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The famous stars of Super Mario Land will be centre stage in Market Square this week as part of a fundraising challenge being organised by Ravenscroft in aid of the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation.
The stockbroking and investment management firm has organised a two day “Ravenscroft Racing Challenge” where participants will battle it out on Mario Cart 8 Deluxe. The event, which is in partnership with Just Games, will see a corporate challenge on Friday when 16 teams will compete and then on Friday and Saturday, individuals will have the chance to take on the challenge.
‘The challenge evolved quite quickly from an initial idea to a two day fundraiser and it’s been fantastic that so many companies have wanted to get involved in a fun event, which is raising money for a brilliant local charity,’ said Sam Corbet, portfolio manager at Ravenscroft.
‘Ravenscroft Investment Management has been an investor in Nintendo for a number of years. We have a global and thematic investment approach and focus on very high quality stocks, and long-term irrefutable trends of changing demographics, increasing wealth and innovation. Nintendo’s wealth of intellectual property essentially renders it “platform agnostic” and this is a prime example of a company that is able to remain relevant long after the hardware, which its rivals continually obsess over, becomes redundant. This robustness makes for a compelling investment case.
‘The Nintendo Switch was launched in March and demand continues to outstrip supply. Through Just Games, we were able to source a console and decided to further our relationship with the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation by organising an entertaining fundraising event. Having been born almost eight weeks premature myself, it must have created an element of stress for my parents. Whilst, I can’t profess to have any memory of it, I’m sure they would have greatly valued the level of support that the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation is now able to offer.’
On Friday morning, Guernsey racing driver Sebastian Priaulx will set the lap time which everyone taking part can try and beat. The charity was set up after the 16-year-old and his 14-year-old sister were both born prematurely and their parents Andy and Jo wanted to do something to help other parents who found themselves in a similar situation.
All those who beat Sebastian’s lap time will be entered into a draw to win the Nintendo Switch.
The 16 companies who have signed up for the corporate challenge will be divided into leagues with others from their business sector. The winner of each league will then compete in the grand final for the Financial Services Shield, which takes place at noon on Friday.
‘Ravenscroft is covering all of the costs so that every penny raised can go straight to the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation. I continue to be humbled by the generosity displayed by members of the financial services industry who have already helped raise £4,000 for this worthwhile cause,’ said Mr Corbet.
From 12.30pm – 2pm on Friday and then 10am – 4pm on Saturday, individuals will be able to pit themselves against Sebastian’s time. For every attempt, participants need to make a donation to the charity.
Jo Priaulx, founder of the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation, said the money will be used to cover the finishing touches needed for the charity’s new flat in Southampton. Aggie’s Burrow will be used by Guernsey families whose children need specialist hospital treatment.
‘We thought it would take us three years to raise the money we needed to buy a dedicated property for use by local families but we managed it in a year. The generosity of islanders and local business continues to astound us and we will be ready to open next month,’ said Mrs Priaulx.
‘The money raised by the Ravenscroft Challenge will be used to cover the costs of the final few things we need and also for a supply of essential items needed for those first few frightening days when a family finds themselves in Southampton, away from friends and family, and dealing with the emotion of a sick child. We want to thank Ravenscroft for coming up with such a great idea and all the people who are taking part.’
The corporate challenge is now full but anyone wanting to enter the individual challenge can go to Market Square on Friday from 12.30pm – 2pm and on Saturday from 10am – 4pm.
