Intrepid youngster, 10, gets ride with champ

Racing champ Paul Radisich gave Sam Small, 10, the ride of a lifetime at the weekend when he took him for a spin on the track at Teretonga.

Radisich, a two-time World Touring Car champion took Sam, who suffers adult acute myeloid leukemia, for a quiet ride around the track.

Befriended by NZ V8s grid girl Lynee Aarsen, herself a former child cancer patient, Sam spent time collecting posters and autographs of a number of drivers at the race circuit.

Meanwhile, Ryan Gilder, 13, of Invercargill, also received a trip around the track with the Richardson V8 Motorsport team.

Ryan, who has recently had an organ transplant, was taken around the track on Saturday.

Jayden Kollac, 10, of Tuatapere, who is a Cure Kids ambassador, was also at the track.

Jayden, who suffers from colon disease, was at the track with driver Chris Adams, who is racing this season for Cure Kids raising money by selling hot laps and raising awareness of the charity.