Sir Jack Brabham Urges Kidney Patients to Live Life to Full

Media Release
Sir Jack Brabham Urges Kidney Patients to Live Life to Full
11 March 2009

Sir Jack Brabham O.B.E., Patron of Kidney Health Australia has urged kidney patients on dialysis not to allow the treatment to take charge of their lives and to live their life to the full by continuing the activities they enjoy.

In a statement issued to coincide with World Kidney Day tomorrow, Sir Jack who is 82 and on dialysis himself said coping with failed kidneys had been one of the toughest drives of his life, however, it was important to remain active and get as much out of every day as possible.

Recently Sir Jack taking part in a current affair television interview jumped into a go cart to race his grandson around the track for the cameras.
Sir Jack and Lady Margaret Brabham as patrons of Kidney Health Australia are assisting Kidney Health Australia create an awareness about Chronic Kidney Disease which affects in one in every seven Australians.

They have recently rekindled the famous Brabham REPCO partnership which saw REPCO build winning engines for the famous Brabham B19 in a national awareness campaign for Kidney Disease in Australia through 300 REPCO stores.

During his car racing days Sir Jack faced many challenges capturing his first F1 crown. On 12 December 1959, the legendary Australian literally pushed his Cooper-Climax T51 across the finishing line after it ran out of fuel, to finish fourth and become the first Australian F1 champion, beating Stirling Moss and Tony Brooks.

Half a century on, David Brabham his youngest son will mark the start of the 50th anniversary celebrations by conducting parade laps in his father's 1959 championship-winning Cooper-Climax prior to the 12- hour race on Saturday 21-22 March at Sebring.

"To be given the opportunity to drive my father's 1959 F1 championship-winning Cooper at the circuit where he captured the title by literally pushing the car across the line, is incredible," said David.

Jack Brabham is one of the most accomplished - and colourful - racing drivers in the history of motorsport. Now aged 82, he was the winner of three F1 world titles (in 1959, 1960 and 1966), the only driver to be crowned champion in a car of his own construction and the first F1 driver to be awarded a knighthood.

Media Enquiries:
Anne Wilson CEO Kidney Health Australia 613 9674 4301
Ron Smith Kidney Health Australia 613 9818 5700, Mobile: 0417 329 201

Image below: Sir Jack and Lady Margaret Brabham