I am Ben Gerhardt, raising funds to support my participation in the upcoming STEM Racing national competition in Melbourne from 20–22 March. Donations help cover travel, accommodation, and the specialised materials and deliverables required to compete.

STEM Racing is the world’s largest STEM program, with more than two million students participating globally. The competition challenges students to design, engineer, manufacture, and race miniature Formula 1–style cars while presenting the technical and project work behind them.

Preparing for this competition involves months of work across engineering design, CAD modelling, aerodynamics, manufacturing, and documentation. It also involves developing communication and presentation skills to explain technical decisions clearly and professionally.

Beyond the competition itself, the experience provides valuable exposure to real-world engineering processes and helps build skills in problem-solving, innovation, and project development. It is an opportunity to learn how engineering ideas move from concept to a finished, competitive product.

Support from this fundraiser will help make it possible to travel to Melbourne, present the project professionally, and compete at the national level. Any contribution directly supports the opportunity to take part in this internationally recognised STEM program and continue developing practical engineering experience.