Skin and haircare specialist Kiehl’s is launching a major fundraising and awareness campaign for Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) in the run up to World AIDS Day – 1 December. Six celebrities have designed Kiehl’s canvas shopping bags which will be raising money for the charity during a number of events.  These are the dates for your diary:

• 22 November to 1 December - eBay auction: Allegra Hicks, Mathew Horne, Gail Porter, Petra Nemcova, Tamara Beckwith and David James have all designed Kiehl’s canvas shopping bags which will be auctioned on eBay to raise money for THT.  Some bags will be signed by the high profile designers and all will be filled with the celebrities’ favourite Kiehl’s products.  Visit www.ebay.co.uk/tht_celebrity_bags

• 18 November - Fundraising day at Selfridges: between 9.30am – 8pm the Kiehl’s concession at Selfridges, Oxford Street will be donating 100% of net profits to THT. Mat Horne, Allegra Hicks and Gail Porter are expected to pop in during the day.

• December – buy your designer bag/lip balm: During the month of December, the bag designed by Mathew Horne and drawn by his friend Go De Jong will be on sale exclusively at Kiehl’s in Selfridges (Oxford Street & Birmingham) and the bag designed by Allegra Hicks will be available in all other Kiehl’s stores. Bags cost just £5 and are the perfect stocking filler. 100% of sales are donated to THT. Through bag sales alone, Kiehl’s hopes to raise over £8,000 for THT.  A Kiehl’s lip balm # 1 will also be raising money for THT throughout December.

Mathew Horne said “It was important to me to support the brilliant work of Terrence Higgins Trust by doing this project because it is such a fantastic cause. Plus, I get some free musk shower gel which makes me smell well fit.”

Debbie Holmes, Director of Fundraising at THT said “Kiehl’s, Selfridges and our celebrity supporters have been amazing in making all this happen for us in the run up to World AIDS Day.  We hope you’ll get involved by bidding on our eBay auction, buying one of our bags or doing some of your Christmas shopping at Kiehl’s during our special events. It’s an easy way to support us around World AIDS Day.”

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Notes to Editor

• Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity with centres across England, Scotland and Wales. We're here to provide information and advice about HIV and sexual health and offer a range of services including sexual health checks, counselling and support groups.  We campaign for a world where people with HIV live healthy lives, free from prejudice and discrimination and we promote good sexual health as a right and reality for all.

• Kiehl's was founded as an old-world apothecary in New York's East Village neighborhood. Its unique and extensive background represents a blend of cosmetic, pharmaceutical, herbal, and medicinal knowledge developed and passed on through the generations.