Tecala employees, customers and industry partners gathered in September at the Team Lopez Foundation Inaugural Track Day and Memorial to remember former Tecala company director, friend and mentor, Alex Lopez, who we sadly lost to pancreatic cancer in 2019.
One of Alex’s wishes had been for a charitable foundation called the Team Lopez Foundation to be established in Australia to fund research into pancreatic cancer and to support families and individuals in their journey dealing with the disease.
A memorial service to remember Alex and salute his own charitable work, was held at Sydney Motorsport Park, the inaugural Team Lopez Foundation Motorsport Day. In conjunction with the service, the Team Lopez Foundation organised a race day for members of the Tecala Team, One Affiniti Team, and a group of family, friends and industry colleagues to support raising funds for the foundation.
“Although 2020 has a been a tough year for Australians and the current pandemic has affected all of our lives, families with loved ones suffering from pancreatic cancer have additional and complex needs and challenges…”
“…Alex was passionate about cars and going fast so raising funds by racing cars in support of a charitable foundation setting out on such a worthy endeavour seemed a fitting tribute to our friend and his family. The track day gave everyone an opportunity to take to the racetrack whether they were first-timers or experienced rev heads, and it was incredible to see over $40,000 raised to support the foundation’s endeavours.” says Pieter DeGunst, Managing Director, Tecala.
“It was an absolute privilege to work with Alex, we miss him dearly, and we still hear his advice come to us on a regular basis. The good we can find from this is the privilege to support the valuable work of the Team Lopez Foundation and we look forward to many more track race days and raising valuable funds in the years ahead.” added Sherran Evans, GM of Finance & Business Operations at Tecala and a long-time colleague of Alex’s.
In an article on Australian Reseller News in 2019, Alex’s wife, Mary-Ann Lopez “described her husband as her best friend, calling him an “honourable, loyal and happy-go-lucky” who was well-loved by those around him.”
Mary-Ann said, “Alex had an inspirational zest for life and although he is no longer in our lives to share, he is always in our hearts radiating an eternal light of life. I am sure that he would have loved to participate in Team Lopez’s inaugural track day and thrilled to see the funds raised to support families through pancreatic cancer, and is now watching from pole position at turn one.”
This year, it is estimated that 3,300 Australians will die from pancreatic cancer, the fifth most common cause of cancer death. We hope to support those and their families battling this disease long into the future through the Team Lopez Foundation initiatives.
