A Newport businessman is hoping to raise thousands of pounds for Mountbatten with his biggest-ever charity raffle, featuring more than £6,000 worth of prizes.
Rob Capital, owner of Capital Jewellers in St James’ Square, has launched the bumper raffle after several years of fundraising for the Island charity through smaller jewellery raffles and charity football matches.
With Rob covering the costs of running the fundraiser to ensure that 100% of the money raised goes directly to Mountbatten, more than 100 tickets have already been sold in the first week.
Having personally donated around £3,000 worth of jewellery to this year’s prize pot, alongside cash prizes, Rob has seen a growing number of Island businesses contribute goods, services and vouchers.
The prize pot, which Rob says is already worth well over £6,000, includes Pandora bracelets, gold and silver jewellery, cash prizes, a £500 MJR Grits voucher, a £200 Wight Commercial Repairs voucher, a £200 fencing voucher from Taylor Services and a £100 key replacement voucher from RS Keys.
Other prizes include a Sunday roast for 2 at Hewitt’s, a free boiler service from Ian’s Gas, a sports massage from Kabe Nicholson, a Christmas mix from Easy Weigh, a skip from Island Skip Hire and an annual service and Class 4 MOT from Crocker Street Garage/Crocker Street Tyres and MOT.
Further businesses are continuing to come forward with donations, meaning the final prize pot is expected to grow further.
Rob, who has owned Capital Jewellers for 10 years, says his fundraising efforts typically generate between £5,000 and £10,000 for Mountbatten each year.
The cause has an especially personal significance after Mountbatten cared for his father during his final days.
Rob has said:
“I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to give something back to my community, and Mountbatten in particular is extremely close to my heart.
“They do amazing work and have amazing staff. I have had dear friends needing their help and, more recently, they cared for my dad in his last days, making him comfortable and just being brilliant. Nothing is ever too much for them.
“It’s an Island-based charity that helps Islanders. Everyone at some point will need them, and it makes me very proud to be a part of Mountbatten.”
The draw will take place live on Facebook from Capital Jewellers once more than 500 tickets have been sold, with Rob planning to telephone every winner live to tell them which prize they have won.
Tickets can be purchased for £10 each either in person from Capital Jewellers at 24 St James’ Square, Newport, with payment by cash or bank transfer or by messaging Rob at Rob Capital directly on Facebook and paying by bank transfer.
