Ed Sheeran‘s Made In Suffolk charity auction has raised a grand total of more than £500,000.
The singer, 29, donated hoards of personal items from his career to an auction helping to raise money for young people with disabilities and life-limiting illnesses in East Anglia.
Set up by the musician’s parents John and Imogen Sheeran for the GeeWizz and Zest charities, the charity event itself raised a staggering £406,000 in total.
Charity: The Ed Sheeran: Made in Suffolk auction has raised a grand total of more than £500,000 the GeeWizz and Zest charities, it was revealed on Monday
But this was topped-up by a generous £100,000 donation from Guy Nicholls of tru7 Group, bringing the total money raised up to more than half a million.
Ed’s rare abstract painting Dab 2, the only artwork he has ever made available for public sale, was the auction’s star lot, fetching a massive £40,000.
Previously discussing the painting, Ed’s father John said: ‘Ed has been creating art since he was a child.
‘This energetic, expressive painting is such a positive affirmation of life. It’s like a visual equivalent of one of his upbeat songs.’
Ed is said to have started painting following the end of his gruelling Divide Tour across the globe, which ended in the Summer of 2019.
Priceless: Set up by the singer’s parents John and Imogen Sheeran, the auction’s top sale was Ed Sheeran’s rare abstract painting Dab 2 (above), fetching a massive £40,000
The unique artwork was followed closely by his handwritten lyrics for Perfect, dedicated to his wife Cherry Seaborn, which were sold for £23,500.
A stunning sketch of Ed created by Irish artist Colin Davidson was also among the top bids, ranking sixth after raising £12,400 for the two charities.
And a mere handful of Ed’s childhood Lego impressively managed to fetch £4,150, with a signed copy of his You Need Me EP from 2009 also up for grabs.
But this was not all, as the charity event was also supported by floods of international musicians, artists and sports legends.
A limited edition signed print of Patience by Damien Hirst was ranked as one of the event’s star lots, going under the hammer for an impressive £20,000.
Wow! The number one bid was followed closely by the musician’s handwritten lyrics for Perfect (above), dedicated to his wife Cherry Seaborn, which were sold for £23,500
An original page of the script from Richard Curtis’ beloved Christmas classic Love Actually was also for sale, eventually securing £17,000 at the auction.
And John Mayer’s PRS Silver Sky guitar, which was signed by the American musician, secured £5,100 towards the grand total.
The bidding continued until the final closing hours on Sunday, with the ticket and handbill for Ed’s first public gig, and an original Rolling Stones Beggars Banquet photograph, also ranking in the top 20 bids.
David Walliams offered a signed collection of his children’s book to the auction, while a vintage England shirt signed by David Beckham and featuring his number 7 was up for grabs.
Peter Jackson also donated a Lord Of The Rings wall plaque, which was signed by cast members including Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom and Cate Blanchett.
Fundraising: Bidding continued until the final closing hours on Sunday, with the ticket and handbill for Ed’s first public gig also ranking in the top 20 bids
Bidders were given the chance to choose from a range of fine dining, entertainment and live music experiences – including the chance to attend the 2022 GRAMMY Awards.
Overall, more than 220 priceless pieces of rare memorabilia and artwork went under the hammer during the online auction, attracting bids from all across the globe.
The charity event was organised by GeeWizz charity founder Gina Long, who worked with Ed’s parents John and Imogen Sheeran to make the event come to life.
The Sheeran family wanted to create a lasting legacy from the Ed Sheeran: Made in Suffolk Exhibition in Ipswich, which opened last year.
Donations: A mere handful of the star’s childhood Lego impressively managed to raise £4,150 for young people with disabilities and life-limiting illnesses
Auction: Ed’s parents John and Imogen wanted to create a legacy from the Ed Sheeran: Made in Suffolk Exhibition in Ipswich, which opened last year (above, You Need Me EP from 2009)
John Sheeran said: ‘The total raised is way beyond our expectations and we are so pleased that it will create important lasting legacies to improve the quality of care and wellbeing for children and young adults across Suffolk and beyond.
‘Imogen and I would like to thank everyone who generously donated lots, joined in the bidding, and organised and supported the auction. We cannot think of a better legacy for the exhibition to leave.’
All proceeds from the auction are set to go towards helping GeeWizz children’s charity and Zest (St Elizabeth Hospice) fund two vital projects.
The ventures will support children and young people across East Anglia with special educational needs, high dependency disabilities, life-limiting illness and cancer.
GeeWizz’s Gina said: ‘Without the incredible generosity of Ed, John and Imogen Sheeran, our sponsors, auction lot donors from around the world, our Legacy Auction fundraiser would simply not have happened.
Impressive: A stunning sketch of the musician created by Irish artist Colin Davidson (pictured) was also among the top bids, ranking sixth after raising £12,400 for charity
‘We are especially indebted to our headline sponsor Guy Nicholls of tru7 Group, who an addition to the £406,000 we have raised in the online auction, has donated a further £100,000, bringing our total raised to over £500,000.
‘Seeing the huge amount, we have raised, fills all of us on the auction team with joy, knowing our wonderful legacy projects can now become a reality.
‘The response has been truly remarkable, especially during such challenging and uncertain times.
‘But it is in this very different world that the need to deliver our two life-changing legacy projects could not be greater.
‘Our legacy auction is literally going to change many lives for the better, that has to be the greatest gift of all.’
Sold! There was more than 220 priceless pieces of rare memorabilia and artwork that went under the hammer at the charity event (pictured, a rare photo of Ed on tour)