She’s been a kind of Fairy Godmother of sorts, granting 600 bucket list wishes to terminally ill patients since 2015, but these days Viv James is living in peaceful Bannockburn where she’s now filling her own tank.

The Race4Life charity founder and general manager has devoted thousands of volunteer hours to what is now a hugely popular national organisation. Through the charity’s Track Days, first held in the Waikato while Viv was working at Auckland’s Mercy Hospice, it became clear that so many terminally ill patients had wishes.

She worked at the hospice from 2007 until 2014 where she and volunteer co-ordinator Julie Reid ran a successful programme, organising dying wishes on the side - something Julie had begun years prior.

They’d ask people what they most wanted to do in their last days then orchestrate a plan.

They brought in all manner of entertainers, tutors and pamper specialists to treat the hospice patients.

“We had a ukulele player come in and teach, an art tutor, massage, nails and make-up. It was a magic environment,” she says.

“People just wanted to get away from their mundane everyday existence and reconnect with humanity.”

Viv James at home at Bannockburn

One motorsport enthusiast patient sparked that first, high octane Waikato Track Day in 2008, which now hosts more than 80 patients with 400 volunteers assisting.

Patients ride in everything from helicopters and racing cars to luxurious cars and on motorcyles.

The original event in 2008 involved 17 patients, 23 race cars and the Roast Beef Company donating food - a far cry from the present day.

Viv worked with the Southland community to introduce a similar event, now held annually at Teretonga Raceway. 

The Race4Life Charitable Trust, formed in 2015, is the first and only organisation looking after the wishes of palliative care for those 19 years and over in New Zealand.

A world first study by Kiwi researcher Dr Alison Booth is investigating the impact of these wishes on patients, their families and communities in New Zealand. Viv and Dr Booth will present the findings at the Montreal Palliative Care Conference in Canada in September this year.

Viv says her drive came from witnessing the impact these wishes were having, and from the huge demand.

“I was forever witnessing the very best of humanity,” she says.

“You get to make a difference for a tiny part at the end of their life.

You move in, take in their story and emotionally attach yourself, but we also need to keep ourselves safe.”

It’s vital in this work to invest in the wellbeing of staff and volunteers.

“We each need to be aware of what fills emotional tanks so that we’re equipped to deal with the rawness and sadness, which is part of the deal.”

“Everyone’s different. I had to run, have regular massages. Others needed to head away for a week, talk it out or have a quiet walk in nature,” says Viv.

“It’s in giving that we receive and I’ve seen this play out so many times,” she says.

“Over the years we’ve had a number of requests from patients, to go to Queenstown. We have about 40 wonderful businesses there who support our wish service,” she says. 

Surprisingly, this generosity didn’t wane as the effects of the 2020 border closures and lockdowns started to bite. 

“They’ve just been amazing. I went to see the marketing manager at Fergburger to tell her we had five wishes one month and she said, “If you have five every day we would look after you’,” says Viv.

“They’ve all been fabulous – Shotover Jet, Skyline, Southern Discovery, Million Dollar Cruise, Real Journeys, Helicopter Line, Fear Factor, Thrillzone, Queenstown Taxis, Joe’s Garage, Lone Star, Flame and Grill, Gibbston Valley Winery, Mount Edward Wines, the Ice Arena, Patagonia. 

Helicopter Line Queenstown pilot Gerard Foster with patient Georgia (second from left), her twin sister Olivia (far left) and mum Robyn (right)

“Crowne Plaza staff even place a custom-made package on the bed for each patient. Garden Court, Hilton Queenstown and Coronet View Apartments…the list goes on,” she says.

In the midst of the 2020 lockdowns their generosity moved Viv to stop by each of these operators in their time of plight and drop them chocolates.

Ben, a pilot at The Helicopter Line, was out painting the fence and said, ‘This is the best thing that’s happened to me two weeks.”

“It’s just as beneficial to give as to receive. It’s a humanitarian trait that we all hold,” she says. In granting wishes to dying people, Viv saw “the currency of money taken over by the current of the heart”.

“How could you be privy to something more beautiful? My passion is driven by what I see in humanity. I just kept seeing the very best of humanity.”

It hasn’t been without its heartbreak and awkward moments though.

“One darling patient requested a rented suit to have a celebration with his daughters from two marriages. He wanted to be photographed with each one, knowing that he wouldn’t be there for their weddings,” says Viv. Unfortunately a bit of miscommunication between the two wives saw the man buried in the rented suit instead of his own.

Celebrities have been phenomenal with pop star Pink going the extra mile for one patient, creating a personalised get well video. Sadly, the young woman died weeks before the Pink concert she was being treated to in Auckland. Race4Life organised for her mother and a friend to take her place for a luxury weekend.

Rachel Hunter, Sir John Kirwan, Simon Mannering, the All Blacks, the Warriors, have all been magnificent, she says. Former All Blacks Captain Sam Kane sent personalised video messages to one patient who was too unwell to attend an All Black test.

“We’ve even had a weekend donated for an end of life party for 75 at $10,000 a night Eagle’s Nest Luxury Estate property in Northland.”

Many wish recipients have given all their lives and aren’t comfortable with receiving,” says Viv. “I point out to them that it’s their time to receive and they’re giving someone else a chance to give.”

“The ancient Christian message is true,” she says. “It’s in giving that we receive. People feel so good they want to do it again.”