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Missing the match hurts – but it is more than offset by the pleasure of knowing a great cause will benefit.
I’m offering my two tickets to a glamour quarter-final match at the Rugby World Cup on 6 October for auction. The game is likely to be played between the New Zealand All Blacks (unless Scotland pull off the shock of shocks in the pool stage) and the runner-up in Pool D – any one of France, Ireland and Argentina (shock winners over France already).
That makes it one of the most mouth-watering contests of the tournament – whatever the permutation.
All proceeds from the sale of the tickets (the two cost EUROS 463) will go to The Smile Train, the wonderful children’s cleft lip and palate charity that is the subject of October 5’s big travel retail fund-raising dinner in Hong Kong, co-organised by The Moodie Report and Hugo Boss.
The quarter-final will be played at 20.00 in Cardiff on 6 October, the day after the dinner. Given that so many industry executives are generously flying into Hong Kong from around the globe, it was inappropriate (as initially intended) for me to fly home early the following morning in time for the match.
Instead I’ll watch the match in Hong Kong with good friends from the industry. Knowing that a number of kids will benefit from the sale of the tickets (a 45-minute operation to cure a cleft lip or palate costs just US$250) puts missing the match into perspective.
Like thousands of our readers, I am lucky enough to have healthy children (the two youngest, Ali and Samira, are seen above showing their true colours with Dad this weekend). It’s nice to help those parents and families who are less blessed.
Bids can be tabled to Martin@TheMoodieReport.com and must be in excess of the cost price. The winning bid will be announced at 15.00 London time on 1 October – by when the quarter-final line-up will be known. We will courier the tickets to the winning bidders.
So if you’re an Irishman, a Frenchman, an Argentinean, a Kiwi (or maybe a Scot) and you fancy attending one of the great occasions in world sport and helping transform some young children’s lives forever, here’s your chance. If you win you’ll smile and so will a number of children.
Please send your bids by e-mail to Martin@TheMoodieReport.com by 13.00 London time on 1 October.