Ferrari F1 race engineer at fundraising dinner for Zoe's Place charity (From The Northern Echo)

Ferrari F1 race engineer at fundraising dinner for Zoe's Place charity

6:34pm Thursday 25th August 2011 in Formula One By Matt Westcott

FORMULA One speeds into the North-East next week when Scuderia Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley is the special guest at a Grand Prix Dinner in aid of Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice.

The Hospice, in Middlesbrough, provides a home from home for babies and young children who have life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.

The fundraising dinner, on September 2 at Beamish Hall Country House Hotel, will see Mr Smedley, race engineer for Felipe Massa, return to his roots to give an insight into Formula One’s most famous team.

Joining him will be BBC Radio Five Live’s F1 summariser Maurice Hamilton.

The evening will be rounded off with a charity auction, with items including Felipe Massa’s signed Ferrari racing overalls, a signed half-sized replica of Jenson Button’s 2011 driving helmet and a signed half-sized replica of Lewis Hamilton’s 2011 driving helmet.

“I’m only too pleased to help Zoe’s Place raise some much needed funds and the drivers and teams have all be very generous with the items they have donated,” said Mr Smedley. “I hope that people will dig deep and help us raise as much money as possible.”

Mark Guidery, Zoe’s Place Chief Executive, said: “In order for Zoe’s Place to provide the services it does we have to raise as much money as possible which we hope our Grand Prix dinner will do.

“Rob is one of the most respected people on the Formula One circuit and we consider it a real coup that he is helping us raise these funds.”

Limited tickets are available by calling 01642-457985 or emailing elaine@zoes-place.org.uk. For further information about Zoe’s Place visit http://www.zoes-place.org.uk/middlesbrough/ For a full list of auction items or to place a pre-auction bid contact Zoe’s Place via elaine@zoe-place.org.uk