Celebration for Abby

Help swell the fund by bidding for the items below

An event tinged with sadness but full of joy takes place at the Lydiard House conference centre on 27 June in memory of three year old Abby Smith from Middleleaze who died of a brain tumour in July last year.

The proceeds of the evening, where local band Smiley Mac will be playing, will go towards Swindon children's cancer charity CALM and cancer ward 4B at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital.

Mum Helen has written to everybody she can think of seeking support for Abby's Appeal and has had a response from a wide range of people including a Swindon lady who is donating a T shirt signed by Charlie Dimmock and Tommy Walsh.

There are football items from Swindon Town, Middlesborough, Nottingham Forest, Leicester and Bolton. Formula 1 boss Eddie Jordan has sent a signed shirt and people touched by cancer have sent letters or made donations, including former PM John Major, Mo Mowlem, ex-Eastenders star Martin Kemp and Gary Lineker.

Film producer David Putnum, author Jilly Cooper and snooker player Steven Hendry have helped, as have Swindon personalities Billie Piper, Julian Clary and Melinda Messenger.

HTS Lydiard Park are making the conference centre facilities available without charge and Esplendido Properties in Wootton Bassett is offering a free week in a Spanish apartment as a prize.

Helen said she and Abby's grandparents were still grieving deeply at the loss of their little girl and raising money for the organisations that had helped her and Abby had given her a focus. "Everything seemed normal until I took Abby to the doctor on Christmas Eve 2001. She was soon diagnosed with a tumour in a part of the brain which was difficult to remove. She had an operation and over thirty sessions of radiotherapy, but a scan on 31 May 2002 showed it had spread over her brain and into the spine.

"Abby was so accepting and at an age where children ask questions about everything, she never asked about her illness. We drew our strength from her and even though we were in turmoil, we tried to keep a brave face for her."

Helen expressed appreciation for the kindness of the volunteers from CALM and CLIC, and the staff at the John Radcliffe. "It is so devastating to be told that your child has an illness like cancer and you realise even more than ever how precious they are."

Donations to the Abby Smith Cancer Fund can be made via the Royal Bank of Scotland, Commercial Road, Swindon, sort code 16-33-11, account no. 10073212.

To make a bid for one of the items listed below, send a letter with name and address and how much you are prepared to pay to:

Abby Smith Cancer Appeal
38 Danestone Close,
Middleleaze,
Swindon. SN5 5GP


Auction Items

Celebrity Donations :

• Barbara Windsor - Item of clothing and signed photo
• Tracy Shaw (Maxine) - Item of clothing and signed photo
• Manchester United - Signed football
• Formula 1 - Eddie Jordan signed shirt
• David Howell - David Howell golf bag, Donnay golf polo shirt and signed cap
• Stephen Hendry - Signed snooker cue and photo
• Steve Davis - Signed snooker cue
• Martin Kemp - Signed book and photo
• David Puttnam - Signed book
• Sting - Signed photo
• Gary Linekar - Signed script from World Cup 2002
• Dame Maggie Smith - Large signed photo (bl/w)
• Dame Judi Dench - Large signed photo (colour)
• Ready Steady Cook - tea towel, apron, carrier bags, signed photos of chefs
• Ainsley Harriott - Book and signed photo
• Chris Tarrant - Book and signed photo
• Rick Stein - Signed book
• Jilly Cooper - Signed book
• Everton Football Team - Signed Team photo
• Eastenders - Signed photos
• GMTV - Selection of goodies
• Virgin - Selection of goodies
• Al Fayed - Harrods teddy bear
• Julian Clary - Signed photo in frame
• Jane Asher - Signed wooden spoon and book
• Nigella Lawson - Signed book
• Anthony Andrews - Signed photo
• David Jason - Signed photo
• Jenny Pitman - Signed book
• Billie Piper and Chris Evans - Signed photo in frame
• David Hempleman-Adams - Signed book
• John Major - Signed minature cricket bat
• Richard and Judy - Signed photo
• Frank Bruno - 3 large signed photos
• Manchester City - Signed photos of Kevin Keegan, players and signed poster of Robbie Fowler
• Arsenal - memorabilia to be sent
• Alan Titchmarsh - Signed book
• Lorraine Kelly - Signed photo and GMTV goodies
• David and Victoria Beckham - Signed photo
• Johnny Vegas - Signed poster
• Dom Joly - Signed photo
• Sheffield United - Signed pennant
• Bolton Wanderers - Signed pennant
• Middlesborough - Signed football shirt
• Leicester City - Signed pennant
• Fay Ripley - Signed photo and individual photos of the 'Cold Feet' gang, taken in 1998 and given only to the cast and crew and signed by Fay Ripley.
• Mo Mowlam - Signed photos
• Charlie Dimmock & Tommy Walsh - Signed t.shirt
• Nottingham Forest - Signed football
• Steve Regrave - Signed photo of the 4 gold medalists
• Aston Villa - Signed pennant
• Swindon Town - Signed shirt

Other Auction Items :

• The Wedding Boutique - £500.00 wedding dress voucher
• Keith Davidson of DVP video - Wedding Video Package
• Esplendido Holidays - 1 weeks holiday in Spain
• Kemble Airfield - Half hour flying lesson
• Cameron Balloons - Balloon ride
• White Horse Gypsy Caravans - Family ride on a horse drawn gypsy caravan/cart for the morning