A British charity that works with vulnerable children and their families is to launch a celebrity charity auction this month featuring “love tokens” from some big stars.
Over 50 celebrities have donated items to the auction, including Annie Lennox, The Who, Lulu, Joanna Lumley, Jeremy Irons, Ian Rankin, Jason Donovan, Jacqueline Wilson, Blur's Damon Albarn, Jo Whiley, Jason Durr, Sebastian Faulks, Gordon Brown and Stephen Fry.
The auction has been organized by charity Coram, which has been working with disadvantaged children since 1739 when Thomas Coram established the Foundling Hospital, to care for abandoned babies dying on the streets of London.
The 50 celebrity ‘Love Tokens’ are a tribute to the Georgian mothers who, out of dire poverty, were forced to abandon their babies into the charities’ care – nearly 300 years ago.
Many of these mothers left ‘love tokens’ to identify their children in case they could come back for them. These were coins or scraps of ribbon, buttons, anything they had. But most were never able to return and so thousands of children lived their lives with only these simple items to remind them of their mothers.
Inspired by this legacy, 50 famous names are donating their own Tokens of Love for this very special eBay launch, which will raise funds for Coram’s work in helping the most disadvantaged children deal with loss and move on in their lives.
The auction starts on March 18, and can be accessed through the Coram website or eBay.
