Terrence Higgins Trust’s top celebrity supporters including Joan Rivers, Tracey Emin and Erin O’Connor turned out to the star-studded Lighthouse Gala Auction, which this year raised a record £250,000 for the charity, more than ever before in the history of the event.

Highlights of the auction:

• Joan Rivers took a turn as auctioneer and sold herself (tea and sympathy with Joan Rivers) twice over for a total of £12,500
• Tracey Emin sold not only the prize she had submitted (embroidery and handwritten text ‘A name they called our Dad’), but also VIP tickets to the opening of her next show at the White Cube Gallery in Hoxton Square
• Mario Testino’s portrait of Diana, Princess of Wales, closed the show making an incredible £42,000
• A walk on part in Basic Instinct 2 also fetched £14,000 for Terrence Higgins Trust.
   

Debbie Holmes, Director of Fundraising at Terrence Higgins Trust said: “This has been an incredible event for Terrence Higgins Trust. To raise £250,000 in one night - nearly doubled last year’s total of £140,000 – will make a huge difference to the charity. We’re very grateful to everyone who worked so hard to make this happen.”

Other lots sold on the night included a weekend at the Versace mansion in Miami Beach , a VIP trip to see Kylie live in Vienna and exclusive artwork from David Bailey.

Guests included Joan Rivers, Tracey Emin, Erin O’Connor, David Furnish, Kenny Goss, Kirsten O’Brien, Sir Norman Fowler and Alistair Stewart.

Ends 

Notes to editors

Images are available from:
http://www.salamanderphoto.com/download/lighthousegala2005/ (please credit all images to Salamander Photo).

Photo agencies who attended the event included:

• Richard Young
• Alan Davidson
• PA News
• Xposure photos
• Landmark media
• Wire Image
• Camera Press
• Alpha
• Getty
• Matrix
• PA Broadcasting also attended the event

Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK ’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, providing a wide range of services to over 50,000 people a year.   The charity also campaigns and lobbies for greater political and public understanding of the personal, social and medical impact of HIV and AIDS.

The Lighthouse Gala Auction, now in its ninth year, has raised over £1m for the fight against HIV and AIDS.