Race for Meals is an international initiative led by professional racing driver Ferdinand Habsburg in support of Mary’s Meals, a global charity providing nutritious school meals to more than 3 million children in some of the world’s poorest communities.
The campaign harnesses competitive motorsports in the fight against global hunger, using a simple but effective idea: a call to sponsor every lap completed by Ferdinand for €22, $25.20 USD, or £19.15. Each single donation covers the cost of providing a child with Mary’s Meals for an entire school year.
The initiative returns following last year’s success, when donors from 25 countries fuelled Ferdinand’s mission, helping provide meals for 1,760 children.
The next race will take place on June 13–14, 2026, at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans event (France), with the goal of surpassing the 385 laps completed in the 2025 edition.
Ferdinand Habsburg is an Austrian racing driver and winner of the European Le Mans Series in 2021. He is the great-grandson of Emperor Charles I of Austria and is a long-time supporter of Mary’s Meals.
Q&A with Ferdinand Habsburg
Q: You’re racing for Mary’s Meals. What drives your commitment to this cause?
I really embrace the vision of Mary’s Meals and I have seen the fruits of this work. I want to help wherever I can, and sports can play a role in bringing hope to the world.
Q: Thanks to your supporters, 1,760 children were provided with school meals. What is your goal for Le Mans 2026?
My goal this year is to reach even more children and enable three schools to benefit from the school feeding programme, thanks to Race for Meals.
I want to ensure that these children no longer have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.
I know how much our support means for them, and I’m deeply committed to standing by their side.
Q: You recently visited Malawi and saw the impact of Mary’s Meals firsthand. What was the most significant aspect of that experience?
Feeling the children’s joy of having a full belly and the chance to learn. I realised the freedom that Mary’s Meals brings to millions of children’s lives.
I sat with four-year-olds in a class, where we ate together on the floor, and I saw my nephew in their eyes as they played. All I could think about was that it costs 22 euros (as much as my breakfast this morning), for this young, playful boy to get food in this place for a whole school year!
Q: When you know that every lap completed results in more school meals for children, does that give you added motivation on the track?
I love racing, I love doing it for the sport; pushing the car is such a rewarding experience. But knowing that it also means someone else can experience the joy of energy and food, makes it a far greater pleasure.
Q: Young people are the future. How can they get involved with Mary’s Meals?
Find your local Mary’s Meals office and start your own fundraising project. For example, Mary’s Meals Youth in Austria is running a project every month; it can be a run, selling cakes, or anything that motivates others to participate in a cause that really makes a difference.
Most of all, I recommend giving what you can every month. Mary’s Meals serves nutritious meals to over 3 million children, creating an energetic and educated new generation. The security of regular gifts allows Mary’s Meals to share that special promise with many more children. This is what really makes an impact.