TSUNAMI RELIEF CARDIFF STILL BRINGING IN THE CASH

While the 60,000+ fans who attended the now world renowned event helped to push the money raised through the £1m barrier, the efforts of the children from Ysgol Erw’r Delyn Special School in Penarth and youth trainees from Careers Wales and volunteers from the Stadium’s own community art project helped to add a further £20,000+ to the final tally through the post-event, online auction.

The portraits of the many artists who took part, including Eric Clapton, Lulu, Charlotte Church, Katherine Jenkins, Kelly Jones and the Manic Street Preachers, were signed by the stars on the night and eventually raised £21,870 in the auction. All the work was conducted as part of the highly praised and successful Millennium Stadium Community Art Project, which is co-ordinated and run by Jon & Sally Phillips of Pippin’s Designs Limited.

A further £6,000 was raised through the sale of Paul Sergeant’s famous ‘rainbow’ jumper, which became synonymous with the spirit of the event. It means that, with HM Treasury ensuring the charity status of the event, a total of £1,523,137 has so far been raised for the victims of the Boxing Day tsunami in south-east Asia through the Millennium Stadium concert and associated fundraising efforts.

“It was an amazing feat for these children and young people to turn around the paintings in such a short time. To have raised almost £28,000 through the auction of these paintings and memorabilia is fantastic news and the latest piece in the jigsaw of what was one of the most wonderful events in which I have ever been involved,” said Sergeant. “None of this would have been possible without valuable sponsorship.” The project was funded by Pippin’s Designs Ltd, Careers Wales and Warburtons. Warburtons’s contributions were then match funded by Arts and Business, the UK charity dedicated to encouraging new and sustainable relationships between the private sector and the arts.

“There were some wonderful auction items up for grabs and we are lucky that the successful bidder, who wishes to remain anonymous, decided to allow us to keep them all together at  the Millennium Stadium as a permanent reminder of the concert and of its impact .”

Rachel Jones, Arts & Business Cymru’s Director said: “I’m delighted that we could join with Warburtons to support the Tsunami Aid Appeal. This disaster touched all of us and it’s gratifying to be able to help raise money through this creative partnership.” 

As for Sergeant’s multi-coloured jumper, a bid is being made to have its sale recognised by the Guinness Book of records following an anonymous bid of £6,000 for it in the auction.

“We have had it confirmed that there is no official world record for the highest price paid for a jumper.  I know there were people who were keen to see me take my jumper off after wearing it for almost three weeks in the build-up to the concert, but I am thrilled that  it will  eventually be on permanent at the Stadium so I can see it whenever I wish.”

The jumper, along with the portraits and other auction items, will now be mounted and displayed at the Millennium Stadium for everyone to see. It will become one of the features of the highly popular stadium tours and be a constant reminder of the concert and its far reaching impact.

Plans are underway to explore the options for producing a commemorative CD, DVD and book of the concert. All the profits will also go towards the aid to victims of the Tsunami disaster in South East Asia.

The Millennium Stadium Community Art Project is co-ordinated and run by Jon & Sally Phillips of Pippin’s Designs Limited.