Charity to rake in £10k from celebrity Easter egg auction

IT'S a cracking fundraising idea - get celebrities including Stephen Fry and Simon Pegg to autograph specially-designed Easter eggs and auction them off for charity.

The Royal Blind hopes to raise more than 10,000 with the online sale of a dozen celebrity eggs, including one painted by artist John Lowrie Morrison, or Jolomo, which is expected to raise more than 500.

The fundraiser follows the first egg auction held last year, which included one designed and signed by Johnny Depp.

Also among this year's supporters are Labour leader Ed Miliband, the Scotland rugby team and Gary: Tank Commander star Greg McHugh.

Each egg also includes a gift from the celebrity, with Fry giving a signed Harry Potter audio book and Pegg including mini Lego figures from Shaun of the Dead inside his two eggs, one of which has a Star Trek theme and the other an alien face representing his film Paul.

Mr Miliband has included a tie and Michael Ball's Hairspray-themed egg contains a piece of jewellery worn by him in the stage show.

The Hour presenter Michelle McManus has also included a piece of jewellery in her egg.

Yesterday afternoon, with bids for her egg standing at 81.50 - behind Jolomo on 205 and Michael Ball on 129 - she said: "I'm overwhelmed to be sitting in third place, especially when there are eggs that have been decorated by the likes of Stephen Fry and Simon Pegg.

"This is such a wonderful cause."

Funds raised will help the charity with its work running the Royal Blind School, the Forward Vision bungalow in Morningside for visually-impaired and disabled 18 to 25-year-olds, Braeside House care home for older people and the Scottish Braille Press.

Marketing and fundraising manager Helen Forrest said raising money was only part of the reason for the auction.

She said: "It's good fun and it raises awareness for the charity. We have a fantastic team of volunteers who work on the eggs. The celebrities come up with suggestions and ideas for the design and we go back and forward with them."

The auction has been selected by eBay as its check-out charity of the week, so everyone who buys something on eBay will be asked if they want to make a donation. To bid, visit www.royalblind.org. The auction runs until Monday.