Tom Brady and Lewis Hamilton tee up to raise funds for Laureus at IWC 'Big Pilot Challenge' in Miami
American Football legends Tom Brady and Marcus Allen and seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton have taken part in a unique golf challenge to support Laureus Sport for Good, ahead of this weekend’s Formula One Miami Grand Prix.
Watch Out! The IWC Teams showcase the watches to be auctioned for Laureus Sport for Good
‘The Big Pilot Challenge’ at the Miami Beach Golf Club, in the heart of South Beach, was staged by IWC Schaffhausen, Global Partners of Laureus, and will generate funds for humanitarian work to improve the lives of young people in the area.
Current Laureus Lifetime Achievement honouree Brady, three-time Laureus Award winner Hamilton and Laureus Academy Member Allen took on challenges like hitting the ‘longest drive’ and being ‘closest to the pin’.
Hosts for the day, Laureus Ambassador and F1 legend, David Coulthard and actress Kathryn Newton
Following the event, hosted by Laureus Ambassador and former Formula One driver David Coulthard and leading actress Kathryn Newton, a global online auction was launched, proceeds from which will allow Laureus to expand its work to help young people in communities in Miami.
The principal beneficiary will be Dibia DREAM which last year supported 5,000 young people, helping them to improve their school attendance and academic performance.
Four IWC watches, worn in the golf challenge by Brady, Hamilton and Allen, plus Dibia DREAM founder Brandon Okpalobi, are being auctioned, along with sporting memorabilia donated by some of the sportsmen.
Laureus Athlete Advocate of the Year, and F1 GOAT Lewis Hamilton prepares for another ‘drive’
Lewis Hamilton said: “This is a big IWC Pilot. This is my favourite one. For me it’s always been one of my favourites. It originated when it was with Top Gun. I’m a big fan of Top Gun the movie. I love the association, being a pilot of a sport. I’ve been to Schaffhausen and I’ve seen the work that goes into the back of this.”
Tom Brady added: “Watches capture time, but they also capture amazing memories for all of us. We’ll remember an event like this, but a lot of other events in our life are important and watches can symbolise that for us. I am certainly going to remember this day, even though the watch is going to a charity auction.”
NFL and Superbowl legend Tom Brady was awarded the 2022 Laureus Lifetime of the Year Award
Brady was announced as winner of the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award last week at the 2022 Laureus World Sports Awards. In his acceptance speech, he expressed his commitment to the value of using sport for humanitarian purposes.
He said: “I feel very blessed along the way to meet so many incredible team-mates, coaches and organisations, not only winning games and victories in the field, but committing themselves to doing amazing things in the community as well. The Award was founded in the year 2000 when Nelson Mandela said ‘Sport has the power to change the world’ and I totally agree with that. Sport transcends borders, races, religions, ethnicities. It brings so many people together in a positive way. In my view it brings the best out in individuals.”
The Miami Beach Golf Club was transformed for the fundraising spectacle
Legendary NFL running back and Laureus Academy Member Marcus Allen said: “Laureus has been raising money for more than 20 years and I am delighted to support this very special golf challenge and auction. Funding programmes like Dibia DREAM will have a big impact on the lives of boys and girls in the Miami area.”
Lewis Hamilton said he was looking forward to competing in the Miami Grand Prix. “It’s a new circuit. There’s not a lot of time to practise, but it’s exciting when you find a new course, discovering all the different features of the circuit. It’s been a dream for our sport to be in Miami.”
