Renault driver makes a pit stop at the Children's Hospital,
Oxford
Patients at the Oxford Children's Hospital were excited this
week to meet a Formula One star of the future, Brazilian racing
driver Lucas di Grassi.
Lucas is currently part of the Renault Driver Development
programme, based in Enstone and affiliated to the world-championship
winning ING Renault F1 Team. Lucas was runner-up in the 2007
GP2 championship – the series which served as a training
ground for stars like Lewis Hamilton before they moved into
F1.
Now that the racing season has finished, Lucas was able to
take some time out to visit the Children's Hospital on the
John Radcliffe site in Headington, along with the Renault
F1 Team's Head of HR, Donna Biskup. They visited several of
the wards, where Lucas chatted to the children and gave out
signed baseball caps and postcards. Peter Richards, Consultant
Neurosurgeon, showed the visitors around and said, "It
was brilliant to see the way the children's faces lit up!
Lucas's visit really did provide a fun distraction for them.
He was great with the children too – chatting to them
and putting them at ease."
Lucas also visited the terrace play area in the hospital
that the team has sponsored, and saw some of the young patients
testing out a fleet of mini formula one cars.
Andrew House, Head of Major Gifts for the Oxford Radcliffe
Hospitals Charitable Funds, explained that, "Renault
F1 Team have been great supporters of our £15million
fundraising campaign to build the Children's Hospital, by
making a very significant donation and also giving us these
fun toy cars, which the children love. It was great to be
able to show Lucas and Donna what a difference their support
has made. Donations like theirs have enabled us to create
one of the best children's hospitals in the country."
Lucas di Grassi commented: "It was wonderful to meet
and talk to the children at the Oxford Children's Hospital.
I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to live out
my dream by pursuing my racing career. But the determination
and courage you have to show at the wheel, are nothing compared
to what these children tackle and overcome every day. It has
been a privilege and an inspiration to meet them, and I am
proud to be part of a team that is committed to supporting
the local community."
The Children's Hospital opened its doors in January this
year and has already helped tens of thousands of patients.
It is a bright, colourful space, designed to make children
and their families feel as comfortable as possible.
If you would like to get involved and support the Children's
Hospital please contact Penny Hambridge on 01865 743445 or
visit our website at: www.oxfordradcliffe.nhs.uk/getinvolved.
|
