What is the Targa Life Challenge?

It is a project put together by Ron Scanlan and Victor Yuen. The aim and purpose is to raise money for the Cancer Society as well as tell a story. It is about overcoming life’s challenges and living life to the fullest no matter what cards we have been dealt.

Why are we doing it?

Cancer. One in three New Zealanders are affected by cancer and in the year 2000 cancer accounted for approximately 29% of deaths in New Zealand. Approximately 7,500 die from cancer each year and these deaths come from the 16,000 people that develop cancer every year. Many know the devastation cancer can bring and the effect it has on the ones we love.
What’s worse than the current situation of cancer is the predicted future. The number of people that develop cancer is expected to increase to 22,000 by 2011 (Gavin and Marshall 2001) and the number of annual deaths to 9000 by 2012 (Ministry of Health 2002).
In 2005, Ron Scanlan became part of those statistics and knows first hand what effect Cancer has on life. We recognise that the fight against cancer can only continue with the ongoing support of the community and one particular organization; the Cancer Society.

What are we doing?

Realising that we could make a difference, the path then became clear. We would raise $10,000 for the Cancer Society, showing that with the right attitude anything is possible.
We will be racing in the Dunlop Targa NZ this year. The Targa covers over 900 kilometers of closed road racing stages and over 1700 kilometres of public road ‘touring stages’ from the 25th to the 31st of October.
We will be racing in a proven 1992 Lancer Evolution RS, built to exacting specifications by Ron himself. You can read more about this car in the ‘Profile’ section of this website.
To raise funds for the Cancer Society, we have set up a website – www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/TargaLifeChallenge/ to allow supporters to donate directly to the Cancer Society. We are raising awareness for the Cancer Society through the profile of the Targa Life Challenge and its promotion via word of mouth and media mediums.