The Richard Burns Foundation launches at the Goodwood Festival
of Speed
The Richard Burns Foundation will be launched at the Goodwood
Festival of Speed on 7-9 July 2006.
Established in memory of the 2001 FIA World Rally Champion
who died last year of cancer, the Richard Burns Foundation
wants to inspire and support people whose lives are affected
by serious illness and injury.
As a World Rally Champion, Richard used all his energy and
focus to make his dreams come true. When diagnosed with brain
cancer at the age of 32, he used the same mental strength
to fight his illness and live life to the fullest. Even with
his brain under attack, his mind never faltered.
The RBF will raise resources and awareness to help people
of all ages in their fight against adversity – supporting
projects aimed at care, prevention, and giving quality of
life to people living with brain cancer and other conditions
that can have a severe impact on their lives.
Robert Reid, co-driver to Richard throughout his illustrious
career, has led the initiative for the Richard Burns Foundation
and has become its Chief Executive. “Richard was a great
driver and winning the World Championship together was a dream
come true. After being diagnosed with a brain tumour, Richard
fought his illness with great dignity and without complaint.
This inspired us to launch the Richard Burns Foundation, dedicated
to support people battling any form of illness or injury.
It is not just about medical care, but very much about inspiring
people to extract the maximum out of life when faced with
adversity.”
The first project the Richard Burns Foundation has identified
for its support is the Youth Cancer Trust*, a charity that
provides holidays for young adults living with cancer. The
YCT’s effort to supply young people with the energy
and inspiration needed to sustain their fight against disease
is a good illustration of the values backed by the RBF.
“The efforts of the Youth Cancer Trust are a logical
fit with the objectives of our Foundation, and this is hopefully
the first of many activities we can support,” says the
Foundation’s chairman David Lapworth. As Motorsport
Director at Prodrive, David was responsible for many of the
rally cars driven by Richard.
The Foundation will be present at the Goodwood Festival of
Speed with a stand and a display of rally cars from the Richard
Burns Collection – each marking milestones in Richard’s
career, starting with his very first rally car, a Talbot Sunbeam
he drove in 1987. Money will be raised through collections,
a charity raffle, a membership drive, the sale of merchandise
and the auction of rides alongside WRC’s top stars.
Many WRC teams & drivers will attend the Festival and
make an appearance in support of the Foundation. Markus Gronholm,
Petter Solberg, Colin McRae, Markko Martin, Gilles Panizzi,
Francois Duval, Martin Rowe, Chris Atkinson and Mikko Hirvonen
will all be rallying together to support people fighting illness
or injury.
Incorporated as a key element in the Richard Burns Foundation
is the Michael Park Fund, named in honour of Richard’s
friend and fellow competitor who was killed in a tragic competition
accident in 2005. This Fund has dedicated objectives focussed
on motorsport safety, and will benefit from dedicated fund
raising activities.
Robert Reid: “I am very happy that we have made the
application for a charitable status, even if starting a foundation
in memory of Richard and Michael, two of my closest friends,
wasn’t a something that I would have ever envisaged
doing. I know that they would both be extremely proud to see
their names being put to such good causes. We invite anybody
coming to Goodwood to visit our stand, or alternatively to
find out more about our objectives and on our website: www.RichardBurnsFoundation.com.
From 5 July, the Foundation is able to accept donations by
SMS, by texting “RBF” to 82344. Each message will
cost £2.50 and, depending on your network, approximately
£1.80 will be raised for the causes we support. More
details about the SMS service are on our web-site**.”
www.RichardBurnsFoundation.com
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