V8 SuperUtes driver shines spotlight on kids with cancer racing with 3.5-year-old cancer warrior Charlie at V8 SuperUtes Sydney

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At Round One of the 2025 V8 SuperUtes Sprint Cup in Sydney - the Thrifty Sydney 500 (21 - 23 February 2025)– two-time national champion and Kids with Cancer Foundation ambassador Jimmy Vernon was racing for kids with cancer, with the photo of 3.5-year-old cancer warrior Charlie on his helmet.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of Jimmy Vernon being an Ambassador for Kids with Cancer Foundation and racing for kids with cancer. Charlie and his family, together with other kids with cancer and their families, joined Jimmy at Sydney Motorsport Park to go behind the scenes in the pit, sit in Jimmy's race car, meet drivers and more.



Charlie’s story
One evening in February 2024, then 2.5-year-old Charlie was rushed to The Children's Hospital at Westmead and he and his family's lives were turned upside down. Charlie was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

"Our hearts were broken, and we were in total shock. We had to break the news to our extended family who quickly rushed to our side. I was also six weeks pregnant with our second child, and I remember feeling completely overwhelmed and exhausted, but knew we had to keep going and stay positive," said Charlie’s mum, Danielle.

"We faced many challenges in the first six weeks of treatment which kept us in hospital for that whole time. Charlie had fungus on his lungs, an infection in his central line, and was put under General Anaesthetic for several procedures. The hospital stays didn't end there, Charlie had many more for further treatment and care."

Charlie's treatment is ongoing, but he has completed his intense chemotherapy which took about seven months. Within that time, Charlie’s mum, Danielle, gave birth to baby brother Billy, who so far is happy and healthy.

Charlie will finish his treatment in February 2026 and if all goes well, will then be deemed cancer free.

"We are beyond proud of Charlie and the way he has carried himself throughout this journey all still with a smile on his face," Danielle added.



Racing car driver Jimmy Vernon fighting for kids with cancer
Jimmy first teamed up with Kids with Cancer Foundation in February 2020, inspired to help make today easier for the around 1200 children aged 0 to 18 diagnosed with cancer every year and their families. For the past fice years, Jimmy Vernon has been an Ambassador for Kids with Cancer Foundation, dedicating each of his races to a child diagnosed with cancer, inviting kids with cancer and their families to each race around the country for a weekend of behind-the-scenes action and fun, as well as helping with fundraising, packing and delivering Care Packs, and more.

This past December, Jimmy delivered the 20,000th Care Pack provided by Kids with Cancer Foundation to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. See the video here.

Milestone 20,000 Care Packs bringing smiles to Kids with Cancer
Every year around 1200 children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 are diagnosed with cancer, setting them and their families on a roller coaster of intensive treatments and lots of time in hospital. Care Packs - filled with snacks, activity books and small toys - help to make hospital stays and long treatment sessions more manageable and less daunting by providing comfort, distraction and the knowledge that someone cares.

Kids with Cancer Foundation introduced the delivery of Care Packs in 2020, during the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdowns. Before this, the Foundation was providing morning teas, small entertainment toys and activity books through in-person programs at children's hospitals, but with the COVID outbreak and visitation to hospitals limited, Kids with Cancer Foundation started the Care Pack program - with weekly deliveries of Care Packs going to children’s hospitals all around Australia.

These Care Packs are packed by volunteers who register and participate in a day of packing at Kids with Cancer Foundation's offices in Castle Hill. Community groups, corporate team building, sports clubs, and school holiday groups as well as Kids with Cancer Foundation’s Ambassadors like Jimmy Vernon, are among the many volunteers who help to pack tens of thousands of Care Packs. Some of the items in the Care Packs are donated by businesses.

Giving the gift of a Care Pack brings hope, fun and joy to children undertaking cancer treatment, and these Care Packs can be donated for just $20. Click here to donate a care pack.

Kids with Cancer Foundation is committed to making today easier for kids with cancer and their families through providing direct financial support to families, Care Packs, Wigs4Kids, plus funding critical hospital salaries and infrastructure, cancer research and more, visit www.kidswithcancer.org.au

Follow Jimmy Vernon’s racing action at https://www.facebook.com/JimmyVernonRacing

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