Racing for Reuben

A team of petrolheads is racing towards a five-figure fundraising target to help support children with cancer, after a colleague’s son died from the disease.

Wayne Clark, vehicle technician at the Faverdale fleet workshop in Darlington, County Durham, lost his son Reuben to high risk neuroblastoma – an aggressive form of childhood cancer – in 2017. He was just two years old.

While Reuben underwent treatment, Wayne set up a go karting team to raise money for the North of England Children’s Cancer Research (NECCR).

A keen karter for several years, Wayne recruited fellow car fanatics, including colleagues, postman Ben Thornton and technician Tony Whitfield, to his team, which the friends named ‘Race 4 Reuben’.

Reuben sadly never got to see the team in action as he died just a week before their first competition in Teesside.

Wayne was ‘determined’ to complete the race in Reuben’s honour and in its first year the team raised more than £6,000 for NECCR.

In 2018 they completed two 24-hour races, including one at the prestigious Le Mans track in France. These added another £2,000 to the fundraising pot and Reuben’s racers are keen to top the £10,000 mark in 2019.

Wayne, who had a son with wife Danielle before Christmas, said: ‘It’s nice to see Reuben’s name on the go karts and on the score sheets. A lot of people involved in the karting community have taken the team and Reuben to their hearts. It’s a fitting memory as he was very much into his cars.’

The team, which competes in kart number 95 after Reuben’s favourite cartoon character ‘Lightning McQueen’ has two races lined up for 2019.

To support the team and raise money and awareness for NECRR, visit www.justgiving.com/race4reuben.