Motorsport-Based Charity Sees Big Future With Targa NZ

For immediate release

Targa New Zealand
'The Ultimate Road Race'

PRESS RELEASE

13-02-12

Motorsport-Based Charity Sees Big Future With Targa NZ

Motorsport-based children's charity Kids in Cars is set to go North Island-wide this year thanks to a new link-up with Targa New Zealand.

Kids in Cars was set up by Auckland motorsport enthusiast Nigel Karl nine years ago to run gala ride days at Pukekohe Park Raceway for child cancer charity Camp Quality.

Since then its brief has broadened to the point where it now offers a complete range of motorsport-based activities and fund-raising opportunities for children's charities all over the greater Auckland region.

Official event charity status at all Targa New Zealand events means Karl and his fellow trustees can now go one better and take Kids in Cars wherever Targa New Zealand events go.

"It's the logical next step," says Karl of the opportunity which will see Kids in Cars volunteers following each Targa event and providing activities and raising funds for children's charities at each overnight stop.

This year that means to the new Targa Rally Sprint event at Waiuku on March 02, the three-day Targa Rotorua event in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions in May and the annual Targa New Zealand event (which this year starts in Auckland and travels to New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Havelock North and Taupo) in late October and early November.

Cure Kids has been the official Targa New Zealand charity for the past 10 years with over $500,000 raised.

Now, says Targa New Zealand Event Director Peter Martin, it is Kids in Cars' turn.

"Nigel and his fellow trustees have done a stunning job getting Kids in Cars where it is today. Our job is to help them take it to the next level!"

--

KIDS IN CARS

A so-called 'shadow car' is an ordinary road car - in most cases here in New Zealand either a Ford Falcon or a Holden Commodore - sign-written to look like a race car. Sponsors use them to promote their sponsorships of actual race cars, like the car Placemakers Pakuranga Account Manager Nigel Karl was given to drive nine years ago now.

One day a colleague asked Nigel if he could bring the car to one of child cancer charity Camp Quality's Auckland camps. Not only was he happy to oblige, Nigel phoned around and organised another three shadow car custodians to join him, then spent the day giving car load after car load of excited children rides.

Having seen the pleasure the children derived from a ride in his shadow car Nigel created the Kids in Cars charitable trust to put on a dedicated day at Pukekohe Park Raceway for Camp Quality.

The Camp Quality family fun day at the track, which happens on the second Sunday in January, is now one of two Kids in Cars days Nigel and the trust run each year. The other - for Kids in Cars' other charities, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Ronald McDonald House & Kidney Kids - is held in September or October.

Each day attracts hundreds of children - as well as parents and care-givers - from all over the Auckland region with rides available for the children in everything from shadow cars to big rig trucks.

Camp Quality is a charitable trust set up in 1985 to hold camps for children aged five to 16 years living with cancer. The goal of Camp Quality is to provide fun and comradeship combined with achievable challenge to encourage the children to focus on the positive aspects of their lives.

ENDS

© Scoop Media