OXFAM RENAULT F1 TEAM AUCTION RAISES OVER £18,000 FOR BRAZIL'S POOR
The fourth annual auction of unique Renault F1 Team items on behalf of Oxfam concluded recently with the event raising an amazing £18,545! The auction was organised by Oxfam's Bournemouth Distribution Centre, one of a number of ebay sales outlets established by the charity to develop specialist sales skills in a number of valued donations categories including sporting goods and sporting memorabilia. The auction was hosted by ebay and featured weekly batches of items throughout February.
The money raised from this auction will go to help fund Oxfam's project providing water for poor communities in North Eastern Brazil, where 11 million rural people do not have access to clean water. The lack of clean water causes illness and disease and is a huge factor in the high infant mortality rate in the region.
The 'One Million Cisterns' project aims to bring clean water to families in the region by helping communities to build concrete storage tanks that collect the torrential rain that falls during the short rainy season. Each cistern holds 16,000 litres and can supply a family of five with enough water for drinking, washing and cooking for the rest of the year. In addition to contributing around 3,000 cisterns itself, Oxfam is providing key funds to show that the model can be replicated and to help generate additional government and private investment to aid the building of the targeted one million cisterns. The project brings together a large number of regional and national Brazilian non-government organisations (NGO's), international NGO's and the Brazilian government for the first time.
The auction presented F1 aficionados with a feast of opportunities to own a piece of F1 history, with all items signed by Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella. The 'top' bids included.
· Giancarlo Fisichella race overalls worn during the 2005 season(£1,750).· Fernando Alonso signed overalls with certificate, used during raceand test conditions in the 2005 world championship-winning season (£2,900).· A wheel rim from the R23 racing car raced during the 2003 season(£1,220).· An exhaust signed by both Alonso and Fisichella ? an original part ofthe R202 race car and uses during the 2002 race season (£720).· An engine cover from the 2002 season (an original part of the R202car) signed by Alonso and Fisichella (£1,040).
Commented Michael Taylor, Oxfam's Marketing Manager for Valued Donations:"This is a fantastic total ? some 20% greater than our previous best total- that will enormously benefit the 'One Million Cisterns' project. Once again we are indebted in particular to the Renault F1 team for their generosity but also to ebay for their support in ensuring that the auction reached the greatest possible audience".
Collectors of F1 memorabilia should keep watching the Oxfam GB website for further auctions of original Renault F1 items. Details of these events will be posted in due course.
