Official F1 Party raises £600,000 for charity
Wednesday night saw members of the Formula One community gather with guests and celebrities to raise £600,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. The party, held at London’s Natural History Museum, celebrated the official launch of the 2011 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix.
Santander was generously supporting the party for the fifth year running, to raise vital funds for the hospital’s new Heart and Lung Centre. Pirelli also kindly came on board this year as supporting sponsor. And as creative director of the party Tamara Ecclestone helped to plan the event from the early stages.
“The party not only raises much needed funds for a charity very dear to my heart but it is also great fun,” commented Ms Ecclestone. “It encapsulates the glamour and excitement of a Grand Prix beautifully.”
Three-time Brit Award nominee Alexandra Burke sang an exclusive set, and the charity’s patron Vernon Kay was joined at the celebrations by a host of famous names, including Oliver Phelps, Sara Cox, Tamsin Egerton, Tina Hobley, Karen Gillan, Nick Hewer, Formula One team principals Christian Horner and Tony Fernandes, and F1 drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Vitantonio Luizzi.
Hosted by BBC Sport’s F1 presenter Jake Humphrey, the event also saw Formula One group CEO Bernie Ecclestone and guests left stunned and amazed as the most talked about magician of his generation, Dynamo, performed visual magic.
‘“I am delighted to be able again to bring the F1 community together to help such a great cause,” commented Ecclestone. “Formula One and Great Ormond Street Hospital have forged a unique and successful relationship drawing support from across the F1 community to improve the lives of children being treated at the hospital.”
A significant part of the money raised at the party came via an exclusive auction, with lots including a behind-the-scenes tour of the Red Bull factory, and a private box at London’s Royal Albert Hall to see Adele, plus a rare platinum presentation disc.
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity is the official charity for the British Grand Prix, and each year many of the hospital’s patients are invited to enjoy the event from the paddock and to meet their F1 heroes.
Credit: Formula One Administration Ltd (www.formula1.com)
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