ClubFootball FC, Beijing's first joint venture football network, today announced the launch of the United for UNICEF SMS Prize Competition — offering fans the chance to go on the 'trip of a lifetime' to Manchester United's Old Trafford. The competition will be held in conjunction with the upcoming match between Beijing Hyundai and Manchester United on July 26 and funds raised will go towards UNICEF's work with children in China.
Other prizes include autographed MUFC and Beijing Guo'an shirts and a Pele signed FIFA ball as well as individually signed shirts by United stars Ryan Giggs and Quinton Fortune.
By texting "CFMU" to 2858229 (China Mobile users) or 9858229 (Unicom users) and giving their score prediction for the match (costing just RMB1.5), fans can enter the competition and support their community at the same time.
The prize competition is the second phase of the 2005 MasterCard Football in the Community Campaign, which is raising money for both local charity Beijing Hui Ling and international charity "United for UNICEF". The longstanding partnership between Manchester United and the global children's charity UNICEF has raised more than GBP1.5 million to directly impact the lives of over 1.5 million children worldwide.
The campaign kicked off in May with the 2005 MasterCard Beijing Community Cup, a 48-team, 5-a-side football event held at the Worker's Stadium, Beijing (raising almost RMB140,000) and the organizers will be returning to the venue with a presentation on the pitch before the Manchester United vs Beijing Hyundai match kicks off to present the donation raised to UNICEF.
The cheque will be received by David Gill, Chief Executive of Manchester United and Dr Christian Voumard, Representative, UNICEF China. Beijing Guo'an will be represented by the club's Deputy Chairman Zhang Lu. Presenting the donation will be MasterCard International's China General Manager Willie Fung accompanied by ClubFootball and British Chamber of Commerce in China, joint organizers of the campaign.
Organisers of the event are cautiously optimistic as to how much the second phase of fundraising will raise. "I really hope that we can reach RMB1 million! It would be the perfect end to a MasterCard Football in the Community Campaign which aims to show how football can positively impact the community at every level," commented ClubFootball GM Keith Bradbury.
"This campaign has demonstrated how football, be it professional or amateur, global or local, can engage and inspire a community. Both Beijing Guo'an and Manchester United have been extremely supportive, demonstrating their commitment to fans in China with stars such as Ryan Giggs even recording video messages to promote the competition. If this continues "the sky's really the limit!" he added.
United for UNICEF's share of the funds raised will go towards an anti-trafficking project in Sichuan Province. The trafficking of women and children is a major and growing problem worldwide. Manchester United are supporting a programme in Sichuan province which aims to enhance the prevention, rescue and rehabilitation of child and women victims of trafficking. Developed by UNICEF, in collaboration with government counterparts the project will assist the fight against trafficking in China from policy to grass roots level.
United for UNICEF fundraising activities being carried out in Hong Kong, Beijing and Tokyo during the Manchester United Asia Tour 2005 are being supported by Malaysia Airlines as an extension of the airline's ongoing commitment to positively impacting the lives of the world's most vulnerable, especially children. Malaysia Airlines is donating the flight tickets as part of the Old Trafford Experience Grand Prize.
