Race 4 Life Trust

02/10/2026

Adam Jones watched this event grow and evolve over the years, and then, in our swan song, he captured the full story with such eloquence, managing to portray the true magic of the day.

Sensational!

After 18 years of track days and rides in just about every vehicle ...

30/09/2026

An extra special day...what a finale!!!

Enjoy the photos! 🏁🚗🚁🚒

30/09/2026

The last Race4Life Track Day! What a day! 🏁🚗
Check out the coverage on Seven Sharp episode 169, Wednesday 30th September

Join Hilary Barry, Jeremy Wells and the team for a fresh perspective on today's stories.

27/09/2026

The Race4Life Trust was established in 2015 with a simple but deeply meaningful mission: to fulfil the wishes of palliative care patients throughout New Zealand.

Alongside our Wish Service, the Trust also coordinated events that brought patients and their families together—creating connection, easing isolation, and offering moments of joy, laughter and excitement during what can be an incredibly challenging chapter of life.

The Wish Service was extraordinarily successful. Before it came to an end in 2023, after the difficult years of Covid, the remarkable team at Race4Life had fulfilled the wishes of almost 600 patients.

The impact of this service on patients, their families, and the extraordinarily generous communities who supported them was profound. In fact, it inspired us to undertake a study exploring that impact, led by Dr. Alison Booth. The findings were significant on many levels and affirmed what we had witnessed firsthand: that kindness, generosity and human connection can make an extraordinary difference.

Next Tuesday, we will celebrate our final Track Day event, and at the end of this year the Race4Life Trust will close.

I can say, with my hand firmly over my heart, that every staff member who has worked with Race4Life over the years has been privileged to work in this remarkable and deeply human space.

We have witnessed extraordinary acts of kindness and generosity. We have seen heartfelt gratitude and profound humility. And, every single day—even through the darkest days of Covid—we saw LOVE in action.

Today, I want to honour the incredible Queenstown community, who over the years were quite simply thrashed with requests from us!

At one stage, there were five wishes in a single month.

And these were not small requests. Each wish represented a package worth around $5,000, usually involving both the patient and their family. The stories behind them were nothing short of MAGIC.

Not a single dollar changed hands.

Instead, the wonderful businesses of Queenstown opened their doors and treated our patients like royalty. They received VIP treatment wherever they went, surrounded by people who genuinely wanted to create something extraordinary for them.

As the years went by, we began using the template of a Queenstown Wish as the inspiration for raffle prizes at our various events. The revenue generated on these occasions was sensational—and our service providers were, without exception, 100% behind us and eager to be part of the MAGIC.

The raffle poster for our final Track Day event on Tuesday is posted here. Like so many before it, it represents a quintessential Queenstown Wish.

There simply are not enough words to adequately thank the beautiful human beings who have helped create these extraordinary experiences. The memories you have helped make will be treasured by families across New Zealand for generations to come.

This year, there will be no exchange of money.

All 116 patients who have registered will have their names placed into a basket, and one lucky name will be drawn at 1pm on Tuesday.

What an extraordinary privilege it has been to witness such kindness, generosity and humanity over the years.

THANK YOU, QUEENSTOWN. ❤️

The Helicopter Line, New Zealand, Crowne Plaza Queenstown, Fergburger Ltd, Joe's Garage Five Mile, Brazz Steakhouse & Bar, Winnies Gourmet Pizza Bar, Flame Bar & Grill, Body Sanctum, AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand, Skyline Queenstown, Shotover Jet, Sunrise Balloons & GO Rentals

You have helped create MAGIC when it mattered most.

15/09/2026

Jeff Barton was a fervent One NZ Warriors. He totally adored the team and his wish to meet some of the players was his number one desire.

Simon Mannering hearing of his special request, together with his young son, drove down from Auckland to Te Awamutu to spend time with Jeff.

Father and son stayed with Jeff for a few hours and bought him a signed copy of Simon's autobiography.

Later in the week, the Port of Auckland heard wind of the story and sent Jeff a Warriors jersey that was delivered to him by the Race4life Team. Jeff was over the moon.

Sometimes wishes can be so simple, yet they bring great joy to those concerned. We thought we would share this story in light of the Warriors brilliant season in 2026.

This team has created a great community that connects people allows them to dream. Go the Warriors!!

08/09/2026

Only 20 sleeps to go! 🎉
Here are a few images to get the adrenaline pumping and your imaginations working overtime… 😏✨
Enjoy, and let the anticipation build!
See you all on the 29th! 🥳

01/09/2026

There are moments that remind us just how extraordinary kindness can be.

As we pause to reflect, we remember how overwhelmed we were with gratitude for the generosity and compassion shown to our patient, Rayleen, and her beautiful family.

Rayleen and her team of 3 set off from Hamilton on a journey to the Far North to fulfil a lifelong dream—to stand at the majestic Cape Reinga. Living with Motor Neurone Disease had brought many challenges, but thanks to the remarkable generosity of so many, this special adventure had become a reality.

A heartfelt thank you to GreatSights New Zealand and Entrada Travel Group, whose teams had gone above and beyond to ensure Rayleen was comfortable, supported, and able to experience every moment of this unforgettable journey. Although Rayleen relied on a wheelchair, her determination—and the love surrounding her—have ensured that no obstacle stood in the way of creating precious family memories.

The family's adventure began with a beautiful farewell lunch, lovingly prepared by Ripe Deli, before they headed north.

Their Northland itinerary was nothing short of extraordinary. GreatSights New Zealand and Entrada Travel Group had also gifted the family a spectacular Dolphin Cruise. During their stay in Paihia, they were welcomed by the Anchorage Motel Paihia and enjoyed meals at Alfresco's Restaurant & Bar and the iconic The Duke of Marlborough in Russell. They savoured Paihia's renowned fish and chips from Vinnies and indulged in handcrafted treats from Makana Confections in Kerikeri.

On their journey home, they visited the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway in Kawakawa and stopped to admire the town's famous Hundertwasser-designed public toilets—a Northland landmark in their own right.

To every individual and business who contributed to making this dream possible, we thank you. Your generosity extends far beyond gifts and experiences—you have given this family something truly priceless: time together, joy, adventure, and memories that will be treasured forever.

Our sincere thanks also go Darren Milner and the team at Milner Mobility for generously providing a mobility vehicle, ensuring Rayleen could travel in comfort and with dignity. We are equally grateful to Chris Jarvis and Z Energy for donating the fuel that has helped make this incredible journey possible.

Northland, you have shown the very best of what community looks like.

Your kindness, generosity, and willingness to embrace one family.

31/08/2026

Our 10th Anniversary celebration in 2017 was yet another example of humanity at its best, do enjoy. Only 28 more sleeps!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

25/08/2026

A fishing Trip to remember:

For 58-year-old Timothy Tamati, who was living with lung cancer, one heartfelt wish stood above all others: to spend a day out on the water, fishing with the people he loved.

Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of a community united by kindness, that wish became a truly unforgettable reality.

At the heart of this special day was volunteer Darryl Mac, who generously donated both his time and his boat to make Timothy's dream come true. Joining him as co-skipper was Bryce Imms, whose enthusiasm and willingness to help ensured the day was filled with laughter, friendship, and memorable moments.

The adventure began bright and early as Auckland Co-op Taxis kindly transported Timothy, his daughter Alex, and granddaughter Sapphire to the marina, where their crew eagerly awaited them.

No fishing expedition would be complete without a feast, and the team at Ripe Deli made sure no one went hungry, generously donating a delicious meal worthy of Poseidon himself. Fellow volunteer Mike Masfen ensured the food was delivered fresh to the marina, ready for a day on the water.

With calm seas and beautiful weather providing the perfect backdrop, Darryl guided the boat to productive fishing grounds between Motuihe Island and Waiheke Island, and further out toward the Noises. The fishing certainly didn't disappoint, with the group landing an impressive dozen fish throughout the day. The undisputed champion angler was young Sapphire, who proudly reeled in the biggest catch of the day—a moment sure to become a treasured family memory.

After a successful morning's fishing, the crew anchored off the picturesque shores of Motuihe Island for a refreshing swim and a chance to relax beneath the summer sky. It was the perfect way to round out an already remarkable day.

For Timothy, the experience was nothing short of magical. Surrounded by family, embraced by the generosity of volunteers, blessed with glorious weather, a spacious and comfortable boat, and exceptional food, he was able to enjoy a day filled with joy, peace, and precious memories.

As the adventure came to an end, Darryl safely returned everyone to the marina, where Auckland Co-op Taxis were once again waiting to take Timothy, his family, and their impressive catch home. That evening, the freshly caught fish became the centrepiece of a family feast, undoubtedly accompanied by laughter, stories from the day, and perhaps a few legendary tales of "the one that got away."

This unforgettable wish was made possible through the compassion, generosity, and dedication of so many wonderful people. To Darryl Mac, Bryce Imms, Auckland Co-op Taxis, the incredible team at Ripe Deli, Mike Masfen and everyone who played a part—thank you. Your wholehearted kindness created far more than a day of fishing; you created cherished memories that Timothy and his family will carry with them forever.