Since 2012 a Millarville resident has been using his need for speed to support and raise money for Kids Cancer Care by taking donors and cancer survivors alike on a hill climb in his 2007 Porsche 911 in Kelowna.
Brent Thorkelson started driving competitively 25 years ago, but decided to put the competitions behind him to start Hands Together for a Cure, a charity event that Thorkelson has been running for the past few years.
Thorkelson is a paramedic for Alberta Health Services and started his time in the EMS at the same time he started competitively racing in autocross, road races and hill climbs.
“The thing that intrigues me the most is that it’s strictly up to the driver to perform well,” he said of racing.
Thorkelson’s love of motorsports comes from a beat-the-clock mentality, and that even though you’re ultimately competing against other drivers’ times it’s the driver against the clock trying to do as best as they can.
As a paramedic, Thorkelson said there’s an unwritten rule that there’s no such thing as accidents when it comes to injuries and similar incidents.
But when encountering children that have been diagnosed with cancer, he found it difficult to process.
Hands Together for a Cure is a one man show, said Thorkelson.
He started it and operates it mainly by himself with a small group of supporters helping him along the way.
The event takes place during the Knox Mountain Hill Climb, which is an event that attracts drivers from throughout the Pacific Northwest to race its 3.5km and approximately 245-metre elevation in order to score the best time.
This year is the 58th annual run and takes place on May 16 and 17 and is where Thorkelson will be driving his 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 between the two group’s runs of the mountain.
Thorkelson says he’s been a fan of the 911 since he was nine years old.
“It’s a cool thing for this initiative. Everyone recognizes this car and from kids of all ages are intrigued by the car,” he said.
Thorkelson’s Porsche is adorned every year with handprint decals signed by children who are diagnosed with cancer which are collected by Kids Cancer Care.
Last year Thorkelson’s vehicle had about 60 to 70 handprints.
He said the motorsports community was lacking figures that raised awareness or money for good causes and so he started his venture.
“I think motorsports could do a better job at raising money,” he said.
Hands Together for a Cure raised a total of $35,200 since 2012. Last year it raised $15,200 and Thorkelson set a $20,000 goal for this year.
Donations are being accepted at handstogetherforacure.com and will go directly to Kids Cancer Care.
Donations of $500 or more get you a ride up the mountain in the Porsche with Thorkelson. Anyone interested in donating can call 403-519- 2597
