Sir Bobby Robson’s Breakthrough Online Charity Auction is officially underway in a bid to raise £1million and the latest item is a money-can’t-buy experience with Manchester United.
With over 30 bids already, Lot 216 ‘Manchester United VIP Package’ will see four guests enjoy a unique experience at the club including seeing the first team train at the Aon Training Complex and a behind the scenes tour of the facility, as well as a private tour of the Old Trafford stadium and museum, executive seats at a match, plus a meet and greet with Manchester United hosts and ex-players in attendance.
Manchester United join an impressive list of sporting stars, celebrities and leading businesses to donate ‘Money can’t buy’ / VIP experiences to the auction. These include Jose Mourinho, Andre Villas-Boas, Graeme Swann, Kieron Dyer, Bill Nighy, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden.
There are also a number of football clubs and associations, both in Europe and internationally, who have donated prizes to watch training sessions. These include England, Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona, LA Galaxy and Tottenham Hotspur.
Recently added is Lot 223, a VIP Bayern Munich Experience with Personal Presentation. Donated by FC Bayern Munich and Josep Guardiola, this once in a lifetime opportunity is for two people to attend training at FC Bayern Munich, then enjoy a meet and greet with the superstar players and receive a first team signed shirt presented by their manager ‘Pep’ Guardiola himself.
Pep, who played under Sir Bobby Robson in 1996/97 at FC Barcelona commented: “It was a pleasure to know the great Sir Bobby Robson, not only as a coach, but also as a person. Every day with him was a marvellous experience. It was a very difficult season, even though we won three trophies. Despite the problems of that year, he never lost his composure and always behaved like a gentleman. I am very happy to donate a special auction prize and I ask everyone around the world to get involved in Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Auction and go to the auction website”
More items will be announced every day as the auction continues, with latest items including a VIP experience with Newcastle United (Lot 250), a private bowling session with Graeme Swann ( Lot 35), a table in the Blue Riband on Ladies Day at Epsom (Lot 242) and a one-off experience to accompany Kieron Dyer as his personal guest to watch Real Madrid play Barcelona (Lot 114).
Mark Robson, Sir Bobby’s son, comments: “The online auction is a fantastic way to help us continue the work my father started and raise crucial funds for cancer charities. We are overwhelmed by the generous donation from FIFA. I urge people, clubs and companies to consider donating, however big or small, and bidding to help us reach our £1million target.”
Other amazing sports prizes include two tickets for a FC Barcelona home match at Camp Nou (Lot 204), access for two lucky teams to play at the famous Essex Cricket Ground (Lot 207), a fantastic chance for two to attend an England Senior Men’s football team training session ahead of an England home international fixture in 2014 (Lot 26) and tickets to three events that are not normally open to the public; the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala ceremony in Zurich (Lot no 103), the PFA awards in London (Lot 10) and VIP tickets to watch both sessions of the 2014 World Snooker Final at Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, with a backstage tour and full hospitality (Lot 183).
Gina Long, the auction founder, said “It is so exciting now that Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Online Charity Auction has started and the auction prizes are simply fantastic. The only way we have a hope to raise our £1,000,000 is if people get behind the auction and register to bid. Unlike our first online auction in 2011 there is an equal split from the 300 amazing prizes of sport and lifestyle, there is literally something for everyone!”
Proudly backed by headline supporter BT Sport and running from 10 – 27 October, Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough will raise crucial funds for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, Breakthrough Breast Cancer and cancer services within two Suffolk Hospitals.
The auction is now live and to view the catalogue of prizes and sign up to bid go to: http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/sir-bobbys-breakthrough-auction-and-ball?utm_source=sir-bobby&utm_medium=landing-page&utm_campaign=sir-bobby&utm_content=catlink.