Support Christchurch via Red Cross says motorsport community

A unified opinion has formed in the wake of the Tuesday 22 February 2011 devastation of New Zealand’s largest South Island city – with New Zealand’s motor sport fraternity calling to support the Red Cross relief effort.

With motor sport activities involving many of New Zealand’s population, its fraternity includes many family or friends who have been affected by the devastation in Christchurch. Seeking to support them through the most practical avenues grew an advertising initiative to encourage financial assistance. Its aim is to focus and reinforce a contribution by appealing to a broad community.

One voice from the sport of many codes and classes, Gold Coast based Kiwi Craig Baird MZNM took the February news personally, fatherhood stirring his passionate plea to give support in any way possible. With 25 New Zealand championship titles to his name, Baird says he’d give-up the hard fought accolades in an instant if he could re-unite a broken family.

“To bring home someone’s mother, sister, brother or father for any one of my championship wins – I’d do it in a heartbeat,” he said ahead of chasing for his 26th title next weekend at Taupo.

“I was reading a newspaper here in Australia and there was a picture of a father, son and daughter, who’d just been given news their mother wouldn’t be ever coming home. It puts your whole life in to a new perspective, especially as a father, you have an empathy, a wanting to do anything to change the situation.”

Current points leader in the New Zealand V8s series, Angus Fogg says his greatest rival and defending champion Craig Baird is also his closest ally when it comes to assisting the best way they can.

“I’ve got lots of friends and family in Christchurch too – who are in turn closer to those affected the most. So while Craig and I may be rivals behind the wheel, we are united in our message: to support those who are best at helping.”

Rally driver Hayden Paddon is taking the message globally with the start of the 2011 Production World Rally Championship (P-WRC) in Portugal at the end of the month.

“For us it’s a matter of spreading the awareness on how people can support Christchurch through the Red Cross – to help them back on their feet. Most of our team and friends are from Christchurch so it’s all pretty close to our heart,” said the 23-year-old from Geraldine, south of Christchurch.

“The big thing for us is wave the New Zealand flag with pride while trying to win the events we contest. We’re there to tell people in Europe and around the world we’re still standing and New Zealand is still ticking along – it’s a place they need to visit.”

The Red Cross are accepting donations through their website www.redcross.org.nz/donate
- or by sending a text SMS message to 4419 from their Telecom, Vodafone or 2degrees mobile, to make an automatic $3 donation.

Teams and drivers will be reiterating the Red Cross donation message during their upcoming events, including Scott Dixon and the Target Chip Ganassi team, V8 Supercar driver Shane van Gisbergen and the Greg Murphy Racing team. The entire New Zealand summer series championship field at next weekend’s event at Taupo (11 – 13 March) will display the message, speedway driver Michael Pickens, rally driver Hayden Paddon, the Targa New Zealand rally, plus many more events, classes and drivers all stand united in support of the Canterbury region.

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