CHARITY DAY
Day of Champions marks 30th anniversary with bumper total
The annual Day of Champions charity event at the Silverstone GP celebrated its 30th anniversary last Thursday by raising more than £290,000 for Two Wheels For Life. Thousands of fans turned out to bid on exclusive merchandise, race-worn riding gear and the chance to bag a selfie with current and former MotoGP stars. Away from the auction, which took place from 3-8pm and raised £90,300 alone, fans were also treated to appearances from British Superbike riders, live music and the chance to pay for parade laps of the circuit, led by father and son racing duo Niall and Taylor Mackenzie. “I’ve been waiting 20 years for that photograph and I thought I was going to burst into tears,” said Rose Carte, from Rutland after bagging a selfie with Valentino Rossi for £3700. Elsewhere, a signed replica Valentino Rossi AGV Pista GP-R helmet went for £7100, as well as £4800 for a place at Colin Edwards’ Texas Tornado Boot Camp. Other memorabilia included signed boots and gloves, as well as crash-damaged race bike fairings.
Speaking about the sizable bids, Petronas Yamaha SRT rider Fabio Quartararo said: “It’s really impressive, but it’s for a really good cause so it’s really good that this event is here at Silverstone.”
Reaching 20 million people across Africa, the money raised by the charity is used in The Gambia, Malawi, Liberia, Lesotho and 25 states of Nigeria, helping to provide reliable transport systems to enable healthcare to reach rural communities.
Still known as Riders For Health in the nations in which it operates, the charity’s co-founder, Andrea Coleman, told MCN: “I love the fact that the public get to be so close to the riders and get to speak to them. The riders love it and get to feel really connected to the British fans.”
While former grand prix racing star and charity stalwart Randy Mamola added: “Valentino has been in this paddock for 23 years and we’ve been around for seven years longer! To see that hunger and wanting for MotoGP still there, it’s great.”
‘The riders love it and feel really connected’ CO-FOUNDER ANDREA COLEMAN