The Australian Grand Prix Corporation is proud to announce Guide Dogs Australia as the Official Charity for the 2018 Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix.
The 2018 Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix, 22 – 25 March, marks the second consecutive year Guide Dogs Australia has been involved as the Official Charity of the event.
Guide Dogs Australia is the leading charity providing support for people with low vision or blindness, through wide range of community initiatives, and training and education programs to maximise their independence.
Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren said that spectacles like the Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix offer a wonderful opportunity for charities to generate awareness on a global scale.
“The Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix is a great platform to drive awareness of the work Guide Dogs Australia does every day to support more Victorians to live independently.”
“It’s great to see two iconic Australian organisations coming together to advance a great cause.”
“Victoria has the best of everything, including the best car race in the world – and that means more visitors, more jobs, and a boost to our state’s coffers.”
Guide Dogs Australia spokesperson and CEO of Guide Dogs Victoria, Karen Hayes, is thrilled to build on the successful partnership formed in 2017.
“Guide Dogs Australia couldn’t be more delighted to continue our successful partnership with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation. The generosity of the Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix fans enabled us to fund a new specialist cadetship program. Now we can get more people on the ground delivering services to people who are blind or have low vision,” said Hayes.
“By 2020, we need to double the number of elite Guide Dogs in Australia, so our fundraising goal this year is $140,000, double the amount of money we raised at last year’s Grand Prix. Every dollar raised will go towards training our amazing Guide Dogs to be the best of the best and enable many more people with low vision or blindness to achieve their goals in life,” continued Hayes.
Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO, Andrew Westacott, shared Hayes’ sentiments and enthusiasm for the continued partnership.
“Guide Dogs Australia is a charity the entire Australian Grand Prix family is incredibly passionate about given the natural synergy between both counterparts – supercharged senses and elite performance are synonymous with both Formula One drivers and Guide Dogs,” said Westacott.
“As an organisation we are extremely passionate about utilising our unique event platform to raise awareness, educate our fans, and assist Guide Dogs Australia in reaching their fundraising goal and double the amount of money raised at last year’s Australian Grand Prix and reach $140,000,” continued Westacott.
Across the four days of the 2018 Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix, Guide Dogs Australia will host several activations including a dedicated marquee where they will be educating fans about supercharging the senses and elite performance synonymous with both Formula One drivers and Guide Dogs.
All money raised at the 2018 Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix will go towards funding the intensive specialist training each Guide Dog requires.
For more information about Guide Dogs Australia please visit www.guidedogsaustralia.com.au.
For tickets and more information on the 2018 Formula 1® Rolex Australian Grand Prix, please visit www.grandprix.com.au.
