Volkswagen Partners With Legendary Rock Band The Who To Raise Money for Teenage Cancer Trust Charity
Volkswagen Provides Iconic VW Bus For Fundraising Contest
HERNDON, Va., Volkswagen is giving consumers the opportunity to get their hands on legendary rock band The Who's Magic Bus - a unique Volkswagen Microbus T1 Panel Van from 1965, signed by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend and specially branded with iconic images of the band and their famous target logo. The competition, in aid of Daltrey's charity Teenage Cancer Trust, closes on July 8, 2008.
The iconic Volkswagen Bus, provided by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, has been specially designed by The Who's art director Richard Evans, who has been working with the band for more than 30 years and has created several memorable album covers as well as tour designs.
"Our thanks go to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles for providing this vehicle and to The Who for supporting the competition," said Simon Davies, Chief Executive of Teenage Cancer Trust. "Let's hope this really will turn out to be a 'Magic Bus', and help make a difference to the many thousands of teenagers and young people diagnosed with cancer every year."
Participants can enter this contest by visiting: www.thewhomagicbus.com . Each entry costs $9.86 USD, with all net proceeds going to Teenage Cancer Trust. All entrants will receive a free download of a previously unreleased live performance of The Who's famous hit, "Magic Bus."
Inspiration for the competition stems from the collaboration between Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and The Who, which culminated in a special live performance from the band at the 60 Year Celebration of the Volkswagen Bus in Hannover, Germany, in October 2007.
Roger Daltrey, who will perform with The Who at the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on July 12th said, "As a long standing Patron of Teenage Cancer Trust, I am delighted to support this unique competition. Make sure you visit the website before July 8th to enter; you'll be helping us raise essential funds so we can build more specialized teenage cancer units within the National Health Services."
About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Volkswagen of America, Inc. recently announced Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) as standard equipment on all its 2009 model year vehicles. As a result, Volkswagen is one of the only original equipment manufacturers to offer an electronic stabilization control system on its entire product line -- ahead of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) deadline requiring stabilization systems in the 2012 model year vehicles. Volkswagen's ESP technology works in conjunction with anti-lock brakes and helps reduce loss of control, rollovers and other types of crashes. NHTSA predicts nearly 10,000 lives could be saved each year if all vehicles had stabilization systems as standard equipment.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at vw.com .
About Teenage Cancer Trust
Each day in the UK, 6 teenagers will find out they have cancer - that is around 2,000 new diagnoses every year. These young people often get a raw deal, receiving hospital treatment in inappropriate facilities catering for children or the elderly. Teenage Cancer Trust is a UK Charity, founded in 1990, that focuses on the needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer by providing specialist teenage units in NHS hospitals.
As well as state-of-the-art facilities to keep patients occupied during long stays in hospital, the units provide an environment where teenagers can meet others in a similar situation. Units allow patients to build friendships and mechanisms to cope with their disease without being patronised or ignored and are staffed with professionals able to fully understand and manage the needs of the patients.
To date, TCT has built units in London, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Liverpool, Glasgow and Newcastle and would like at least 22 units to ensure every teenager with cancer has access.
In addition to building units, TCT funds a nationwide Education team, teaching young people in schools, colleges and universities about cancer, prevention and healthy living. They also provide a conference for young people with cancer and training for medical professionals.