Drive happiness for sick kids with Starlight's Race for Smiles

Starlight Children’s Foundation is putting Supercar fans in the driver’s seat to power happiness for seriously ill children with Race for Smiles.

As the official charity partner for the Repco’s Bathurst 1000, Starlight is inviting donors to purchase a Virtual Driver’s Seat during the event to help raise $100,000 to bring happiness to over 2,500 sick kids across Australia.

Funds raised from Race for Smiles will help seriously ill children and their families access Starlight’s hospital programs, including Captain Starlight and the Starlight Express Rooms, which can be found in every major children’s hospital in Australia.

Eight year-old Ollie was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia just days before his fifth birthday and spent a gruelling 123 days in hospital for treatment.

Thankfully amid so much pain, the family discovered Captain Starlight and the Starlight Express Room, where Ollie, who is a keen motorsports fan, spent a lot of time honing his ‘driving skills’ on the PlayStation.

“Starlight was a true bright spot during our hospital visits. Whenever Ollie felt up to it, he enjoyed visiting the Starlight Express Room, where he could play and laugh at the Captains' jokes,” Mum Anna said.

The Repco Bathurst 1000, which takes place between 9-12 October 2025, is powered by Repco, a long-term supporting partner of Starlight Children’s Foundation.

Starlight National Partnerships Manager Matt Geraghty said: “We’ve been partnering with Repco since 2015 and over the last decade they have generously donated nearly $1 million to deliver happiness to sick kids.”

“We’re thrilled that this year has brought us to Bathurst to be the official charity partner of this iconic event and given us the opportunity to hold the Race for Smiles. We need to sell 5,000 virtual seats to reach our goal of helping over 2,500 sick kids, which Repco has very generously kick started with a $10,000 donation. So jump in the driver’s seat and help Starlight power happiness to sick kids."

Supercars Head of Commercial Craig Dontas welcomed Starlight as the official charity of this year’s Great Race.

“Supercars us proud to welcome Starlight Children’s Foundation as the official charity partner of the 2025 Repco Bathurst 1000,” Dontas said.

“The Race for Smiles initiative brings a powerful purpose to the event, giving fans a unique way to support seriously ill children while celebrating the country’s most prestigious motorsport event.

“The Bathurst 1000 has brought smiles and thrills to fans for over 60 years, and we are delighted to partner with Starlight and the Race for Smiles to continue delivering those smiles on and off the track.”

Race for Smiles virtual seats cost just $20 each and donors can buy as many as they choose. They will also have their name and their favourite race team logo featured on their virtual driver’s seat.

Repco Bathurst 1000 attendees can purchase a Starlight Pin at the event for a $20 donation that will help bring happiness to sick kids. They can also go in the draw to WIN an Ultimate Race Day Experience which includes a helicopter ride, seat in the Repco car for the Driver Parade, Supercars Behind the Scenes Tour and a $200 Repco merch pack.

Repco’s Executive General Manager – Marketing, Mitch Wiley said: “Repco is incredibly proud to celebrate a decade-long partnership with Starlight. Over the past 10 years, we’ve seen firsthand the impact of their work, and we’re honoured to have played a role in supporting their mission to ‘brighten the lives of seriously ill children’. This year marks a special milestone as Starlight will be the official Charity Partner at the Repco Bathurst 1000 for the first time — an exciting new chapter in our journey together.”

Driver Tony D’Alberto said “Everyone at the Shell V-Power Racing Team is excited to meet Ollie at this year’s Repco Bathurst 1000 and show our support for the Starlight Children’s Foundation’s Race for Smiles program.

“I’ve been lucky enough to work with Starlight in recent years and have seen how much of a difference their initiatives can make to those families going through the most difficult of times.

“We will be honoured to have Ollie visit our garage and see the Shell V-Power Mustangs up close. It will be a great day out at the most famous race on the Supercars calendar. I can’t wait to see everyone get behind this great cause and help legends like Ollie and his family.”

To buy your Virtual Drivers Seat at this year’s Repco Bathurst 1000 and power happiness for sick kids like Ollie visit raceforsmiles.org.au.

About Starlight Children's Foundation

Starlight Children's Foundation brightens the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children and young people by replacing pain, fear and stress with fun, joy and laughter. Since its establishment in 1988, Starlight has expanded to become the broadest reaching children’s charity in Australia and has been consistently ranked as one of Australia's most reputable children’s charities in Reptrak’s Charity Reputation Index. Starlight has also been recognised as a Great Place to Work over the years. There is a Starlight Express Room is every major children’s hospital around Australia. In 2024, Starlight created over 4.4 million positive Starlight experiences for children, teenagers and their families, and Captain Starlight brought fun and laughter to 115 hospitals and 125 remote communities. Starlight also granted 491 wishes in 2024, and almost 170,000 online sessions on interactive platform Planet Starlight www.starlight.org.au.