The AVE Technologies Newcastle Mile catchphrase of ‘Put A Smile On Your Dial’ could not be more relevant for the hard working volunteers from the John Hunter Children’s Hospital Kids Club who will receive an $8009 donation at Newcastle Harness Racing Club’s race meeting this Friday night, 12 April.
The donation is the result from promotional and philanthropical initiatives conducted at the recent Newcastle Mile, with the local charity benefiting from funds raised via sweepstakes entry sales, a donation from race winner LEAP TO FAME prizemoney and funds raised from an online LEAP TO FAME memorabilia auction. The generosity of LEAP TO FAME owners Kevin & Kay Seymour is largely responsible for this wonderful donation and accordingly they will be acknowledged on Friday night with the KEVIN & KAY SEYMOUR APPRECIATION PACE.
The John Hunter Children’s Hospital Kids Club (JHCHKC) raise money to purchase equipment and resources for the patients of John Hunter Children’s Hospital (JHCH) and rely solely on the generous donations from the local community.
The Children’s Hospital provides a critical service to families in the Hunter New England area and two of the winners in the Newcastle Mile fundraisers have told firsthand stories of their own experiences with the service and cannot speak highly enough of the care they received and the importance of having the hospital at our doorstep.
Janice Chu, winner of the Newcastle Mile Cash Sweepstakes reflects on her eldest daughter Anastasia’s experience at the JHCH after she suffered painful burns from a hot kettle accident. “In managing the aftercare and changing of bandages which would stick to Anastasia’s skin, the specialised burn team nurses made it a fun and educational process in order to minimise scarring. Anastasia had lots of questions and the nurses were so attentive and took lovely care of her. We had direct 24 hour contact in case we needed anything further. She’s fully recovered now with minimal scarring”.
LEAP TO FAME Memorabilia Auction winner, Adam Gardner is a regular at Newcastle Harness Club often coming along to race meetings with wife Kristina and daughter Remi. Adam bid fiercely in the online silent auction and is over the moon to have secured his piece of harness racing history. Having lost three children – River, Hope and Faith, the Gardner’s connection to the JHCH runs deep and Adam is truly proud that his donation will be going to such a worthy cause. In recognition of the donation of the memorabilia Adam said “I am personally grateful to Kevin & Kay Seymour and Grant Dixon for their gesture. It’s absolutely what the sport needs, and to Newcastle Harness Racing Club for putting this out there and supporting as well”.
Newcastle Harness Racing Club has supported the ‘Kids Club’ for over 20 years with the weekly raffles conducted at race meetings being one of the largest overall contribution sources to their fundraising which has raised $2.8million over the last 30 years.
Join us on Friday night as we hand over the ‘big cheque’ to volunteers from the Kids Club and celebrate Retro Night with a car display from sponsors Hunter Region Street Machine, live music in the Westburn Grant Room from Brien McVernon and rock n roll dancing by the All Shook Up Dance Group.
Thank you to our race night sponsors: Hunter Region Street Machine, Doug Harmey Memorial, AIR Recruitment, Rutherford Muffler Suspension & CVS, GR8 White Towing