By Tim Saunders on
A private falconry lesson with Robert Kennedy Jr is just one of the more unusual items up for grabs in a new online auction this month, with the proceeds going to a charity set up by a brave woman who wants to benefit others affected by a deadly disease.
Actor William Baldwin is behind the auction, which is being held on the Charity Folks website until the end of October. Twenty unique and once in a lifetime items are on auction to raise funds for the Carol M. Baldwin Cancer Research Fund, a charity set up by Baldwin’s mother after she underwent a double mastectomy in 1996. The 70 year old turned her tragedy into courage to assist other women who are affected by breast cancer, and the Fund, which has raised over $2.6 million since its inception, donates money to researchers investigating the causes, prevention, and treatment of the disease. Both William Baldwin and his brother, Alec Baldwin, sit on the board of the Fund.
“I was very lucky to get a significant number of people on board and committed,” said Baldwin, who approached many of his friends to donate items to the auction. “I think that sort of created somewhat of an aura, where people were like, ‘You know, I want to be in on this’.”
The 44 year old star of movies such as Backdraft and the current ABC series Dirty Sexy Money has certainly managed to attract an impressive amount of friends. Lots include a day on the campaign trail with Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of presidential candidate John Edwards, an afternoon playing pool with Baldwin and Chevy Chase at Chevy’s home, a walk-on role in the series “30 Rock” with Alec Baldwin, backstage passes to concerts with Melissa Etheridge and Sheryl Crow, as well as front row seats to The Police live at Madison Square Garden in New York. Sting has also donated an autographed bass guitar, and Bruce Springsteen has supplied an autographed CD set. A number of vacation and dinner packages are also on offer.
The auction can be viewed at www.charityfolks.com/baldwin, and more information on the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund can be found at www.findacure.org.
Copyright © 2007 Look to the Stars
