VW UK boss gets inked for Australian wildlife

Tuesday, 21 January 2020

Andrew Savvas, MD of Volkswagen UK, getting tattooed to raise money for Australian bushfire relief.

Expat Australian and managing director of Volkswagen UK Andrew Savvas wanted to do something to help his home country during its terrible bushfire ordeal. So he decided to get a tattoo.

Thanks to a suggestion from a tattooed colleague, Savvas set up an online fundraiser with a target of £1,000 (NZ$1900) and pledged, as his commitment to the fundraiser, his first permanent ink - with an Australian theme.

The tattoo design was originally planned to be a single, small koala; however, after the campaign was wildly successful and has so far raised close to £16,000 (NZ$31,000), Savvas choose a more prominent design: a kangaroo on each ankle.

'Despite living thousands of kilometres away, I didn't want to sit and do nothing about it,' Savvas wrote on the fundraiser page.

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Savvas didn't want to 'sit and do nothing' about the tragic bushfires ravaging his home country.

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'Therefore, I have chosen to support WWF Australia, get emergency funds to care for our injured wildlife, and when the fires clear, help restore the forest homes our koalas and other animals have lost.

'To encourage you to support I have decided to get my first tattoo. I wanted to do something different to ensure that I have a permanent reminder of the impact climate change has on us and to recognise the brave Australians on the frontline volunteering to fight the fires and support their neighbours.

'My inked up mate from Volkswagen UK, Chris Stevens, will be there to hold my hand and stop me from weeping. I reckon if you help me exceed my target, I will go for two tats instead of one and maybe convince Chris that we get matching tattoos.'

The message apparently resonated with Volkswagen employees and retailers across the UK, as within hours the total far exceeded the initial target. In fact, within a single day the total was ten times the original target. Several retailer groups provided four-figure support for the cause and more than 200 other individual donators chipped in with smaller contributions. The total amount raised is still growing.

'I am touched by the overwhelming support I have received in raising funds for a cause that it is important to me personally,' said Savvas as the total climbed.

The fundraiser page can be found at: virginmoneygiving.com/AndrewGettingInkedForAustralia