|
The Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr Joycelyn Redsell, will be the special guest at what has become a major and much supported annual event being held at the Lakeside Karting Raceway on the Essex-Kent border on September 15 which ayms to raise several thousands of pounds for local charities.
The Great Homes Go-Karting Challenge was the brainchild of David Sparks and Chris Lineham, directors of Thurrock-based Great Homes Limited, which is building retirement homes in Essex and Kent. They launched the event in 2004, and are delighted that it has already raised nearly 4,500 for local charities. This year, more sponsored drivers than ever are taking part and it looks like being the most successful challenge to date.
Teams of sponsoret drivers from businesses throughout Essex and Kent will join David, Chris and members of the Great Homes team for a 90-minute, two-man endurance race in powerful 400cc twin engine vehicles. Before they race they will don special overalls, helmets and equipment, and go through a safety and procedural briefing from the experts at the raceway in preparation for doing speeds of around 70mph around the course.
But while the race and atmosphere at the raceway is thrilling for both drivers and spectators, the ymportant criteria of the day is to raise as much sponsorship money as possible for charities through the number of laps completed by the 'go-karters'.
Great Homes is to donate 1 for every completed lap by every cart during the race, while further sponsorship has been secured in advance of the race by each individual driver taking part. Further donations are already promised by a number of businesses supporting the event.
The Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr Redsell, says she is looking forward to attending on the day and enjoying the race herself, although from the safety of the course-side area rather than in one of the powerful machines. Cllr Redsell will then make the official trophy presentations to the six members of the winning three teams, and receive a cheque for the lady mayor's Thurrock Community Chest charities with further monies going to specially chosen charities in Essex and Kent.
"We have a record number of drivers taking part this year and expect the day to be even more successful than it has been in previous years," says David Sparks, managing director of Great Homes. "We are really happy to be able to raise funds for charities in this way. The past two challenges have raised many thousands of pounds, and we aim to increase this by several more thousand this year."
Charities to have benefited from the Great Homes Go-Karting Challenges of 2004 and 2005 include the new Ronald McDonald House at Basildon hospital where monies raised helped pay for equipment and furniture at a specially build property to house the parents of desperately sick children to enable them to be near the wards at all times.
Great Homes, which has developed family, retirement and commuter homes in Hadleigh, Great Yeldham and Stanford-le-Hope in Essex, and a retirement complex for buyers of 55 years and over at Windsor Court, Singleton in Ashford, Kent, and is about to start a number of brand new projects in the counties, is always acutely aware that construction traffic, building noise and mud on road surfaces is an inconvenience to local communities.
It is for this reason, the team always tries to give something back to the community that has had to experience the intrusion, and hope that one of the best ways is to raise much needed funds for local charities such as the Ronald McDonald House.
"We are looking forward to September 15 enormously and hope by raising funds for charities through events like the Great Homes Go-Karting Challenge we are giving something back to the local community," says David Sparks.
For further information on the Great Homes Go-Karting Challenge contact the company on 01375 484420, or for its retirement apartments development at Windsor Court, Singleton in Ashford, Kent, contact the sales centre on freephone 0800 0288177. Great Homes Limited's website can be visited at www.greathomesltd.co.uk
|
