EUROPE. Hannes Koch, Managing Director at Hamburg brand and retail consultancy Travel Retail Cooperation, is the winner of The Great ARI Moodie Davitt Euro 2016 competition.
The match-prediction contest, sponsored by Aer Rianta International (ARI) in association with The Moodie Davitt Report, celebrated the recent UEFA Euro 2016 football championships won by Portugal.
Entrants were awarded points according to the accuracy of their predictions in each match. The top three points scorers at the end of the tournament received the following prize monies for a charity of their choice.
• 1st– €3,000
• 2nd– €2,000
• 3rd– €1,000
Behind Hannes in second place was ARI Brand & Communications Manager Adrian Fennell with The Moodie Davitt Report’s very own Chief Creative Officer Matt Willey in third place.
“I am indeed pleasantly surprised to have won the ARI Euro predictor as Austrians normally are not winning anything in football,” noted Hannes wryly [Austria were eliminated at the pool stage -Ed].
Hannes is donating his prize money to Musica Altona, a Hamburg organisation that supports underprivileged kids by enabling them to play their favourite instruments. Through this support, the children learn from professional teachers, participate in workshops and travel to concerts.
“Another key benefit is that these kids get fully integrated into society and are building friendships no matter where they originally come from and what their social background is,” says Hannes. “Music is surely building bridges.
“Musica Altona was founded in 2002 and since then has supported innumerable kids in being able to pay for an instrument and for their music lessons. This support has in turn managed to develop many gifted musicians and socially responsible young people.”
Adrian’s good cause is The Clare Crusaders Children’s Clinic, which provides free therapy and specialist treatment to over 350 children with special needs in County Clare, in the west of Ireland. The clinic receives no state funding and has to raise over €250,000 per annum to provide the current level of therapy for children.
It was started with one therapist and now employs nine staff members delivering approximately 200 hours of therapy per week, catering for over 40% of children in County Clare with special needs.
The clinic is managed on a voluntary basis and does not charge for access to the therapists, to ensure that anyone can access their support.
Adrian tells us: “I previously ran a marathon to raise funds for the clinic, so it’s great to be able to make another significant donation to the charity, without having to run 26 miles.”
Matt has opted for a cause close to The Moodie Davitt Report’s collective heart – The Royal Marsden Charity.
The Royal Marsden Hospital successfully treated Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie for stomach cancer through 2010 and 2011, and its inspirational, world-class research work is helping lead the global fight against the disease.
Matt and his partner (and Moodie Davitt Report colleague) Victoria Bowskill are about to take part once more in the Prudential Ride London 100-mile charity cycling challenge. The €1,000 prize-money from ARI is a brilliant boost to their fund-raising efforts (if you want to add your support please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mattwilley)
The Royal Marsden is a world-leading cancer centre which pioneers new treatments that save lives. It uses its research every day to provide the best diagnosis, treatment and care for patients. The revolutionary way it treats people has far-reaching impact, nationally and internationally.
Thanks to all those who took part in our competition and to ARI, in particular, for so generously putting up the prize money.
