Vettel supports second Jungle VIP auction
Sebastian Vettel has responded to a charity's SOS call to support critically endangered orangutans in Sumatra.
The Red Bull Racing star has donated a signed F1 fireproof top, worn en-route to his third successive title during the 2012 F1 season.
Support for the Sumatran Orangutan Society's (SOS) second Jungle VIP online auction has flooded in and in addition to Vettel, a number of other internationally recognised names - including Joanna Lumley, Coldplay, Dominic Monaghan, Natalie Portman, Ellen DeGeneres, Seth Green, Graham Norton and Gillian Anderson - have also pledged their support.
Other auction lots up for grabs include Lord of the Rings photos and a blu-ray signed by Monaghan and Billy 'Pippin' Boyd; a limited edition Coldplay lithograph of their Viva La Vida album artwork, signed by all the band members, as well as an exclusive script page from 2002's Ella Enchanted, donated by Lumley and signed by the stars including Minnie Driver and Anne Hathaway.
"The orangutan as one of our closest cousins clearly feels the stress and anguish that WE might if our homes were destroyed and our families killed," said Monaghan. "If we are part of the generation that allows this majestic animal to become extinct, future generations will ask us 'why didn't you do more?' SOS DO more."
"Sumatran orangutans share 96.4 per cent of our DNA, but they stand to be the first Great Ape to go extinct if we don't act now to save their forest home," explained Helen Buckland, Director of SOS. "Sumatra is the only place in the world where orangutans, tigers, elephants and rhinos coexist - and all are critically endangered. The Jungle VIP Auction will help us raise vital funds to protect orangutans, their forests and their future."
Last year the auction raised over ?10,000 for vital conservation programmes, and it is hoped that similar success will be had this year.
The auction runs until Sunday March 10 at www.ebay.co.uk/JungleVIP
So why not check it out and as well as buying something special, you can help an important good cause at the same time...