Armacup MINI Racing to Cure Kids

The Armacup Cure Kids MINI was a stand out entry in the Dunlop Targa Road Race flying the flag for the charity and raising $16,000 en route from Auckland to Wellington.

Armacup agreed to enter the hot MINI for Cure Kids after an approach from airline pilot Michael Fitzpatrick. With sponsorship and support from key partners BMW New Zealand and Accor and with donated equipement and services from Tarox Brakes in Italy, BMP Design in Texas and Air New Zealand Cargo the Armacup MINI campaign was launched.

With Michael at the wheel and accompanied by co-driver Peter Huljich, the pair were met at stops on the 2,000km route by Cure Kids ambassadors, who helped raise the charity's profile further.

In Taupo golfer Phil Tataurangi, who has recently aligned himself with Cure Kids, took a spin in the co-driver's seat around the Taupo race track. In Palmerston North television personality, Charlotte Dawson, was on hand to help ambassador Beccy Dixon raise money at the stop-over in the square.

The pair encouraged competitors to give up their driving suits for drycleaning. There was an outstanding response and more than $3,000 was raised for Cure Kids.

Other fundraising activities included the sale of 1000 bottles of water donated by Brightwater Ridge and $2,000 was donated by BMP Design in Texas. Thirteen-year old Cure Kids ambassador Neida Simeona who suffers from ovarian cancer, spoke during the prizegiving in Wellington, outlining her illness and her work for the charity. An impromptu auction followed, raising a staggering $7,000.

Cure Kids CEO Kaye Parker says the support from the organisers of the Dunlop Targa Road Race is quite overwhelming.

"For the charity to be now officially on board with the road race is a huge step for us and we are grateful to the directors Mike and Sue John for this amazing opportunity. All the competitors are incredibly supportive and we received a fantastic welcome from them."

The Armacup Cure Kids MINI took off with a roar and by the third day was running in fifth place overall in the competitive field. But disaster with an oil line break put them behind, a position from which they could not recover.

In spite of this Michael says the MINI put on a superb performance. "We were always well up there in our times on the special stages running consistently around 4tth or 5th fastest overall. The MINI attracted a lot of interest as we moved through the country. It's a fabulous Tarmac Rally weapon!"

The Armacup MINI and Cure Kids will feature in the Dunlop Targa documentary which will be shown in New Zealand, Europe and in the United States.