Fundraising auction for my cousins 3yr old with cancer :-(

Contains_Mild_Peril

I don't have a postal address for him, but e-mailing Derren Brown c/o his agent http://www.michaelvineassociates.com/ might procure a signed photo or even DVD or book since it's for such a good cause.
You could also try asking the local football team to donate a suitable item, e.g. a signed shirt or ball. The local MP might be worth a try too: mine gives out bottles of House Of Commons whisky sometimes for fundraising events.
If the auction will be before the ball you could maybe invite people to donate ballgowns for the auction.
Once you've got all your auction lots ready, publicity is the important thing: plenty of posters and press releases listing all the stuff you're selling, and telling people about what the money is for.
Best of luck and get well wishes to your cousin's daughter.

sonicshelly

oscar_merkx wrote: »

Hi ya

Where does she live ?

Cheers

Oscar

Hi - the little girl - Chelsea, lives in Northamptonshire.
Things aren't going to well on the auction front - quite a few declines to help
Quite upsetting really, I know there must be thousands of people requesting help.
But I just want to cry, must keep trying though.
Thanks

Amanda65

Would your cousin be comfortable appealing in her local newspaper? Sometimes these stories, particularly if it is about treatment that can be got - just not here attract support from local celebs / entrepreneurs.

For a ball, try and get local companies to sponsor parts of the event - table decorations (which can be auctioned at the end of the evening), arrival drinks, DJ, programme etc. in return for publicity on the programme and in local papers / radio shows. An auction during the evening, either of items or promises usually brings in a large profit and by getting sponsors for much of the event, your profit from the evening is greater. If doing an auction, approach a local auction house to see if one of their auctioneers will come along and run it for you - their professionalism usually makes for higher bids

My only other suggestion is to try charities as well to top up your funds. Try Turn 2 Us http://www.turn2us.org.uk/ which has a massive database of organsations that can help people based on their work history (her parents in Chelsea's case!), area, illness, age etc. There might be someone who can offer some help.

Really HTH - and am still so shocked that in this day and age a little girls family is fundraising themselves for life-saving treatment :eek: Good luck and keep us posted with how things are going

Chell

sonicshelly wrote: »

Hi - the little girl - Chelsea, lives in Northamptonshire.
Things aren't going to well on the auction front - quite a few declines to help
Quite upsetting really, I know there must be thousands of people requesting help.
But I just want to cry, must keep trying though.
Thanks

Whereabouts in Northants are you? In Corby I've had sucess from Oxford University Press and also the chocolate factory. I got a jar of sweets from Ashburys and a large box of books from OUP. I think both companies are known for giving to charity but you would need to collect, no use if you are at the other end of the county.

Have you had anything in the local paper about her?

sonicshelly

Hi there

We have had the story in the local paper.
People have been getting the wrong end of the stick about "auction". Someone rang me offering me a plastic table and chairs that had been in the garage for years!!! Someone else rang offering me some books, nothing special about them!!!!

But no-one had called offering anything that I can put up for auction, that people would really, really want.

Sent many letters out to local companies and now the decline letters are coming in.
:sad:

Thanks for the advice.

sonicshelly

I am in Wellingborough and the family concerned are in Irthlingborough
Will write to those companies - thanks very much

Chell

I found it is better to approach the smaller businesses. Companies like Tesco and Weetabix have a charity of the year and aren't very helpful to smaller causes.

If people are willing to offer second hand items then could you have a mammoth sale in a hall somewhere or even do some car boot sales? The Diamonds Car boot used to be good, is it still a regular event?

Have you asked Rushden and Diamonds to donate something? Wickstead might offer some tickets or a free pass.

sonicshelly

Chell wrote: »

I found it is better to approach the smaller businesses. Companies like Tesco and Weetabix have a charity of the year and aren't very helpful to smaller causes.

If people are willing to offer second hand items then could you have a mammoth sale in a hall somewhere or even do some car boot sales? The Diamonds Car boot used to be good, is it still a regular event?

Have you asked Rushden and Diamonds to donate something? Wickstead might offer some tickets or a free pass.

Thanks for all your help - have now added them to my list.
The amount of stuff I have got, I will probably look at a hall - then I can add in other things, like tombola, name the teddy, cake stall, etc,etc

Kind Regards

brightonman123

for anyone ho is currently on tv, write c/o the broadcaster or even better, the production company if you see it on the credits..

(name of star - fan mail)
bbc tv
london, etc..

i did a project some years back- check though the who's who at the library, or more likely wikipedia/imdb sites nowadays, for agent details..

i got a fair respnse, mainly signed photos, and even some hand written letters!

also tried a race night? recorded horse races, with a cash tote- usually only small stakes allowed, but get a few people together, and it could work out welL!

there is a local firm called 'monkey bananas' that advertises on the radio, that does sport/celeb related stuff for auctions, too..

full-time-mum

sonicshelly wrote: »

I am in Wellingborough and the family concerned are in Irthlingborough

I'm in Wellingborough too. If you ever do a coffee morning or similar, I'd happily make you a couple of cakes to sell.

I've just been thinking who you could ask locally

• Diamonds have already been suggested but what about Cobblers and Wellingborough Town FC too and the saints.
• At school, we always have tickets for Macdonalds, Laser Maze, the Castle.
• Try Wellingborough garden centre as they seem more community minded since they were taken over and there is also Bosworths at Burton. Latimer
• What about play areas such as Paul's Pirates, Wacky Warehouse, KLV, Wicksteed.
• Have you tried the cinema at Kettering and Sixfields?
• Is there a local pub which would donate a meal for 2 or a even a family meal?
• Places like BBs and Cafe Nero might donate a token for a couple of free cups of coffee.

I've had success with Tesco, Sainsbury's and Wilkisnons sometimes but not others. You have got nothing to loose by asking. If you know someone who works there, you may get better success.