Castrol Racing raises over $50,000 for Peter Mac’s youth cancer service

TICKFORD RACING – PETER MACCALLUM CANCER FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER CONCLUDES
20 September, 2022

Castrol Racing’s recent fundraising event at the Sandown SuperSprint has concluded with an impressive final number to be donated to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation. A collaborative project between Castrol Racing driver Thomas Randle and family, Tickford Racing, and Castrol, the event raised a total of $50,669 which will be directed to the ONTrac at Peter Mac Victorian Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Service, a multidisciplinary service within the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac) providing care for adolescents and young adults affected by cancer.

Along with support from hundreds of race fans, donations from Castrol, Snowy River Caravans, ACT Fence Hire, Infinium Advisory, Herzog Steel, TPF Sports, and more bolstered the donation tally. An additional donation was raised via auction of the bonnet of the Castrol Racing Ford Mustang from the Sandown event, which was managed by Lloyds Auctions and raised $3,100.

A further significant contribution to the foundation was also made by a rival in pit lane, with a generous donation made by the Saunders Family Foundation – co-chaired by Erebus Motorsport’s Betty Klimenko – adding an exclamation point to the fundraiser which will directly aid the ONTrac program in supporting young people with cancer.

For Randle – who was diagnosed with testicular cancer himself in 2020 and declared cancer-free in 2021 – the contribution is especially personal and was a tremendous way to support and promote Peter Mac, as well as ONTrac at Peter Mac.

“After our awesome fundraiser we did for the Sandown SuperSprint with the Castrol Peter Mac livery on the race car and the fundraiser we had, we’re here to present the cheque for over $50,000, which is pretty amazing to be standing here saying that,” Randle said. “It was a combined effort from everyone that we raised over $50,000, it’s going to go a long way, I think, here at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. I’ve just got to thank some of the big supporters for starters: Betty Klimenko, Castrol, the guys at ACT Fence Hire, Herzog Steel, Infinium Advisory, everyone who donated $500 here and there, and even the people who donated $10, $20, it all adds up and it’s going to go to such a great cause. It’s going to help everyone here so much at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and I can’t wait to do it all again next year.”

The project also raised more than just donations, with Castrol, Ryco, and Dream Simulation donating hot lap rides to over 15 patients and Peter Mac staff, which took place at a team ride day following the Sandown SuperSprint. Castrol also donated 100 tickets to the Sandown event for staff and young people in the Peter Mac program to attend the event, with Supercars also granting them grid walk access on both Saturday and Sunday.

Overjoyed by the showing of support from the fundraiser, Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation CEO Kate Torney expressed her excitement for the project’s impact, and the positive influence it has had on staff and patients alike.

“This has been just one of the most extraordinary initiatives,” Torney said. “Just the generosity and the real understanding that Thomas has of the value of ONTrac, and the way he is generously giving back, has been just fantastic. The whole thing was so exciting for our patients here, and so humbling to see Thomas and his family really rally to give back to Peter Mac. We are so very grateful.

“The feedback we’ve had from everyone who went – whether it be my colleagues, staff members or patients – has been absolutely phenomenal,” she continued. “It blew their minds, so to be able to experience that, to be out at Sandown has been absolutely fantastic, and we are so grateful to (Castrol Racing) for making that possible.”

Thomas Randle will next hit the track at Supercars’ crown jewel event, the Bathurst 1000, taking place October 6-9. It will be Randle’s fourth appearance in the Great Race, having scored his best finish of seventh in last year’s event alongside James Courtney, but it will be his first as a primary driver, with Tickford Racing Super2 driver Zak Best partnering the 26-year old in the No. 55 Castrol Racing Ford Mustang.

Ends.