Grapevine: Burns Foundation launched next week

The Richard Burns Foundation intends to raise resources and awareness to help people whose lives are affected by illness and serious injuries.

Burns, the 2001 World Rally Champion, died last November after losing his two-year battle against a brain disease.

The foundation will launch at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next weekend and will support projects aimed at the care of people living with brain cancer and other conditions that can have a severe impact on their lives.

Burns' co-driver Robert Reid will be chief executive of the foundation, and Burn's former boss at Subaru, David Lapworth, will act as chairman.

Reid said:  "Richard was a great driver and winning the World Championship together was a dream come true.  After being diagnosed with a brain tumour, Richard fought his illness with great dignity and without complaint.

"This inspired us to launch the Richard Burns Foundation, dedicated to support people battling any form of illness or injury.  It is not just about medical care, but very much about inspiring people to extract the maximum out of life when faced with adversity."

The first charities to gain support from the Richard Burns Foundation will be the Youth Cancer Trust, a charity that provides holidays for young adults living with cancer.

"The efforts of the Youth Cancer Trust are a logical fit with the objectives of our Foundation, and this is hopefully the first of many activities we can support," said Lapworth.

The foundation will be present at the Goodwood Festival with a stand and a display of rally cars from the Richard Burns Collection. Money will be raised through collections, a charity raffle, a membership drive, the sale of merchandise and the auction of rides alongside WRC's top stars.

Many WRC teams and drivers will attend the festival and make an appearance at the stand.

Incorporated as a key element in the Richard Burns Foundation is the Michael Park Fund, named in honour of Burns' friend and fellow competitor, who was killed in a crash at the Wales Rally GB last year.

This fund has dedicated objectives focussed on motorsport safety, and will benefit from dedicated fund raising activities.

The foundation has applied for charitable status in the UK. Pending this application, it will raise funds for selected other charities in the UK and abroad that match the objectives of the foundation.

Reid added: "I am very happy that we have made the application for a charitable status, even if starting a foundation in memory of Richard and Michael, two of my closest friends, wasn't a something that I would have ever envisaged doing."

"I know that they would both be extremely proud to see their names being put to such good causes.  We invite anybody coming to Goodwood to visit our stand, or alternatively to find out more about our objectives and on our website."

Further info is available on www.richardburnsfoundation.com.