Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Online Charity Auction Goes Live as Bidding Kicks off for Money-Can’t-Buy Experiences

Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Online Charity Auction is officially underway in a bid to raise £1million for cancer services.

 

The latest item racked up 20 bids within hours of going online while others attracted thousands of pounds worth of offers as bidders go head to head to win money-can’t-buy experiences; one prize currently sits on an offer of over £7,000 with two weeks of bidding left to go.

 

Manchester United is the latest to join an impressive list of sporting stars, celebrities and leading businesses who have donated to the auction including Jose Mourinho, Andre Villas-Boas, Graeme Swann, Kieron Dyer, Bill Nighy, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden.

 

Latest items include an award winning catamaran all inclusive trip around the British Virgin Islands, lunch with British actor Bill Nighy, VIP tickets to Britain’s Got talent, a VIP Bayern Munich Experience with Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola, a table in the Blue Riband on Ladies Day at Ascot and a one-off experience to accompany Kieron Dyer as his personal guest to watch Real Madrid play Barcelona.

 

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.”

 

Gina Long, the auction founder, said “It is so exciting to launch the Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Online Charity Auction with this incredible item from FIFA. I encourage everyone to head to the website and register to bid as an item like this is bound to be a favourite with football fans! Not into football? Check out our other auction items, there is literally something for everyone!”

 

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.

 

Proudly backed by headline supporter BT Sport, Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough auction items for 2013 include tickets to the JLS goodbye concert, lunch with Bill Nighy, flights, accommodation and tickets to see the Real Madrid v Barcelona game in the Bernabeu Stadium as Kieron Dyer’s special guest, a VIP trip to next year’s F1 in Monaco by private ‘Eclipse’ jet, incredible sporting art from Ben Mosley, a week sailing on a luxury catamaran ‘Akasha’, a one-on-one personal bowling tuition with England cricketer Graeme Swann at Lords, Paul Gascoigne’s England shirt from a pre-Italia ‘90 training game, the opportunity to have a team play a six-a-side tournament at St. George’s Park in 2014 and a week-long stay at The Brewers House in Southwold donated by Adnams.

 

The auction is now live– to bid go to www.sirbobbysbreakthrough.comand click the ‘Regsiter to Bid’ button.

*Visit www.sirbobbysbreakthrough.com for full terms and conditions. Accommodation and flights not included.

 

A taster of some of the TOP Sports Auction Items so far!

 

1.       FIFA Ballon d’Or in Zurich

This is a very rare opportunity to attend the glamorous ceremony which acknowledges those at the top of their game. Two lucky guests will attend the FIFA Ballon d’Or in Zurich 2014 and be a part of football history. Who will be named best manager? Will Barcelona’s Lionel Messi claim best player for an unprecedented fifth year?!

2.       FC Barcelona home match

A once in a lifetime opportunity for two people to attend training at FC Barcelona, arguably one of the greatest teams ever, featuring Lionel Messi, already an all-time great player and the best footballer at work in the world now.

 

3.       Real Madrid vs. Barcelona with Kieron Dyer

One lucky football fan will win flights, accommodation and tickets to see the Real Madrid v Barcelona game in the Bernabeu Stadium as former England midfielder, Kieron Dyer’s special guest.

4.       Manchester United VIP Experience

 

An amazing chance to to attend a Manchester United game at Old Trafford during the 2013-2014 regular season, as well as watching the team train at the Aon Training Complex and a private tour of the facility. Any Man U fan’s dream!

 

5.       Walk in Mourinho’s shoes

A chance to own Chelsea Managers, Jose Mourinho’s signed, personalised and worn football boots. Includes photo of authenticity. Donated by Jose Mourinho

6.       A day at Derby County Football Club in the Toyota Suite

The day will include car parking, tour of the stadium, pre-match meal in the Toyota Suite and match tickets to view the game in the Directors Box for 2 people

 

7.       Table for 4 on our VIP package in the Champions Gallery on 1,000 Guineas day

 

8.       Essex County Cricket Club

Two lucky cricket teams will go head to head at the Essex County Cricket Ground. Pull together your friends, family or colleagues, don your whites and enjoy a friendly innings* on these professional grounds. Donated by Derek Bowden of Essex County Cricket

*Dates to be agreed by Essex County Cricket Grounds

9.       Gazza’s shirt

One lucky bidder will walk away with Paul Gascoigne’s pre-World Cup Italia ‘90s training game shirt. After a game against Tunisia, England hotshot, Gazza dug out his England 19 shirt from the bottom of his kit bag and gave it to Giacomo Malvermi, Sir Bobby’s Italia ’90 translator. Donated by Giacomo Malvermi

 

10.   Drive an Audi R8 Supercar for a day

Fancy cruising in a fabulous Audi R8?  Our friends at Ipswich Audi are offering the winning bidder the opportunity to spend a day driving this incredible car

11.   Spin bowl with Swanny

Join England professional cricketer Graeme Swann for a one-on-one personal bowling session at Lords Cricket Ground. Donated by Graeme Swann

12.   Shinji Kagawa Signed Football Boots

This is a your chance to own a pair of very special signed football boots by Shinji Kagawa and he’s personally presenting them to the winning bidder and a guest and a photo will capture the moment at Manchester United Carrington Road Training Ground. Dates to be agreed by Shinji Kagawa.

 

13.   A VIP F1 experience

A VIP trip to next year’s F1 Grand Prix in Monaco by private ‘Eclipse’ jet. Donated by CMX Event and Aeris Aviation

14.   Drive the incredible McLaren MP4-12C at a world famous race circuit.

A unique chance to drive the incredible McLaren 12C at a famous UK or European race circuit – an amazing experience not normally available to the public. McLaren are inviting one lucky winner to come along, with their guest, to learn from professional drivers and experience the thrill of driving the 200MPH McLaren MP4-12C.

 

Talk tactics with AVB

The opportunity for two people to visit the Tottenham Hotspur’s new training centre, to watch training and then have lunch with Andre Villas-Boas. Donated by Andre Villas-Boas

15.   VIPEngland Experience

A fantastic opportunity for two people to attend an England Senior Men’s football team training session ahead of an England home international fixture in 2014. You will also be presented with an England 2014 football shirt signed by members of the Senior England Men’s squad with full hospitality at The FA Club and FA club tickets. Donated by The Football Association

 

16.   MotoGP™ VIP tickets

This incredible package includes a pair of VIP tickets for the MotoGP™ in Valencia, Spain (8-10 November, 2013), return flights and transfers, half board accommodation, access to the race circuit viewing area, a meet and greet with the Monster Yamaha TECH3 riders and a garage and paddock tour. Donated by Stanley Black & Decker

17.   VIP tickets to World Snooker Final

Two VIP tickets to attend both sessions of the Final of the 2014 World Snooker Championship at The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield on Monday, 5 May 2014 which includes prime seats for thearena, a back stage tour and a VIP invitation to attend the post Final Champions Reception (tickets are not available to the public).

 

18.   Ultimate NCFC experience

You and a guest have a chance to enjoy a tailor-made VIP home match experience. This prize includes a stadium tour, delicious meal in the Directors Lounge, plus tailor made extras – for example, if you would like to bring a child with you Norwich City FC will look at potentially making them mascot for the day. Donated by Norwich City FC.

19.   Equestrian Training with Mary King

A fantastic full day experience for two people, with one of Britain’s most prolific gold medallist equestrians , with a profile spanning over 30 years, including 2 World Championship Gold medals, Silver and Bronze Olympic medals. Mary and team GB won Silver at London 2012 in a beautiful performance.

 

Playing Tag With Cheryl Cole And Jennifer Aniston

Do you know, I’m almost embarrassed to post this, but it’ll be interesting – promise, even if it’s just for the top 10 further down.

Years of writing news stories and articles. Flogging over a hot keyboard to gain journalism qualifications. It means absolutely sweet FA if no one reads the results of the writer’s Herculean labours.

Journalism, as my colleague Holly Thomas covered recently, is an over-subscribed business. Writing seems to be something a lot of people think they can do.

Let me tell you guys, ranting over Twitter while misspelling everything ain’t journalism. But everyone’s out there, blogging, tweeting, Facebooking (or whatever today’s adjective for being on Facebook is) and rambling on for 18 pages – FRONT AND BACK!

Must be the glamour that attracts people to writing. The joys of getting rained on, on a bitterly frozen Arctic day covering an escaped prisoner from Feltham Young Offenders, waiting for the police to acknowledge your press card while reluctant witnesses hurtle off down the street pursued by journos and TV crew.

Yeah, I’ve done that, and covered a few sporting occasions, which can be another joy. Coaxing comments out of monosyllabic players and managers after they’ve just been on the receiving end of a brutal defeat.

On the bright side, I haven’t yet been clouted. Surprisingly, neither has my friend Emma who works in local news and sometimes has the unenviable task of speaking to grieving family members in search of a story.

As well as newspapers and magazines, I also write web copy for a sports website. Ah, the fun of being called a disgrace to journalism and a London-based hack on the internet. Admittedly, I’ll concede the second point.

Trouble is, that sporting web copy? Often live and very pressured. The moment you press the button, you’re out in the ether. Doesn’t matter if you spot it immediately and correct it, umpteen people around the world have seen it and already – rightly – commented on what a twat you are.

Now you may say that this is contradictory. How can I complain about journalists not being noticed and then whine about it when they are?

Fair point.

Truth is, from a purely personal point of view, I qualified in News Writing, Media Law and Shorthand among others. So while sport has been kind to me in the respect that I’ve been able to keep most of the roof over my head and occasionally eat, I also like to think I have a wider range to offer.

And that’s what Frost does. As a writer and editor, I have a lovely medium to rattle on about pretty much anything for your enjoyment and edification.  Which brings me to the point of this article 13 paragraphs on.

While we have thousands of regular readers, getting brand new, shiny people to pop in to Frost and read us, and hopefully stay to dip in to our box of delights is all about the tags. Those little words and hooks that grab your attention – even if you didn’t want it to. Sorry, but that’s what we do. Engage.

So with that in mind, Google’s most searched terms of 2010 were apparently, in order:

1. chatroulette

2. ipad

3. justin bieber

4. nicki minaj

5. friv

6. myxer

7. katy perry

8. twitter

9. gamezer

10. facebook.

Which is worrying, because as a duffer, I haven’t heard of some of those.

And falling faster than – oh, I don’t know, something really heavy and inert, say a cartoon safe – in 2010, was:

1. swine flu

2. wamu

3. new moon

4. mininova

5. susan boyle

6. slumdog millionaire

7. circuit city

8. myspace layouts

9. michael jackson

10. national city bank.

So, theoretically, if I add all those top 10 most popular terms into an article and tag them myself, (hey, look at that! I just did!)  It should garner some attention.

And then looking into my crystal ball for 2011… Actually, why bother? If I just throw in say, X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Doctor Who, Cheryl Cole, Lady Gaga, Brighton Rock, Manchester United, Barcelona, Jose Mourinho, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, oh, and romcom, I think that’ll do it.

Welcome to Frost. Thank you for stopping by. We love you and please feel free to look around. And come back and tell your friends!

Or you can just wait for them to stumble on the same set of tags and blog/tweet/facebook each other about us. I’m easy either way.