These people enriched my life and lifted my spirit."
"I really needed this day and the opportunity to meet people who are
in the same boat as me."
"We had “appointments” on Sunday the 20th of November, we arrived as
strangers and walked away with friends."
"Thank you!"
Showing posts with label Testimonies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Testimonies. Show all posts
Friday, November 25, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Our ninth event, thankfully...
We will start with all the thank you's this time round:
"Hi Joe!
My name is Monks John who brought kids from Hokisa. I would like to thank you, your wife, organizers, sponsors and the drivers for everything you did for Hokisa kids and they enjoyed the rides. It was really well organized and the drivers were so wonderful to kids. I was at the assembly where I listened how strict the whole event was to ensure safety and I felt so relieved with your drivers age restriction which made realize that, you guys knew what you were doing. Mentioning Hokisa to the crowd was also another highlight for me in particular and the food was great for the kids.
They all came out of the cars smiling and I could see there was a bond that developed between them and the drivers. The kids told us funny stories about exciting dizziness, sound of the engines and wind experience in the convertibles. It was great that most drivers always asked them if they wanted more speed which meant the kids were the instructors on the day. The race was really for the kids.
Thanks you."
Thank you again. Colene Welsch"
"Hi Joe!
My name is Monks John who brought kids from Hokisa. I would like to thank you, your wife, organizers, sponsors and the drivers for everything you did for Hokisa kids and they enjoyed the rides. It was really well organized and the drivers were so wonderful to kids. I was at the assembly where I listened how strict the whole event was to ensure safety and I felt so relieved with your drivers age restriction which made realize that, you guys knew what you were doing. Mentioning Hokisa to the crowd was also another highlight for me in particular and the food was great for the kids.
They all came out of the cars smiling and I could see there was a bond that developed between them and the drivers. The kids told us funny stories about exciting dizziness, sound of the engines and wind experience in the convertibles. It was great that most drivers always asked them if they wanted more speed which meant the kids were the instructors on the day. The race was really for the kids.
Thanks you."
"Sunday was absolutely priceless to witness. To see a big strong man carrying a child from a wheelchair, and loading him into one of those cars had most of us in tears. Well done! Johan."
"I would like to extend a very big thank you to you and your team for another very successful Live to Race event! What a superb day it was. Our group of kiddies absolutely loved it (so did the volunteers!) Everything seemed to run smoothly and was well organised. The children also really appreciated the lunch that was supplied. Thank you for inviting us to the event. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!
Kindest Regards, Brigid, Reach for a Dream"
"Thank you so much for the wonderful day we all had on Sunday. My dad enjoyed it so much. He is not a man with lots of words, but on our way home he joked and said, “ now i have to get use to the Datsun bakkie again””
He said that the Ferrari driver asked him what his everyday car is and my dad replied ‘a 1979 12oo Datsun bakkie’ , and the driver said: well sir you really going to enjoy this ride then!!! Ha ha and he did...Thank you again. Colene Welsch"
Special thanks to:
All our drivers, guests and charities/children
our brilliant crew, family and friends, and everyone involved.
WPMC, ER24, Wimpy, and our photographers!
Ignition TV (Lindsay) and CAR Magazine (Sudhir)!
Our Creator for yet another incident free event, Thank You!
PLEASE BE PATIENT, EVENT PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE UPLOADED SHORTLY...
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Thank you...
"Hi,
I attended the fifth event. What an experience. The whole day was eventful and quite interesting. I started the morning trying to revive my wife, a diabetic, who had a sudden sugar level dip. She was not unconscious but very close to it. It took me about 30 min to get her to drink one glass of fruit juice to increase the blood sugar level. This happened while I was preparing my 3 kids for church. The Church start at 9:15. At 9 I had 3 kids dressed and ready for church and a wife not being able to remember what happened the last hour. She was ok so me and the kids when to church while she had breakfast and prepared herself to be picked up for a mall outing afterwards. After church, while waiting for the kid's to finish Sunday school, my neighbour wanted to know how my wife is. I told him the story and mentioned that I really hope the day would end better. Just then I noticed John also waiting for his kids. I went over to him with a mission. I wanted to know where he lived so that I can visit him to have a look and hopefully a drive in his black GT40. He suggested something better. He invited me to attend a function at Killarney race track. He said, be there at 2. I went.
I was allowed to walk the pit lane freely. What I experienced was wonderful. For 2 and a half hours I looked at children getting the opportunity to forget all the problems in life and just enjoy the moment. I would never have dreamed that so many people would sacrifice their Sunday afternoon and treat disadvantaged children to such an amazing experience. My sister was diagnosed with blood cancer at age 2. I was 10 at the time and can clearly remember the struggle to keep her alive. It was quite a battle. The chemotherapy and radiation treatment had a very damaging affect on her development. She is 32 now but looks like a 10 year old girl. Even worse is that her intellectual development halted at an early age. She is not into cars at all but the whole experience of the day at Killarney moved me perhaps a bit more than others. I know how much it meant to the children because I can relate to it. It made me remember all the sacrifices I had to make for my sister and that it was all worth it. I was fortunate to do 5 laps of Killarney later on in the day. 2 In an AC Cobra and the rest in John's GT40. What a memorable day. God is good.
Thanks
Mr. Retius Keyser"
I attended the fifth event. What an experience. The whole day was eventful and quite interesting. I started the morning trying to revive my wife, a diabetic, who had a sudden sugar level dip. She was not unconscious but very close to it. It took me about 30 min to get her to drink one glass of fruit juice to increase the blood sugar level. This happened while I was preparing my 3 kids for church. The Church start at 9:15. At 9 I had 3 kids dressed and ready for church and a wife not being able to remember what happened the last hour. She was ok so me and the kids when to church while she had breakfast and prepared herself to be picked up for a mall outing afterwards. After church, while waiting for the kid's to finish Sunday school, my neighbour wanted to know how my wife is. I told him the story and mentioned that I really hope the day would end better. Just then I noticed John also waiting for his kids. I went over to him with a mission. I wanted to know where he lived so that I can visit him to have a look and hopefully a drive in his black GT40. He suggested something better. He invited me to attend a function at Killarney race track. He said, be there at 2. I went.
I was allowed to walk the pit lane freely. What I experienced was wonderful. For 2 and a half hours I looked at children getting the opportunity to forget all the problems in life and just enjoy the moment. I would never have dreamed that so many people would sacrifice their Sunday afternoon and treat disadvantaged children to such an amazing experience. My sister was diagnosed with blood cancer at age 2. I was 10 at the time and can clearly remember the struggle to keep her alive. It was quite a battle. The chemotherapy and radiation treatment had a very damaging affect on her development. She is 32 now but looks like a 10 year old girl. Even worse is that her intellectual development halted at an early age. She is not into cars at all but the whole experience of the day at Killarney moved me perhaps a bit more than others. I know how much it meant to the children because I can relate to it. It made me remember all the sacrifices I had to make for my sister and that it was all worth it. I was fortunate to do 5 laps of Killarney later on in the day. 2 In an AC Cobra and the rest in John's GT40. What a memorable day. God is good.
Thanks
Mr. Retius Keyser"
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
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.
"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.
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