By Angie Sullivan
Chris Burling, a local Sutton resident and motorcar enthusiast, is fundraising to support Southlake Health’s Paediatric Oncology Satellite Clinic.
His initiative, Fast Laps for Brave Kids, hopes to raise awareness and money for the community satellite center, which delivers advanced and compassionate cancer care to thousands of children from birth to 18 years old.
Burling shared that he’s lost several loved ones to cancer and said, “I was at Peterborough Speedway, and met the MacInnes family and their very talented and awesome daughter Gracelynn. I was inspired by a crazy idea to form a team of young drivers to promote Fast Laps For Brave Kids at Motorama this year.”
Motorama is the biggest motorsports show in Canada and takes place from March 7 – 9 at the Toronto International Centre.
Gracelynn MacInnes, a 12 year old Lindsay resident, is lighting up the track at the Peterborough Speedway and recently won most improved driver in the Junior Late Model Division. She is representing and fundraising for Fast Laps for Brave Kids.
Her mother, Jessica MacInnes, said, “We love that we can help such a cause that has touched close friends of ours… it’s because of the POGO satellite program that they were able to stay close to home for some of her appointments instead of having to go to Toronto.”

Melanie Osmond, Associate Manager, Events & Community Partnerships for the Southlake Health Foundation, said in a letter to Burling, “You are helping families by reducing travel time, stress, loss of income, and separation from home and community—all while maintaining confidence that their children are receiving the best quality care. In short, community champions like you are helping keep families together and ensuring kids can spend more time being kids instead of patients.”
There are several ways for individuals and companies to help out, including corporate sponsorships. The Steven Sarasin Real Estate team is the first Gold Sponsor to step up.
Steven Sarasin said, “We chose to support Fast Laps for Brave Kids because we believe every child facing the unimaginable challenge of cancer deserves the best care, as close to home as possible. We are honored to play a small part in bringing comfort, hope, and strength to these brave young warriors and their families.”
Burling asks, “We can not do this without your kind support as we want these thousands of kids to be kids and not patients. so please help us help them and their families by donating to this very worthy cause.”
You can learn more on their Facebook page, Go Fund Me account, or by calling Chris Burling at 647-206-0840.
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