Autosport International raises funds for Make-A-Wish

AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL RAISES FUNDS TO MAKE WISHES COME TRUE

Europe's largest motorsport show, Autosport International, has helped raise almost £4,000 for its 2010 nominated charity Make-A-Wish Foundation(R) UK, which grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses.

Over 85,000 visitors attended Autosport International, which took place at the NEC in Birmingham on 14-17 January 2010. Current Formula One World Champion and Patron of Make-A-Wish Jenson Button was in attendance, signing autographs for fans along with BBC F1 commentator Martin Brundle and motorsport legend Sir Stirling Moss.

Autosport International commissioned innovative artist Ian Cook, who developed an original piece of artwork for the charity. The picture, created with remote control cars and Dunlop tyres dipped in paint, depicted nine championship-winning cars from the 2009 season, including the Brawn GP 001 driven by Button, Sebastien Loeb's Citroen World Rally Championship winner and the BMW of British Touring Car Champion Colin Turkington.

Throughout the event, motorsport personalities signed the artwork, including Jenson Button, Martin Brundle, David Brabham, Allan McNish, Colin Turkington, Jason Plato, Matt Neal and Tiff Needell, to name but a few. The painting, auctioned on the Coys stand, raised an outstanding £2,150 for the charity, which combined with the on-stand donations, took the Make-A-Wish funding to almost £4,000 over the weekend.

"The show was a huge success," said Chief Executive of Make-A-Wish, Neil Jones. "The stand attracted a lot of positive interest, with visitors making direct debit pledges in addition to the donations we received at the show. Thank you to Autosport International and its visitors, as well as Ian Cook, for helping us raise this money, which will go towards making the wishes of many special young people come true."

Autosport International Show Director, Ian France, said: "Make-A-Wish is an incredible charity, and we're thrilled to have been able to raise this money, as well as increase awareness of the outstanding work that it does."

-source: autosport-international