Member Article

North East football legend’s custom designer watch to be raffled for charity

A highly desirable, custom-made designer watch which once belonged to Newcastle United footballing legend, Alan Shearer, is up for grabs as the star prize in an online charity raffle.

In a unique partnership between The Rebound Therapy Centre, the Alan Shearer Foundation and social media advertising agency, Epic Social, the limited-edition Hublot King Power Unico Special Edition - Alan Shearer watch is to be raffled-off to one lucky winner in order to raise funds and awareness for the two charities.

Rumoured to be worth a staggering £30,000, the striking watch features a bespoke England flag patterned strap, multi-layered chronographs and is one of only two of its kind in the world. Its counterpart is still owned and worn by Alan Shearer today.

The watch was one of the prize lots donated by the Swiss Haute Horology brand for the fifth annual Alan Shearer Foundation Ball in February. Created especially for the occasion, the watch sparked a bidding war during the live auction which was eventually won by Rob Armstrong, the Newcastle entrepreneur behind LA Taxis and MTrec Recruitment.

“I was lucky enough to win this watch at the Alan Shearer Foundation Ball and the thought came to mind to raise money for both mine and Alan’s Foundations,” Rob said.

“My need for another watch is nowhere near the need for equipment at these charities, so it was an easy decision. I hope this captures the imagination of everyone to buy a ticket and have the chance to own something very special.”

In order to promote the competition to a widespread audience, Rob enlisted the help of social media advertising specialist, Epic Social.

Chester-le-Street-based Epic Social creates premium quality, purpose-designed social media content for brands and organisations and uses highly targeted social media advertising in order to maximise engagement and exposure to specific demographics.

“We were delighted to be approached by Rob to help support the charity raffle for the Hublot watch,” said Ben Maughan, managing director at Epic Social.

“Following a half-day video shoot with Rob and Alan Shearer at Close House, we compiled the footage into a number of short videos to push out via social media as part of a targeted campaign.

“Our ambition is to send the content viral to help hit our £125,000 target, which will benefit both of these amazing charities.”

Founded in early 2018, the Rob Armstrong Rebound Therapy Centre provides care and education for children living with severe learning disabilities. Based at Hadrian School in Benwell, Newcastle, the Centre provides a range of educational and therapeutic opportunities for children aged two to eleven years old using trampolines to promote fitness and wellbeing and communication skills.

The Alan Shearer Foundation was established in 2012 to provide direct support to the Alan Shearer Centre in Newcastle which provides specialist respite, residential and social care services to people living with complex disabilities and acute sensory impairments. The annual Alan Shearer Foundation Ball is hugely popular and all of the proceeds go back into the Centre.

The raffle is open to entries now and the winner will be drawn by Alan Shearer before England’s first game at the World Cup in Russia on Monday 18 June 2018.

Tickets cost £50.00 and are purchasable via Just Giving. For more information, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hublotgiveaway.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Fusion PR .