People are being offered the chance to live like a celebrity for the day and drive a luxury sports car – and raise money for a worthwhile cause on the process.
The local Behçet’s Syndrome Society group, which supports people from across the Midlands who have this rare disease, is raffling tickets to raise funds, with the star prize being the chance to drive a stunning £100,000 Audi R8 convertible.
The group meets monthly at the Birmingham Behçet’s Syndrome Centre of Excellence, which is based at City Hospital, part of Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust. Behçet’s syndrome is a rare condition that causes inflammation of the blood vessels, with symptoms including mouth and genital ulcers, eye inflammation and skin lesions, and can lead to arthritis, bowel inflammation and meningitis.
Anisha Zaman, who is from Handsworth and is the group’s co-ordinator, said: “For just £10 per ticket, people get the chance to join the ranks of footballers, tycoons and A-listers in getting an Audi R8 Spyder for the day. All the funds raised will go to the local Behçet’s Syndrome support group, offering advice and support for people living with this incurable and rare disease.”
Due to insurance restrictions, the Audi R8 can only be offered to people aged 28 and over. For people aged 25 and over, the prize is an Audi Q7 or Range Rover, with the prizes not open to anyone aged under 25.
Dr Deva Situnayake, clinical lead at the Birmingham Behçet’s Syndrome Centre of Excellence, explained: “We will be making the draw on 10 July, which coincides with a ‘Behcet’s in a Day’ education event that we are holding at City Hospital. The study day will be attended by doctors, nurses and other health professionals from across the country, and aims to tell them more about the symptoms and treatment of this disease, which affects just 500 or so people in the UK.
“We will be asking the study day attendees to dig deep, and I would encourage members of the public to also contribute to help the local Behçet’s syndrome group to continue to provide excellent support and care.”
To buy raffle tickets, contact Anisha on 07886 304018 or email anishaz@hotmail.co.uk.