Michael Schumacher memorabilia sold to raise funds for Ukrainian military defense.
Michael Schumacher, a seven-time Formula One champion and sporting superstar, sold his signature headgear to commemorate his 2002 title victory at auction for just over $40,000. The profits will be utilized to purchase a military drone for Ukraine’s defense efforts.
The initiative, steered by Olexandr Petrenko, the deputy chairman of the Ukrainian Karting Committee, successfully gathered substantial funds aimed at acquiring a GOR drone. This shift from a previously intended Elf drone acquisition to the more cost-effective GOR model was due to unforeseen complications, ensuring the effort remained economically feasible.
The raffle, priced at ₴200 (approximately $5) per entry, was accessible, allowing widespread participation and finally resulting in the selection of Gennadiy Lobas of Volnovakha as the winner. Despite his small single-ticket purchase, Lobas won a prize steeped in motorsport history, which was personally collected by his relative, Irynia.
“I am grateful for this project. I believe that today, the situation rests on our patriotism, on the patriotism of the people,” said Iryna, as quoted by The Checkered Flag. “All Ukrainians, I urge you: do not stop, continue the good work, continue to donate, continue to help our defenders because without us, without our social work, we will not win.”
The cap’s high worth stems not just from Schumacher’s superstar status, but also from the fact that the F1 veteran has been out of the public eye since a skiing injury in 2013. With Schumacher’s autographs becoming increasingly rare, the cap’s attraction was undeniable.
“I think this case is pretty cool. Because Michael is unavailable (due to his 2013 skiing injury and personal life), he will no longer sign anything, so there is a limited quantity (of them), and such occurrences will only occur once in a while,” Petrenko told Ukrainian Radio Chernihiv.
“Because of this, I managed to attract the attention of many influencers, many bloggers. I see people sitting down at the table to chat with us, finding it necessary to pay attention to this.”
Petrenko continued:
“Is it difficult to be a volunteer today? I don’t know how to answer this question. What are the alternatives?… Slogans alone will not do the whole work. It goes without saying, we need to do something about it… I believe you are helping yourself first and foremost.”
The GOR drone is produced by Airlogix, a company which previously built drones for the transport of medical blood samples before switching to military applications after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In the campaign’s backdrop, the Second International Legion, a composite of volunteers from over thirty countries, continues its operations primarily in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. Their mission resonates with a collective and persistent commitment to the principles of democracy and national defense.
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