Urge customers have raised over $3,500 for the Mental Health Foundation at the Auckland men's bar's annual Slave Auction. Sixteen lots were presented on stage by ‘slaves' with top bids for a Christophe Jannin original drawing and a year's worth of Rialto Cinema tickets each receiving $400 bids. The night also featured the shaving of Mr Urge Bear 2011 Arthur's beard ahead of his fundraising for ‘Movember'. Urge co-owner Alan Granville said a huge thanks must go to all the businesses and individuals who donated items, as well as the ‘slaves' and the customers who bid on the night. “It was the second highest total we have ever raised on a Slave Auction night, bringing the total over the last five years to over $15,500 to charity.” The funds from Saturday's auction will go to a new GLBT initiative at the Mental Health Foundation. Chief Executive Judi Clements says the Foundation says it relies on communities to support us in its work to improve mental wellbeing both with their hearts and minds as well as their wallets. “Not only are we thrilled with the final total for the auction, but by the awareness-raising and commitment to gay men's mental health issues that has come out of Urge Bar hosting this event, as well as the many generous businesses and individuals who donated items.Thank you all for your support,” she says.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 1st November 2011 - 4:42pm