Dear Team,
well Manfeild proved to be another whirlwind adventure for the Project KPH kids and their families.
I invited Alesha Morris who is a Trustee of the Project KPH Charitable Trust and our volunteer coordinator - to come along with me for the weekend to host the kids and see what all the hard work means.
We headed off from Rotorua by about 10am clocking into Manfeild early afternoon. I showed Alesha around, pointed out how to locate the various teams we visit, and introduced her to everyone. We found the McLennan's where I was promptly offered a hot lap in Simon's #26 Porsche. I VERY quickly said "YES", "Yes, yes, yes"!!! It was awesome!!! Needless to say I was super grateful and the experience was thrilling. I will bring my own race suit to every meet now just in case!!! Thank you so much to Simon and the crew - the experience held a lot of meaning for me.
Alesha and I headed back to Palmerston North to sort out dinner and get ready for Saturday with the kids.
I was awake ridiculously early! We had hot cross buns with lashings of butter for breakfast which was perfect. Arrived at the track at around 8:45am and set up a base at the ticket booths with all our tees and administrative paraphernalia. Before we knew it the kids were arriving, in their tees and ready to race.
Unfortunately two of our kids could not make it due to not being well enough on the day which was a bit sad, but as is the case often.
The eight KPH kids that did come along gasped and squealed with delight at seeing their names and the Project KPH logo on the #26 Porsche of Simon McLennan's. Dad's busily took photographic evidence for future reference. The kids were buzzing as they were invited to sit in a Porsche and the worry for us was a few of them could touch the pedals! Yikes! The kids were given cool caps too and everyone was smiling at a great start to our day.
We said a big thanks to Simon and his awesome crew and headed off to see Simon Sceats and his #17 Subaru, and the XBOX console! The kids were given very cool goodies and had fun challenging each other on the XBOX as well as meeting the crew and sitting in the Subaru. By now the kids had two prized autographs and were feeling the need to catch some of the action on the track before our BBQ lunch with Triple X.
We thanked Simon and his fantastic crew and headed over to the grandstand where we formed a line to do a Mexican Wave at any of the drivers the kids had just met. The kids found out later that Simon McLennan could actually see us while he was on the track and thought it was super cool.
Next we trotted off to the Triple X Porsche camp where the kids took part in a challenge and won autographed caps as prizes, they thought this was very cool. Before we knew it the lunch was ready and in we went! The group enjoyed a delicious lunch where some of the kids sat next to Dan Gaunt and thought this was pretty cool. Mike Morton and his crew here are always great with the kids and the lunch always goes down a treat. The kids all lined up for autographs with Daniel Gaunt and David Reynolds and the novelty of the day was far from wearing off with some of them literally jumping up and down with excitement. It was so heartwarming to watch.
Thanking the Triple X crew we launched off to our meet with Johnny McIntyre, his crew and his V8. A couple of the kids (and Dad's) were nearly beside themselves with excitement. Johnny showed the kids all around the car, explained how different parts worked and why they had them, opened the hood for all to see the big engine and of course autographed the kids tees and posters.
It was a day of non stop action and excitement for the group and this was evidenced when one of our kids needed to leave and was very upset about it. She was genuinely crying tears of sadness that her day had come to an end. She wanted me to go home with her. It was distressing for me to see a child so upset; but more than that it was one of the most humbling moments I have experienced in the three seasons with Project KPH. To have it evidenced in such a heart wrenching way just what this experience had meant for her was incredibly moving - for everyone present. She had had such a wonderful time, it had meant so much, that for her the realisation it had to end was too much for her wee heart. That right there is EXACTLY why I'm so passionate about what the Project delivers. Its real, and its effects are far reaching.
As the kids slowly decided one by one to head home, we saw the day had been a real success. At times throughout the day I could hardly walk as two of the kids in particular clung onto me everywhere we went! It was just great.
The kids all loved Alesha and I know she loved them too and got a great deal out of her experience as well. This is what Alesha had to say about her day:
Leah,
I wanted to thank you for letting me share the Project KPH experience with the kids at Manfeild this past weekend, but somehow I’m struggling to find the right words to explain the impact this weekend has had on me! As a mother of two boys, I thought I had seen the joy on kids faces, I thought I knew happiness when I saw it in my kids eyes, but I have never seen happiness as I did with the Project KPH kids! The sheer joy of sitting in a real race car, of seeing their names on a real race car, of meeting real racing car drivers, being treated as REAL people, these kids taught me the real meaning of happiness, acceptance, joy and unconditional love, kids who were strangers to me at the beginning of the day etched themselves into my heart by the end of the day – not only did I accept and love them for who they were, but they accepted and loved me for who I was – and you never can really explain that feeling can you, you can only explain it as magical, special and extremely precious. Project KPH changed these kids’ lives, even if just for one day, I’m sure like me it’s a day the kids will never forget and always treasure.
So thank you Leah, thank you Project KPH, thank you to the drivers and the motorsport community, thank you to the kids who taught me that the small things in life do matter and that every moment should be cherished!
Alesha Morris
Trustee & Volunteer Coordinator Project KPH
Sunday we caught up with a few of the kids back out at the track wearing their Project KPH tees proudly. I met up with a wee mate of mine from last year's Manfeild KPH kids and we spent the day hanging out watching the racing after I had taken him around to say gidday to all his racing friends. It was really cool to see so many of the kids and parents, and the rest of their families headed back on the Sunday. A lot of the families commented they had never been before despite living a relatively short distance from the track. One of the Mum's and her daughters had come back with Dad to be shown what her son had been part of the day before and they were just beaming with pride. It was wonderful to see.
Alesha and I had to hit the road mid afternoon and said our goodbyes. I was totally surprised when my wee mate pulled out a gift wrapped box of chocolates and a lovely card for me! I was really touched by that but also told him he didn't need to thank me, that I just wanted to hang out with him. I joked that this meant he was my Valentine to which he said "Nooooo" and produced an award winning grin and small blush! Gorgeous, totally gorgeous and I'm a very lucky girl.
What a great bunch of kids. What an excellent weekend. My thanks goes out to all our drivers, their crews, all our sponsors who make this day a possibility for these cool kids and to Alesha for her company and all her help.
From here? Taupo.
Game on!
Shake n Bake.
Leah xo
well Manfeild proved to be another whirlwind adventure for the Project KPH kids and their families.
I invited Alesha Morris who is a Trustee of the Project KPH Charitable Trust and our volunteer coordinator - to come along with me for the weekend to host the kids and see what all the hard work means.
We headed off from Rotorua by about 10am clocking into Manfeild early afternoon. I showed Alesha around, pointed out how to locate the various teams we visit, and introduced her to everyone. We found the McLennan's where I was promptly offered a hot lap in Simon's #26 Porsche. I VERY quickly said "YES", "Yes, yes, yes"!!! It was awesome!!! Needless to say I was super grateful and the experience was thrilling. I will bring my own race suit to every meet now just in case!!! Thank you so much to Simon and the crew - the experience held a lot of meaning for me.
Alesha and I headed back to Palmerston North to sort out dinner and get ready for Saturday with the kids.
I was awake ridiculously early! We had hot cross buns with lashings of butter for breakfast which was perfect. Arrived at the track at around 8:45am and set up a base at the ticket booths with all our tees and administrative paraphernalia. Before we knew it the kids were arriving, in their tees and ready to race.
Unfortunately two of our kids could not make it due to not being well enough on the day which was a bit sad, but as is the case often.
The eight KPH kids that did come along gasped and squealed with delight at seeing their names and the Project KPH logo on the #26 Porsche of Simon McLennan's. Dad's busily took photographic evidence for future reference. The kids were buzzing as they were invited to sit in a Porsche and the worry for us was a few of them could touch the pedals! Yikes! The kids were given cool caps too and everyone was smiling at a great start to our day.
We said a big thanks to Simon and his awesome crew and headed off to see Simon Sceats and his #17 Subaru, and the XBOX console! The kids were given very cool goodies and had fun challenging each other on the XBOX as well as meeting the crew and sitting in the Subaru. By now the kids had two prized autographs and were feeling the need to catch some of the action on the track before our BBQ lunch with Triple X.
We thanked Simon and his fantastic crew and headed over to the grandstand where we formed a line to do a Mexican Wave at any of the drivers the kids had just met. The kids found out later that Simon McLennan could actually see us while he was on the track and thought it was super cool.
Next we trotted off to the Triple X Porsche camp where the kids took part in a challenge and won autographed caps as prizes, they thought this was very cool. Before we knew it the lunch was ready and in we went! The group enjoyed a delicious lunch where some of the kids sat next to Dan Gaunt and thought this was pretty cool. Mike Morton and his crew here are always great with the kids and the lunch always goes down a treat. The kids all lined up for autographs with Daniel Gaunt and David Reynolds and the novelty of the day was far from wearing off with some of them literally jumping up and down with excitement. It was so heartwarming to watch.
Thanking the Triple X crew we launched off to our meet with Johnny McIntyre, his crew and his V8. A couple of the kids (and Dad's) were nearly beside themselves with excitement. Johnny showed the kids all around the car, explained how different parts worked and why they had them, opened the hood for all to see the big engine and of course autographed the kids tees and posters.
It was a day of non stop action and excitement for the group and this was evidenced when one of our kids needed to leave and was very upset about it. She was genuinely crying tears of sadness that her day had come to an end. She wanted me to go home with her. It was distressing for me to see a child so upset; but more than that it was one of the most humbling moments I have experienced in the three seasons with Project KPH. To have it evidenced in such a heart wrenching way just what this experience had meant for her was incredibly moving - for everyone present. She had had such a wonderful time, it had meant so much, that for her the realisation it had to end was too much for her wee heart. That right there is EXACTLY why I'm so passionate about what the Project delivers. Its real, and its effects are far reaching.
As the kids slowly decided one by one to head home, we saw the day had been a real success. At times throughout the day I could hardly walk as two of the kids in particular clung onto me everywhere we went! It was just great.
The kids all loved Alesha and I know she loved them too and got a great deal out of her experience as well. This is what Alesha had to say about her day:
Leah,
I wanted to thank you for letting me share the Project KPH experience with the kids at Manfeild this past weekend, but somehow I’m struggling to find the right words to explain the impact this weekend has had on me! As a mother of two boys, I thought I had seen the joy on kids faces, I thought I knew happiness when I saw it in my kids eyes, but I have never seen happiness as I did with the Project KPH kids! The sheer joy of sitting in a real race car, of seeing their names on a real race car, of meeting real racing car drivers, being treated as REAL people, these kids taught me the real meaning of happiness, acceptance, joy and unconditional love, kids who were strangers to me at the beginning of the day etched themselves into my heart by the end of the day – not only did I accept and love them for who they were, but they accepted and loved me for who I was – and you never can really explain that feeling can you, you can only explain it as magical, special and extremely precious. Project KPH changed these kids’ lives, even if just for one day, I’m sure like me it’s a day the kids will never forget and always treasure.
So thank you Leah, thank you Project KPH, thank you to the drivers and the motorsport community, thank you to the kids who taught me that the small things in life do matter and that every moment should be cherished!
Alesha Morris
Trustee & Volunteer Coordinator Project KPH
Sunday we caught up with a few of the kids back out at the track wearing their Project KPH tees proudly. I met up with a wee mate of mine from last year's Manfeild KPH kids and we spent the day hanging out watching the racing after I had taken him around to say gidday to all his racing friends. It was really cool to see so many of the kids and parents, and the rest of their families headed back on the Sunday. A lot of the families commented they had never been before despite living a relatively short distance from the track. One of the Mum's and her daughters had come back with Dad to be shown what her son had been part of the day before and they were just beaming with pride. It was wonderful to see.
Alesha and I had to hit the road mid afternoon and said our goodbyes. I was totally surprised when my wee mate pulled out a gift wrapped box of chocolates and a lovely card for me! I was really touched by that but also told him he didn't need to thank me, that I just wanted to hang out with him. I joked that this meant he was my Valentine to which he said "Nooooo" and produced an award winning grin and small blush! Gorgeous, totally gorgeous and I'm a very lucky girl.
What a great bunch of kids. What an excellent weekend. My thanks goes out to all our drivers, their crews, all our sponsors who make this day a possibility for these cool kids and to Alesha for her company and all her help.
From here? Taupo.
Game on!
Shake n Bake.
Leah xo
