(Vienna, 29 October 2019) For the first time, the Austrian Skiing Association (ÖSV) is launching a charity campaign in support of a sensational, innovative research project, MedUni Vienna's Center for Precision Medicine. ÖSV skiing stars are donating their valuable racing equipment to be sold in four auctions: items include an original racing suit belonging to the eight-times overall World Cup winner Marcel Hirscher, Anna Veith’s RTL racing skis and ski boots from Garmisch double world champion Lizz Görgl, plus a lot more besides.
In the auctions, which will be run by the famous Dorotheum auction house, the items will be offered in four auctions running from 30 October 2019 and each lasting one week. The final spurt for the closing auction will take place during the Night Race in Schladming on 28 January 2020. Anyone can take part. The reserve price for each lot is €50.
MedUni Vienna is providing a donations account for those who do not wish to take part in the auction but still want to donate: IBAN: AT46 2011 1404 1007 0714.
All proceeds from the campaign will go towards the construction of the MedUni Vienna research centre, the Center for Precision Medicine. In future, this centre will bring together scientists of international repute to look for new ways of combating incurable diseases by way of personalised precision medicine.
Says ÖSV President Peter Schröcksnadel: "The charity auction is our way of highlighting medical research and making people aware of its importance. Especially for top sportsmen and sportswomen, health and medical care are a prerequisite for success. Precision medicine sets new milestones in healthcare. Austria has the opportunity to be among the front-runners in this area, among the best in the world. We want to make our own contribution to help the Medical University of Vienna in this endeavour."
The Dorotheum will be running the online auctions professionally on a no-commission basis. Says Martin Böhm, executive partner of the Dorotheum: "The Dorotheum wants to support the new Center for Precision Medicine. We are delighted that we can offer our expertise in running charity auctions to contribute to the success of this state-of-the-art-medicine project."
MedUni Vienna's Vice Rector Michaela Fritz, who is responsible for research and innovation, is very grateful for the campaign: "It's not only in top-level sport that precision is needed to ensure success but also in the medicine of the future, which is precisely adapted to each individual patient so that, in future, we will be better able to treat serious illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson's or strokes or even offer a cure. I am grateful to all ÖSV athletes, to ÖSV President Schröcksnadel and to the Dorotheum for running this charity auction to support us in the construction of the Center for Precision Medicine in Vienna."
The items will be auctioned on the following dates:
- 30 October 2019, 10:00 hrs to 7 November 2019, 21:00 hrs » to the auction
- 28 November 2019, 10:00 hrs to 5 December 2019, 21:00 hrs
- 12 December 2019, 10:00 hrs to 19 December 2019, 21:00 hrs
- 28 January 2020, 10:00 hrs to 4 February 2020, 21.00 hrs
Marcel Hirscher's racing suit will be the highlight of the auction starting on 28 January.The items will be available for viewing in the foyer of the Dorotheum during the week of the relevant auction.
How do I take part in the auctions starting on 30 October:
You can log in via the websites: www.oesv.at or www.dorotheum.com/onlineauctions or www.meduniwien.ac.at. Potential bidders can find their way to the auction items in five easy steps:
- Registration: In a first step, potential bidders in the auction must register as a myDOROTHEUM-User at www.dorotheum.com. As soon as the Dorotheum has activated your user account, you are able to take part in the auction.
- Viewing: The auction items can be viewed at www.dorotheum.com/onlineauctions. In addition to this, the items will be on display in the foyer of the Palais Dorotheum for the duration of the auction.
- Bidding: Your bid will be placed immediately. You will be notified if there is already another higher bid or if you are outbid.
- Commission and payment: Once the auction has ended, the successful bidder will be informed of the outcome by email. No fees or commission will be charged for this charity auction. The Dorotheum is foregoing its commission in aid of this good cause. Payment should be made directly to the Medical University of Vienna's account in favour of the Center for Precision Medicine.
- Collection: By prior agreement with the Dorotheum, and after payment has been made, the auctioned items can be collected from the Palais Dorotheum, Dorotheergasse 17, 1010 Vienna.
Center for Precision Medicine
Precision medicine provides an opportunity for all Austrians to benefit from better healthcare. Successful treatments with the very latest techniques offer hope that, as a result of intensified research activities, even more people will benefit, thereby improving and prolonging their lives. Clinicians and basic researchers will be working together in close proximity to Vienna General Hospital to develop the very latest knowledge, so that patients can be treated using state-of-the-art medicine. The aim of the new Center is to come up with research results more quickly, for the benefit of patients with serious illnesses.
The planned Center for Precision Medicine, which is to be built on the MedUni Vienna General Hospital Campus is being funded by external funding and contributions from sponsors and donors. Construction of the new Center is scheduled to start from 2022 onwards.