A car-mad teenager and his family enjoyed a ‘truly amazing day’ after getting close to the action during a high-octane trip to Snetterton.
William Rayfield, 15, along with parents Lee Channell and Emie Rayfield, were given the opportunity to watch a Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship meeting at the famous Norfolk racetrack.
Among the highlights, they went behind the scenes and saw mechanics preparing for a race in the Un-Limited Motorsport garage.
They walked the grid, watched races in the Vertu Mini Challenge, ROKiT F4 British Championship, Porsche Sprint Challenge and main British Touring Car Championship and had an opportunity to chat with driver Nicholas Hamilton, from Un-Limited Motorsport.
The Snetterton experience was gifted by Teddy Bear Run – a fundraising organisation started by a group of self-confessed petrol heads who wanted to combine cars and teddy bears to support families with disabled and life-limited children.
They work with families across Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Hampshire, but, because of the distance to Norfolk, decided to offer this opportunity to a family being supported by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
“It was such a wonderful, interesting experience,” said Emie, who was supported by EACH following the death of the couple’s baby son, Theodore, in July 2021. He was just 71 minutes old and had exomphalos – a defect of the abdominal wall detected during Emie’s routine 12-week scan. At that point, it was hoped surgery would correct the problem. Instead, more scans revealed further problems, notably the fact he had no kidneys, and Emie and Lee were referred to The Nook.
“William got to sit in a racing car while one of the team showed him the different buttons and talked him through a few things, which he enjoyed.
“Dave Harding joined us for the day as a chaperone, from Teddy Bear Run. He was great as we’d never been to anything like it before, so having someone with us and having all those wonderful things arranged for us was great.
“No words can express how truly grateful we are for such an amazing day.
“William said it was the best-day ever, which was so lovely to hear.”
Emie said the timing of the trip was perfect, as it gave her son a timely breather from the stress of his GCSE exams.
The family also have an important, poignant date on the horizon as Theodore was born on 22nd July 2021. He would have celebrated his fourth birthday next month.
“The time leading up to that date is difficult for us all, so having such an amazing, exciting day out as a family was just what was needed,” said Lee.
“Saying ‘thank you’ doesn’t feel enough, but we’re so grateful to EACH and Teddy Bear Run for giving us such an amazing experience.”
Westley Waller, from Teddy Bear Run, said he was delighted to be able to help make the day possible.
“Un-Limited Motorsport said it was an absolute pleasure to host William and his family,” he said.
“Teddy Bear Run are thankful to them for gifting this experience, and we’re proud to work alongside EACH and Un-Limited Motorsport to make this amazing day possible. Our tagline is #Making Memories and we’ve certainly achieved that.”
