Dundee charity hosts children’s toy auction

Dundee City Council’s Discover Opportunities and charity Help for Kids are collaborating on the Christmas Toy Appeal to give disadvantaged children a fun-filled Christmas this year

The signed ukelele up for auction today was donated by The View. Photo: Wave 102FM

After weeks of campaigning, today is the day that several celebrity-donated goods go up for auction on Dundee radio station Wave 102 in association with the Overgate shopping centre.

Included in the auction is a guitar signed by Dundee native Paolo Nutini, which sold for £500 to an anonymous bidder early this morning.

Annemarie Smith, Fundraising Manager for Help for Kids said: “This is the first year that we’ve done the auction and we’ve been receiving items over a period of months.

“We’ll give the money raised over to the Dundee City Council Social Work Department and they’ll use the cash to buy gifts for children on the list. There are over 300 kids in the Dundee area that need help and support this year.”

Other lots destined to go under the hammer later today include a signed ukelele from Dundee band The View, as well as a signed Stampy Cat book from the Minecraft YouTube star Joseph Garrett, who visited the city earlier this week.

Last year’s appeal raised over £25,000 for hundreds of children across the city that were identified by the countil as being in need.

Smith added: “We’d like to raise a couple of thousand pounds and so far we’re on £775 at the moment.”

Stampy's Lovely Book from YouTube celebrity Stampy Cat is set to go up for sale this afternoon. Photo: Wave 102FM

Bidders messaged their bids to the Wave 102 Facebook page throughout November, with the two highest bidders on each item pitted against each other live on air today.

Other prized items have been donated by indie rockers the Kaiser Chiefs, Dundee United and golf ace Paul Lawrie.

More information on the lots up for auction can be found on the Facebook event page.