Bid to win a fully-signed Arsenal home shirt and support GOSH at the same time

You may remember that earlier this year we raised funds and awareness for Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital (GOSH), by participating in the Cambridge Half Marathon, kindly supported by our shirt sponsor, Ridgeons. 

However, our commitment to GOSH is on-going, and we now have another opportunity for you to support them.

Bid to win a fully-signed Arsenal home shirt - the 2015 FA Cup winners - and support GOSH at the same time. The shirt is supplied with a certificate of authenticity.

You could be the proud owner of an amazing item; and as well as showing your support for Arsenal, you will be supporting a fantastic cause too. 

BID HERE

The shirt is perfect for any Arsenal fan and would look great framed. So, give yourself the chance to own a fantastic piece of Arsenal football memorabilia from their record breaking FA Cup season.

The person who makes the highest bid will win the shirt. Bidding starts at £50. Bids can be placed until 1st August 2015*. The winner will be informed shortly after the closing of the auction and the shirt will be shipped to you within 1-2 days (UK delivery addresses only) after payment has been received.

Why do we support GOSH?
If you have been wondering why we have been promoting the GOSH Charity and specifically the much needed funds required for Badger Ward so much, you should spare a few moments to look at the below video. Although this video was created in support of a British Gas initiative to help Badger Ward, it sums up everything you need to know.

 


Steve Rogan, our Managing Director's nephew suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and receives amazing care at GOSH Tom (Steve's nephew) and his mum are featured in the video.

Steve and his nephew are huge Arsenal supporters; hence the shirt is a perfect way to raise funds.

If you would like to make a donation, you can do so here…

*if we receive an exceptional offer, we reserve the right to end the auction.

What is Cystic Fibrosis?
Cystic Fibrosis is a life shortening, inherited disease, affecting over 10,000 people in the UK, for which there is currently no cure.

The lungs and digestive system become clogged with mucus, making it hard to breathe and digest food.

Each week, five babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis and two people die from this disease. There are many treatments now available to help those who suffer from Cystic Fibrosis, making it even more important to support hospitals such as Great Ormond Street where their Respiratory Ward and Team do such marvellous work in helping children who suffer from this horrible disease.

What is the link between West Ham, Arsenal, Cambridge and Ridgeons?!

Philip Willcocks / Shutterstock.com

So onwards to the Emirates and the day I have been dreading, almost as much as the half-marathon I am training for...

As many who read this blog will know, I am running the Cambridge half-marathon in March - kit sponsored by Ridgeons - to raise vital funds for Badger Ward at Great Ormond Street Hospital, and a couple of weeks ago, I ran a few times round West Ham's Upton Park - my team - as part of my training and to help promote the cause, but now I have to commit to my part of the deal: running round Arsenal's Emirates Stadium...

The cause has been selected because our Managing Director, Steve Rogan, is a keen supporter of Great Ormond Street Hospital, mainly because his nephew Tom suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and receives amazing care there. Steve and his nephew are huge Arsenal supporters and one of the promotional ideas was for me to run round the perimeter of the Emirates Stadium a few times in an Arsenal shirt. 

I agreed to this if, as a West Ham supporter, I could do the same at West Ham in a West Ham shirt. I did this on Thursday 12th Feb.(You can find out more here.) Sadly, there is no getting out of it now...

So this Saturday - 28th February - I am visiting North London to do the deed. Full evidence to follow next week...Wish me luck!

Please donate to the cause here. Your support is appreciated. 

The Emirates is one of the most successful sporting construction projects the UK has seen
The Emirates Stadium (known as Ashburton Grove prior to sponsorship) it has a capacity of approx. 60,000 and is currently the third-largest football stadium in England after Wembley and Old Trafford.

In 1997, Arsenal explored the possibility of relocating to a new stadium, having been denied planning permission by Islington Council to expand its home ground of Highbury. After considering various options, the club bought an industrial and waste disposal estate in Ashburton Grove in 2000. A year later they won the council's approval to build a stadium on the site; manager Arsène Wenger described this as the "biggest decision in Arsenal's history" since the board appointed Herbert Chapman.

Relocation began in 2002, but financial difficulties delayed work until actual construction of the stadium began in February 2004. 

Arsenal appointed Sir Robert McAlpine to carry out building work and the stadium was designed by HOK Sport (known as Populous since 2009), who were the architects for Stadium Australia and the redevelopment of Ascot Racecourse. Construction consultants Arcadis and engineering firm Buro Happold were also involved in the process.

The first phase of demolition was completed in March 2004 and two months later stand piling on the West, East and North stands had been concluded. Two bridges over the Northern City railway line connecting the stadium with Drayton Park were also built; these were completed in August 2004. The stadium topped out in August 2005 and external glazing, power and water tank installation was completed by December 2005. 

The first seat in the new stadium was ceremonially installed on 13 March 2006. DD GrassMaster was selected as the pitch installer with Hewitt Sportsturf contracted to design and construct the playing field.

The stadium has undergone a process of "Arsenalisation" since 2009 with the aim of restoring Arsenal's heritage and history.

Pinnacle Consulting and Ridgeons come together to support GOSH.

RUNNING TO KEEP THE BADGER WARD AT GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL RUNNING!

Pinnacle Consulting and Ridgeons are joining forces at the Saucony Cambridge Half Marathon on 8th March 2015 to raise vital funds for the Badger Ward at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. 

Chris Atkinson of Pinnacle Consulting is determined to complete the half marathon and not let the early morning training, aching limbs, and blisters stop him! Ridgeons are helping him look professional by sponsoring his running kit. 

Steve Rogan, Managing Director of Pinnacle Consulting, is a keen supporter of Great Ormond Street Hospital. His nephew Tom suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and receives amazing care there.

DONATE HERE

Chris Atkinson, who is responsible for Pinnacle’s marketing, hopes to draw attention to the cause by enduring just a small fraction of the pain and effort that is endured by the young people who suffer from Cystic Fibrosis and other debilitating respiratory illnesses. He also wants to emphasise how brave those suffering with the disease are and how much time and energy they and their families expend on a daily basis.  

Steve's nephew, Tom, receives incredible care at GOSH and spends much of his time in the Badger Ward. Currently, Badger Ward (the respiratory ward) has thirteen beds which are dedicated to the care of children and young people with complex respiratory conditions.

The Badger Ward has witnessed amazing changes in the care of these patients – many would not have survived 10 years ago; medical advancements have saved and improved the quality of many of their lives. Many children spend a significant number of months on the ward and come back repeatedly throughout their lives – for them it is crucial to have an up-to-date clinical environment. The Badger Ward, which was fine 10 years ago, is now in need of renovation.

More and more technology is being used to keep children like Tom alive - but this new equipment needs to be operated properly and given adequate storage space. Parents also need space to be able to sleep with their children; presently there is not enough room for them to be able to do this.

All monies raised will be going towards the funding of the new respiratory ward. To make a donation and to find out more about the event go to: www.pinnacleconsulting.co.uk 

Steve Rogan of Pinnacle Consulting said: “It is great to work together with a respected and fellow Cambridgeshire-based company like Ridgeons, to support this cause in our local half-marathon. All monies raised by Chris will be going towards the funding of the new respiratory ward and I know that I speak for all the parents and patients when I say a huge thank you for any funds raised.”


Ann Corbyn, Group HR Director at Ridgeons said: “‘we’re really pleased to be able to support Chris in this half marathon – as a local employer throughout the East of England, we take our role within the local community seriously – we have a charity committee made up of employees and they make the decisions about what types of events to support – we were all keen to help with this challenge as we are aware of the numbers of children within our region that benefit from the expertise at GOSH.”

Laura Savory, Senior Fundraising Manager at Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity commented on the partnership: “We’re so grateful to Pinnacle Consulting and Ridgeons for their generosity and support. The money raised will help to make a huge difference to young patients and families from across the UK who are treated in the Badger Ward.”

Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity raises money to help rebuild and refurbish Great Ormond Street Hospital, provide vital up-to-date equipment and fund research into better treatments for the children.  Find out more at www.gosh.org

Pinnacle Consulting is the one of the UK’s most respected sales and marketing recruitment agencies for manufacturers, distributors and merchants of building products. 01480 405225 www.pinnacleconsulting.co.uk

Ridgeons is one of the UK’s largest independent Timber and Builders Merchants with 26 locations across the East of England. www.ridgeons.co.uk