Rare chance to acquire one-of-a-kind original Mackenzie Thorpe artwork that has everyone on Teesside talking!
A Teesside charity – which is well on the way to achieving a £1.5m fundraising milestone – is hoping a unique Mackenzie Thorpe work of art will help boost the coffers this weekend.
The Teesside Family Foundation, which has been run entirely by unpaid volunteers in the nine years since it was founded, is holding its annual charity ball at Hardwick Hall on Saturday.
And one item in its live charity auction has already got plenty of people talking – and potentially bidding thousands!
Boro-born, internationally renowned artist Mackenzie Thorpe has donated an embellished version of his painting ‘Teesside Times’ to the charity, which has the tagline ‘Together for Teesside’.
Anyone can bid on the item by email up until 5pm on Saturday (November 8th) to enquiries@theteessidefamily.com
The embellishments Mackenzie has added to it make it a one-off work of art, so even though ‘Teesside Times’ has 125 prints, this provides a rare opportunity to purchase a completely unique piece from the artist, who is famous for his love of painting Teesside’s industrial skylines and young Boro fans.
In fact, one of the additions to the piece, which features the iconic Transporter Bridge, is a young Boro fan sitting on the doorstep to his home, next to the letters, ‘UTB’ mischievously chalked onto the wall of the property.
Tony Wedlake, founder and trustee of the Teesside Family Foundation, which supports other grassroots charities and people experiencing hardship in the local area, said: “We are over the moon that Mackenzie Thorpe has donated this special work of art to us for the live auction, which will take place at our masquerade ball this weekend.
“The charity has built up a very special relationship with Mackenzie over the years, and we are very grateful for the support he has given us.
“This has not only helped us to raise a significant amount of money, where every penny has gone into supporting people in our community, but his association with the charity has also helped us to significantly raise its profile, encouraging even more generous businesses to get behind us.”
Mackenzie Thorpe himself shared his delight at being able to help the charity, whose name now features on one of the buildings of the one-off version of Teesside Times, along with extra splashes of colour and people on the Transporter Bridge.
“The Teesside Family Foundation is the most fantastic charity, run by Teessiders, for Teessiders!” said Mackenzie.
“Over the years, they’ve stepped in and helped thousands of local people and families in their moments of need and because they’re just for our area, they know the challenges people are facing on the ground.
“I’m honoured, as always, to support both the charity and Tony – the powerhouse behind it all – and I hope the image I’ve donated helps raise more funds so they can continue to help Teessiders in need.”
Mackenzie added that anyone of a certain age will remember the Teesside Times newspaper, which inspired the title for the work of art.
He said: “It’s a classic Boro image – Transporter Bridge and all – and to make it extra special and totally unique I’ve hand painted some extra special details on it, so it’s pretty much an original – there’s not another one like it!
“Plus, it’s the number one of the 125 in the edition – even more special!”
The latest donation to ‘TTFF’ from Mackenzie comes as we move towards the festive season and all the charity’s activities associated with that, from distributing selection boxes throughout schools in deprived areas, to its annual Smyths Toys trolley dashes for underprivileged children.
Tony said: “This donation, along with the many other generous donations we have been lucky enough to receive from the many local people and businesses who kindly support us, will help us to make Christmas special for many children and families across Teesside, who are facing hardship, or have had a difficult year for one reason or another.
“Our Christmas hub at Canon Park, which Middlesbrough Council have generously supported us with, is already in full swing.
“This is the place where hundreds of toys and goodies will be donated, sorted and wrapped, before being anonymously distributed where they are needed, according to referrals from schools and social services.”
Last year at Christmas time, The Teesside Family Foundation donated 7,000 selection boxes and 5,000 toys to children who may otherwise have faced Christmas without something special from Santa.
A total of 1,000 children received a ‘magic of Christmas’ gift bag, full of toys and sweets.
The charity also visited children in hospital and hospices at Christmas time, with much-appreciated goodies to raise a smile.
A total of 100 children were treated to a £200 VIP trolley dash in Smyths Toys, where they also met Santa, and 300 people attended its magical Christmas ball at Hardwick Hall.
Another 140 children were treated to breakfast with Santa at The Keys in Yarm, and 100 children with special educational needs enjoyed a festive play date at Pendragon Multi-Sensory Centre.
The same events will take place this year, with more children than ever expected to be helped to have a magical Christmas.
Bids from people not going to the ball on Saturday night, where the artwork will be auctioned live, can be made by email up until 5pm on Saturday November 8th. Send your bid to enquiries@theteessidefamily.com
For more information on the Teesside Family Foundation, visit www.theteessidefamily.com