Supercars driver keeps eye on the prize and his heart at Peter Mac

On the eve of Bathurst 1000, supercars driver Thomas Randle says he was “very fortunate” to beat testicular cancer. Now his mission is to keep moving forward while also giving back.

With Bathurst 1000 just weeks away it would be understandable if supercars driver Thomas Randle put everything on hold to focus on winning the gruelling race around Mount Panorama.

That is not the 28-year-old champion’s style.

While Randle is certainly determined to have his name etched on to the Peter Brock Trophy as the winner of Australia’s most hotly contested supercars race, he is also committed to giving back.

So on Thursday Randle will make time to be at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to attend a special event to mark 20 years of the Victorian Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Service based there.

Supercars driver Thomas Randle raised $50,000 for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation by auctioning the bonnet of his car. Picture: Thomas Randle/Facebook

He knows only too well what it is to be diagnosed with cancer at a young age. At 23 Randle was told he had testicular cancer and he faced a mountain of a different kind.

Now in the clear, for the last three years he has been on the Victorian Youth Cancer Action Board (YCAB) that informs the AYA service.

Through his Tickford Racing Team, Randle has also raised $50,000 to help support the service that provides care for young people with cancer aged 15 to 25.

He says he was diagnosed at a time when he was trying to make it as a full-time driver.

“I went from trying to get a career to trying to stay alive,” Randle said. “So not only was I fortunate enough to beat the cancer, but now to be full-time in supercars I’m a pretty fortunate guy,” he said.

It is a description he uses a lot.

Thomas Randle says going through his cancer battle has made him hungrier to perform at his best. Picture: Instagram

“There’s so many young drivers trying to make it to supercars and so many have missed out, so to think that not only did I get through my health battle but on to the grid, I feel very fortunate,” he says.

“I’ve got some amazing support; I’m driving for an incredible team in Tickford Racing and backed by some global brands in Castrol, BP and Coca-Cola.”

Randle says going through his cancer battle has made him hungrier to perform at his best and puts much of his success down to how he was treated at the Peter Mac.

“Once I went to the Peter Mac I never looked back,” Randle said, adding that was why he wanted to be on the YCAB.

Thomas Randle is preparing for the Bathurst 1000 next month, but still finding time to support the Peter Mac’s AYA service for young people with cancer.

“I wanted in some small way to help the next young adult that goes through a cancer diagnosis because it’s quite a niche age.

“Between 18 and 25 you’re not a child but you’re not really fully an adult either. Most people are still living at home and still trying to work out what to do with their life, so to then be given a cancer diagnosis throws a spanner in the works.”

While his board tenure is now up, Randle says there will always be a connection.

“I never thought I’d be on that side of the fence, to be honest. (But) I remember when I was the one reaching out for help and now I’ve had young guys message me saying they got checked because of me or they’ve been diagnosed and they ask what do I do now?”

The fortunate guy has beaten cancer and says to win Bathurst in October would make him one of the lucky ones.