Manchester-based OnBuy is backing a popular rock festival that is helping to lead the fight against children’s cancer.
Teddy Rocks Festival will take place from May 4 to May 6 at Charisworth Farm, Blandford, Dorset, and is being headlined by chart-topping rock bands Feeder and Ash.
OnBuy, the largest UK-owned online marketplace, is now partnering with Teddy Rocks Festival, providing significant financial and commercial support to help grow the event and make 2018 its biggest fundraising year ever. OnBuy is also working in close partnership with the Newton family, founders of the festival, by providing specialist online, commercial and design support for the event from its in-house team of experts.
All proceeds from Teddy Rocks Festival go to the charity Teddy 20, which provides emotional and financial support to children and young people suffering and undergoing treatment for cancer. The charity was set up in memory of Ted Newton, who died at the age of 10 in 2010 from a rare form of bone cancer after a brave battle with the disease.
The charity has raised more than £250,000 over the years and the Teddy Rocks Festival has been a significant part of that total, raising £167,000 in the past six years. The idea for a music festival was conceived in 2011 when the Newton family organised a gig in the restaurant of The Greyhound pub in Blandford and raised £400. Just a year later, the first Teddy Rocks event was held at The Corn Exchange in Blandford, raising £2,500. The festival has grown every year since – raising over £42,000 in 2016, £76,000 in 2017 and this year organisers are hoping to raise even more money.
Teddy 20 has helped hundreds of children fighting cancer across Dorset and Hampshire. Every year the family and their supporters head to Toys R Us in Poole to do a huge Christmas shop and personally deliver gifts to children at Southampton and Dorchester hospitals. Three years ago the family was able to buy a luxury 39ft static caravan in Bowleaze Cove, Weymouth, to provide much-needed breaks away from the hospital environment for children and their loved ones dealing with cancer.
Ted’s older brother Tom Newton is leading the organisation of the festival and is delighted with the support from OnBuy, which is headquartered nearby in Poole.
Tom, a 29-year-old firefighter from Blandford, said: “Every year we ask businesses for their support by sending out letters across the region.
“Cas from OnBuy got in touch straight away and we had a meeting three days later. As a dad himself, he has a lot of life experience and his passion and enthusiasm for our cause really came across.
“This is a significant partnership with OnBuy and it’s fair to say it means a lot to us. We try to cover every single cost of the event so that every penny raised through ticket sales can go to help children fighting cancer.
“We are incredibly grateful for OnBuy’s support and we hope with their backing we will be able to raise more money than ever.”
He added: “Ted was such a happy little boy and losing him was devastating for our family. Ted was a huge character and incredibly brave, so to be able to keep his name alive through the festival is a real honour. It’s amazing what we have managed to achieve in just a few years and none of it would be possible without our generous and loyal supporters.”
Cas Paton, Managing Director of OnBuy, said: “When I heard about the Newton family and the tragic story of Ted, I just knew I had to help. I was very inspired by what the family has been able to achieve in just a few years to make a real difference to so many people.
“As a dad, this is a cause very close to my heart and, like most people, I have experienced the life-changing impact of cancer on family and friends.
“OnBuy is incredibly proud to be partnering with the festival and going beyond just a financial investment. We’re supporting them with significant commercial advice to help drive revenues for the charity, strategy, merchandise design, manufacture, logistics, and marketing support.
“We hope our support will allow it to grow even bigger and help more children fighting cancer.”
