Gunners unveil unique Arsenal car for TCT

Arsenal players Robin van Persie, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy today joined world famous cartoonist Gerald Scarfe and the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger to unveil a uniquely designed Citroën C4 which will be raffled in aid of Arsenal’s Charity of the Season, Teenage Cancer Trust.

• Click here to download the raffle ticket leaflet

The ‘Ultimate Arsenal Fans’ Car’ was designed by Scarfe, whose diverse range of work includes designing and directing the animation for Pink Floyd's ‘The Wall’ as well as gracing theatre sets and magazines across the globe.  The Arsenal players met with the cartoonist back in January to discuss their ideas for the car which Gerald interpreted in his inimitable style.

Raffle tickets to win the car cost just £2 with all funds going to Teenage Cancer Trust and are available to buy through www.beagoonerbeagiver.org or by calling 020 7612 0370 and will be drawn on May 24th at Arsenal’s last home game of the season against Stoke City.

Following today’s launch, the car will be seen at three Arsenal home matches starting with Arsenal’s FA Cup Fifth Round Tie against Burnley on Sunday 8 March. Teenage Cancer Trust volunteers will be selling raffle tickets at Emirates Stadium before kick-off. The car, generously donated by Citroën, Arsenal Football Club’s official car supplier, will be on display at their dealerships around north London and at Teenage Cancer Trust’s fun run event, ‘Be a Gunner. Be a Runner.’ at Emirates Stadium on Sunday 3 May.

Arsenal players, Gael, Robin alongside Manuel Almunia shared their thoughts and ideas with Gerald Scarfe around Club culture, legends and what they felt it meant to be part of Arsenal. Also sharing her ideas was 17-year-old Harriet Eldridge who was diagnosed with cancer when she was 14 and is now involved with Teenage Cancer Trust. Scarfe noted their ideas and worked on creating a football masterpiece with a difference.  

Speaking at the launch, Robin van Persie, whose father is an artist, said: “This is something different for us to be involved in and although we all play for the same team, we had very different ideas which can be seen throughout the car’s design.  Manuel spoke of Club heritage, I had the idea of pace and style, and Gael had an all together different idea about ‘planet Arsenal!’ I guess that’s what’s wonderful about art and this car in particular, we all had our part to play and our own distinctive ideas.
“I hope it appeals to supporters and ensures they keep up their amazing fundraising for Teenage Cancer Trust. I hope they buy lots of tickets to try to win it!”

Artist, Gerald Scarfe said: "I was delighted when Teenage Cancer Trust asked me to be involved with this project. Meeting Harriet, who had cancer when she was 14, underlined for me the importance of this excellent charity, and getting together with the players and learning about Arsenal’s rich heritage helped to inspire my designs for the car.
“I hope that fans will be queuing up to buy tickets to win this unique car, helping the Club to raise as much money as possible for Teenage Cancer Trust. The work that the charity is doing for young people with cancer is invaluable and so important in giving them the chance to fight this disease."

Xavier Duchemin, Managing Director at Citroën UK commented “At Citroën we're delighted to be working with Arsenal and Gerald Scarfe on this project to help raise funds for such a worthwhile charity as Teenage Cancer Trust.”

Supporters are invited to give their input on what they would like to find inside the hatchback via www.arsenal.com/tctcitroenc4. 

Over the course of the season, through the ‘Be A Gooner. Be A Giver.’ campaign, the Gunners aim to raise £300,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust. This will enable the charity to increase its support for teenagers and young adults with cancer in the London area by building a unit within a brand new Day Care Centre at University College Hospital, London.

The money raised will fund an Education Zone within the unit which will be a dedicated space where those being treated can keep up with their studies and learn more about their cancer. The zone will include computers and laptops with wireless access, enabling patients to contact their school, keep in touch with their friends and even join in with lessons via webcam.

Arsenal is the first to commit to funding part of Teenage Cancer Trust’s unit in the Day Care Centre.  The Club hopes that other organisations will follow their lead, helping the charity to raise a further £1.2million to complete the development of their unit.

For more information on the partnership or to donate visit: www.beagoonerbeagiver.org

• Click here to download the raffle ticket leaflet

[Thursday, March 05, 2009]

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