Eat pizza to raise cash for Blue Day, says restaurant
It's not often you can say eating pizza can help raise a four-figure sum for charity.
But when regular diner David MacAskill heard the Pizza House restaurant in London Road, Hilsea had a replica of the FA Cup, he had one thing on his mind - getting the pupils at his school to see it.
That was in 2008, and it led to a relationship with the restaurant that has seen thousands raised for the Tom Prince Cancer Trust and, it is hoped, thousands more next week.
Mr MacAskill, 38, who is a teacher at the Harbour School, Tipner, said: 'Our links with the restaurant started because I am a customer there. Christian Mascia, the general manager, came along to the school with the replica FA Cup in 2008 and it all started from there.
'Then we heard about the Tom Prince Cancer Trust, which the school was supporting because it's a young person's charity, and with the links to the football club.'
The restaurant has a long association with the city's footballing heroes and the Tom Prince Cancer Trust.
Former Portsmouth FC chairman Milan Mandaric listed it as his favourite restaurant, and officially reopened it in 2003 after it was extended and refurbished.
And when Mr Mandaric invited Pizza House owner Josef Mascia to dine in the executive box at Fratton Park, there was another guest on the day - Tom Prince.
The links between the charity, the club, Mr MacAskill and the restaurant led to a charity auction, held in conjunction with Blue Day 09.
Mr MacAskill said: 'I sent letters explaining what it was all about to loads of clubs and footballers and the generosity of people for a good cause, and this is a great cause, has been tremendous.
'Mark Hughes and Steve Bruce wrote letters back, which I thought was really nice of them.'
A meal and the auction of signed football memorabilia led to a donation of 2,155 for the Tom Prince Cancer Fund - and it's all set to happen again on Monday.
'We've organised to have a meal which people pay for, so basically the Tom Prince Cancer Trust is guaranteed a donation of 750 before the auction even begins,' said Mr MacAskill.
'We're hoping to raise even more than we did last year.'
The meal, which will start at 7pm, costs 20 a ticket for a two-course meal, a drink, and a black coffee afterwards.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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