30/05/2008
NEWS STORY
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A1 Team Great Britain continues its fundraising efforts for Demelza Hospice Care for Children with an online auction of memorabilia from the 2008 A1GP Brands Hatch race to run from Friday 30 May for one week.
A1 Team Great Britain will this week begin a one-week charity auction of memorabilia from the 2008 A1GP Brands Hatch race, the proceeds of which will go to Demelza Hospice Care for Children, the team's nominated charity. The items from the 2007/08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport season finale will be available to bid for on auction site eBay from tomorrow, Friday 30 May at 12 noon for one week. Bidding will close on Friday 6 June at 12 noon.
There will be two lots up for grabs in the auction, with a minimum bid of £150 per item. The first item is the 2008 A1GP Brands Hatch winner's podium backdrop and the second the race-suit worn by Robbie Kerr when he drove the British A1GP car to victory in the Sprint race on Sunday 4 May. Both items will be signed by GBR race winner Robbie Kerr and dedicated to the bidder if requested. To search for the items, go to ebay.co.uk and enter 'A1GP Brands Hatch race memorabilia' into the search box.
The online auction follows on from GBR's previous efforts to raise funds and awareness for Demelza. At the Brands Hatch races in the last two seasons the team has hosted the Flying Finale Ball in conjunction with the charity. At the 2008 event, Demelza raised £15,000 through an auction held during this fundraising evening. Prior to the teams' home race, GBR drivers Kerr and Oliver Jarvis visited the hospice in Kent to launch the charity's 10th birthday fundraising initiative, a cardboard Demelza clown to be filled with ten one-pound coins – each of the A1GP teams supported the cause by completing one of these Demelza clowns over the Brands Hatch race weekend.
Demelza is a charity providing hospice care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families across Kent, East Sussex and South London. Services include hospice at home care, hospice care, planned short breaks, emergency respite, therapies, symptom control, end of life care and bereavement support. The charity has two centres; Demelza House, an eight-bedded hospice in Sittingbourne, Kent and Demelza- James, a hospice at home service operating in East Sussex, West Kent and South London. However, the charity is in the process of constructing a third, much-needed, centre in Eltham, South London.
Katie Clements, Team Principal: "I would really urge people to visit eBay over the next week and bid for these money-can't-buy items and raise much needed funds for Demelza. One lucky bidder will get the backdrop of the Brands Hatch winner's podium, with another winning Robbie's race-suit from race day - I think you can still smell the champagne! Demelza is a fantastic charity - we've been involved for three years now and I am delighted that we can help their fundraising efforts with activities like this."