Porsche NZ supports Kiwi kids with Make-A-Wish

Theo had a chance to sit in Marco Giltrap’s Porsche GT3 Cup car at the Taupo Super400. Photos: Porsche NZ

As Porsche celebrates its 75th anniversary globally, the sports car brand in New Zealand is using the opportunity to support the Make-A-Wish charity.

Porsche New Zealand is committing to grant the wish of at least three sick Kiwi children and is inviting supporters to double the impact – by matching donations up to the total value of $15,000.

The brand also plans to support Make-A-Wish New Zealand in 2024 through local activities with New Zealand’s four Porsche Centres and the Porsche Club of New Zealand.

The brand used the first-ever New Zealand round of Porsche Carrera Cup Australia to help make a wish come true for seven-year-old Theo.

Porsche New Zealand invited Theo and his siblings Zoe and Hugh for a day of action-packed racing at the recent Taupo Super400. 

Marco Giltrap with Theo (7), Zoe (9), Hugh (5) and mother Lauren and their own Porsches.

Theo has the condition Plastic Bronchitis and Make-A-Wish New Zealand also helped fulfil his wish of an adrenaline-filled trip to Queenstown. 

In Taupo, Team Porsche New Zealand driver Marco Giltrap took the siblings for a behind-the-scenes tour of his GT3 Cup car and the trio cheered him on throughout his race.

Since being founded in 1980, Make-A-Wish has globally fulfilled the wishes of more than 550,000 children in 50 countries. 

In reference to the first Porsche, the 356, the brand has donated 1.8 million euros globally to fulfil the wishes of 356 children with critical illnesses. 

Marco showed the siblings around his racing car at the Taupo Super400.

Porsche NZ’s general manager, Greg Clarke, said ‘Driven by Dreams’ is a motivation the brand lives by. 

“The brand places a strong interest in supporting Make-A-Wish globally to make the dreams come true for critically ill youth and children. We share the same values in New Zealand and are looking forward to helping make wishes come true throughout 2024.”

Make-A-Wish NZ’s CEO, Alan Brame, said the charity was thrilled to have Porsche New Zealand on board, helping to grant the wishes of three Kiwi children battling critical illness. 

“Wishes have brought hope, joy and strength to thousands of children and their families in New Zealand. We’re so grateful to Porsche for their support, and we’re proud to be partnering with the team to make more dreams come true, starting off with our 2024 World Wish Month campaign.”