A charity auction for the Richard Burns Foundation was held at the Rallye Sunseeker in Bournemouth, round one of the British Rally Championship last weekend, which raised more than £5000 for people suffering from brain illness and injury.
The Richard Burns Foundation - established in memory of the 2001 world rally champion - carries out a number of fundraising events throughout the year, including a dinner and auction after last weekend's Rallye Sunseeker.
During the dinner, the Richard Burns Trophy was also presented to rally winner David Bogie: the highest-placed Group N driver on the gravel event under the age of 25.
More than 120 people attended the dinner and auction, including Richard's co-driver and fellow world rally champion Robert Reid, touring car star Tom Chilton, rally driver and TV presenter Robbie Head and Richard's father Alex. The auction was run by Formula One television pundits Tony Jardine and Louise Goodman, while former Ford competitions manager Stuart Turner kept everybody entertained as the after-dinner speaker.
The lots under the hammer at the auction included a week's holiday in Barbados, generously donated by Rally Barbados. Tom Chilton gave away two hospitality tickets for a British Touring Car Championship race with a personal guided tour of the pits. Cyprus Tourism offered a week's accommodation in Cyprus, while there was also a signed pair of Subaru overalls belonging to 2000 and 2002 world rally champion and Richard Burns Foundation patron Marcus Gronholm up for grabs.
Over £5,000 was raised to keep helping people who are affected by brain cancer and other neurological disorders, giving them the means to face the future with confidence. Richard Burns died in 2005 following a prolonged struggle with brain cancer, exactly four years to the day after he won his world title.
Zoe Scott, Richard's long-term partner and now a trustee of the Richard Burns Foundation, commented: "I really want to thank everyone who came and contributed so generously. This is going to further our work in helping people suffering from neurological conditions similar to the one that claimed Richard's life: a cause that he became hugely passionate about. The auction was an extraordinary event: Tony Jardine and Louise Goodman were great auctioneers, and we're all really happy that we managed to raise this money at the same time as enjoying a fantastic and memorable evening."
The Richard Burns Foundation's next fundraising event will be at the Cornbury Park Rally Show in Oxfordshire from 14-15 May. The show, which used to be held at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, takes in a huge variety of both historic and modern rally cars, making a great weekend out for the entire family.
