Universal Tyres & Spares attend Radar charity event in UK

Following up the May launch of the Singapore tyre brand Radar’s “Mobilizing Hope” breast cancer campaign, its UK distributor joined dealers, president of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation Myra Biblowit and top breast cancer research doctors at an exclusive gallery showing of Evelyn Lauder’s photographs. Universal Tyres and Spares director Michael Jackson said: “The event was very enjoyable and it was great for us and the dealers to see how the money raised is being used in research and development, the doctors explained the progress they are making and improving communication and preventing Breast Cancer before it’s too late.“ The event was hosted by Elizabeth Hurley and Larry Gagosian, the gallery owner. Following the activities at the gallery the distributor, dealers and guests attended a dinner at Massimo restaurant where the chef patron Massimo Riccioli had created a fantastic “anti-cancer” menu.

Radar is a product of tyre designer and marketer Omni United, and the Singapore company has chosen to tie the fast-growing brand to the Mobilizing Hope partnership with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, one of the leading non-for profit organisations funding the most innovative research on prevention and cure of breast cancer worldwide. Radar has committed a minimum annual donation of $250,000 to the BCRF, with the goal of raising $1 million over the next 12 months.

Omni will donate $1 per each set of four Radar tyres purchased by its distributors and tyre wholesalers. Dealers participate and contribute to this fundraising initiative by promoting and selling Radar tyres, showing this benefit to customers. Other ways to participate include establishing matching donation programs; speaking to customers about Mobilizing Hope and the goals of the campaign; displaying and distributing Mobilizing Hope marketing materials (such as brochures, posters) in their retail premises; and promoting the social media of Radar and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

“We at Universal have been supportive of this partnership from the very beginning”, said Jackson. “What Radar is doing is a very different type of initiative to what other companies in the booming premium budget segment of the business are doing, and it has a social huge impact. We like the combination of a typically perceived very male industry supporting a women’s cause.”

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation was founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder, the NY based philanthropist and one of the top executives at her family’s cosmetics business, Estee Lauder.  BCRF currently funds the research of 172 scientists across the globe. Five of those research teams are based in the in the UK, including teams at the prestigious Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh Universities as well as at the Institute of Cancer Research UK and at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.  British model and actress Elizabeth Hurley is a big supporter and ambassador of the BCRF.

“The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is thrilled that Radar chose to join us in our fight against breast cancer and to support our important work,” said Evelyn Lauder, Founder and Chairman of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 

“Radar’s “Mobilizing Hope” campaign will not only help spread our message globally, but it has the potential to reach and impact men as well,” said Myra Biblowit.  “This disease touches mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, and friends.  Radar’s contributions will help fund innovative research that will advance the fight against breast cancer worldwide.”

“Our partnership with the BCRF to contribute to fund the research they sponsor has been very received by all our distribution partners globally, and we are delighted with the efforts that Universal is putting into giving visibility to this initiative in the UK”, said GS Sareen, president and CEO of Omni. “We chose to work with a research driven organization like the BCRF because as a company, we believe that research leads to innovation and innovation leads to change. Since its inception the BCRF has funded research that has resulted in major advances in finding a cure for breast cancer, and those achievements are enjoyed by the global community.”

Following the rapid growth of the brand in the US market, Universal started to exclusively distribute Radar in the UK market last year, setting up a dealer’s network since January 2011, primarily in London and the South of England, but with plans to expand nationwide. Universal is currently welcoming new dealers into its network to carry the Radar brand.

The Radar range caters for passenger car, van and 4×4 vehicles, with new patterns and sizes being added on a monthly basis. In addition to Radar’s core products, which include the Dimax R8 and the RPX800 UHP tyre ranges, the programme will include all of Radar’s new ranges, such as the Centigrade RWX1, Radar’s first winter tyre, the Verenti R6 UHP range and the Renegade R5 mud terrain range, introduced at the end March at Tyrexpo Asia. All the tyres will have distinct labelling identifying the product as supportive of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Related news:

• Radar to launch tyre with pink sidewalls
• Omni introduces Radar Verenti R6 tyre to US market
• “Pink Ribbon” Tyres: Radar’s Mobilizing Hope launches in UK
• Omni United announces Breast Cancer Research support