Cooper “art tyres” raise £600 for Forces
Cooper Tire Europe has raised more than £600 for Help for Heroes’ Tedworth House project, in an auction of “art tyres”. The manufacturer commissioned the series, effectively using Cooper Avon brand tyres as canvases, earlier this year and auctioned three of the designs for the charity. Tedworth House was selected as an extension of the company’s links with the Race2Recovery team, which aims to help injured soldiers compete in the Dakar Rally in 2013 on Cooper’s 4×4 rubber. Based in the garrison town of Tidworth, Tedworth House is a leading recovery centre for injured service personnel seeking to inspire residents and day visitors to lead full and independent lives.
Three tyres were auctioned online over the period of a week. The most popular tyre – an Avon Ice Touring ST winter tyre – was designed by artist Richard Rowan. Rowan used the tyre as a frame for a beautiful winter’s evening scene to create a mixed media piece of art. Attracting 11 bids, the tyre was eventually sold for £454.
Also available for auction was an Avon winter tyre transformed by Stefan Marner into an oversized engagement ring and a motorcycle tyre, onto which John Wilson painted a floral theme. Attracting several bids, the tyres eventually sold for £123 and £51 respectively.
Cooper Tire Europe Marketing Communications manager, Sarah McRoberts, said, “We’re delighted that the auction has raised a lot of money for such a great cause. Tedworth House is a fantastic facility and we’re very happy to be able to support them in this way.”
Co-founder of Race2Recovery, Captain Anthony Harris, spoke on behalf of the team: “Race2Recovery is very proud that through their official supporter and supplier, Cooper Tire, the unique tyre artworks have raised so much money for Help for Heroes and Tedworth House. These three fantastic tyres saw a bidding frenzy in the last couple of minutes on eBay, particularly the Richard Rowan winter landscape on the Avon Ice Touring ST winter tyre.
We are hugely grateful that Cooper Tire, together with the artists Richard Rowan, Stefan Marner and John Wilson, have helped us raise much needed funds for Help for Heroes who have directly helped so many of the team and continue to help other wounded servicemen and women.”
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