8 Dec 2020
Looking for Christmas present ideas? We have launched a Teesside icons auction to raise much needed funds for the Regional Cardiothoracic Centre at James Cook University Hospital.
Looking for Christmas present ideas? We have launched a Teesside icons auction to raise much needed funds for the Regional Cardiothoracic Centre at James Cook University Hospital.
Items available to bid on include special Boro memorabilia, and an artwork of two other Teesside icons: legend of the international folk scene Vin Garbutt and the Transporter bridge.
Dr Adrian Davies, chairman of the SCHF, said: "Everyone is having a horrible time during this dreadful pandemic. Like many charities, fundraising has dried up as the events and fundraisers that people so generously support have not been possible this year.
"We have some wonderful items that have been donated to us to sell by auction online to try and raise some funds.
"At James Cook we have one of the country’s best heart units right here on Teesside, thanks in no small part to the generosity of people who have supported the charity over the years. There is absolutely no doubt that support has saved many lives – it does make a difference.”
Great collectors’ items
Included in the auction are two special photographs signed by the legendary 1986/87 promotion team and manager Bruce Rioch, donated by fundraiser Tony Wedlake.
Also for Boro fans, a farewell to Ayresome Park print is available, signed by Boro legends Micky Fenton, Wilf Mannion, George Hardwick, Brian Clough, Alan Peacock and Willie Maddren.
Fans, friends and family of the late Teesside Troubadour Vin Garbutt have been great supporters of the charity in recent years in appreciation of the care Vin received at the department.
Artist Ken Wilson created a piece combining two Teesside icons with Vin and the Transporter Bridge. Selling the artwork at gigs and online, Ken raised over £2,000 for the charity, and donated one of the prints for fans to bid on at auction.
The Regional Cardiothoracic Centre at James Cook University Hospital has a catchment area of 1.6 million people, covering the region from Carlisle and Whitehaven, across to Sunderland and south as far as York and Scarborough.
The charity exists to fund equipment and training that the NHS cannot, pump-priming new techniques, funding staff training and research, and improving patient comfort.
Run entirely by volunteers, every penny raised goes to the department at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough.
Bids can be made on eBay until the evening of Monday 14th December.
Black and white signed photo of the 1986 Boro team:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233812491111
Colour signed photo of the 1986 Boro team:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233812492666
Signed Ayresome Park print:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233812489300
"Voice of the Tees” Vin Garbutt canvas:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233812486739.