Serkis designs a bauble for Barnardo’s e-Bay auction

Celebrity sparkle will help to raise money for less fortunate children this Christmas. Between the 11th- 18th December, Christmas tree baubles customised by stars such as Andy Serkis, Dame Shirley Bassey, Lemar and Jacqueline Wilson will be auctioned on e-Bay to raise funds for the children’s charity Barnardo’s.

Each celebrity has included special gifts inside their bauble including limited edition Lord of The Ring and King Kong merchandise inside Andy Serkis’ signed bauble and signed tickets for Lemar’s UK tour. Proceeds from the e-bay auction will go towards Barnardo’s work with young carers looking after a sick or disabled relative, and giving them a special Christmas to remember.

Speaking on the initiative children’s author Jacqueline Wilson said: ‘I had a lot of fun customising a Christmas bauble for Barnardo’s and including one of my trademark rings. This is just a small gift from me to Barnardo’s but it is a huge contribution from whoever places the winning bid in making a young person’s Christmas wish come true’.

Lemar, a double MOBO award winner said: ‘Inside my autographed Barnardo’s Christmas bauble are tickets for my Spring 2007 tour and one of my favourite vests that I’ve signed especially for you! All bidders will be generously helping to raise money and awareness for young children dealing with the enormous challenge of caring for a sick family member’.

For the chance to bid for these and other celebrity baubles, log on to www.ebay.co.uk after the 11th December and search for ‘Barnardos Christmas Baubles’ (there is no apostrophe in Barnardo’s).

The Hospital, the private members’ club in Covent Garden, will be displaying the bespoke baubles on their Christmas tree for the duration of the auction.

There are around 175,000 young carers in the UK, who will be looking after a sick or disabled relative at Christmas. Barnardo’s runs 14 young carers projects to support young people at this time.
Barnardo’s believes that the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children deserve a better start in life and the chance of a better future. Barnardo’s works with 110,000 children young people and their families through 383 projects. This includes work with children affected by today’s most urgent issues: poverty, homelessness, disability, bereavement and abuse. For more information about Barnardo’s visit our website at www.barnardos.org.uk.