A personally autographed photograph of movie goddess Elizabeth Taylor will be a headlining item in an upcoming auction raising funds for the Cartier Bereavement Trust. The auction will take place during the Masquerade Ball to be held in Auckland's St Matthew's in the City church on November 27. Proceeds from the Ball and auction will support the work the trust does to support people dying from HIV-related illnesses and to help with funeral arrangements. "I thought we'd won Lotto" says Cartier Trustee Karen Ritchie. I was just clearing our PO Box and there it was! I was so excited... I still am!" Taylor has supported HIV causes right from the start of the epidemic in the mid-1980s. One of her closest friends, actor Rock Hudson, was the first international celebrity to admit to being infected and later die from the disease. The now ageing actress, who was regularly voted the most beautiful woman in the world, has often lent her name and presence to fundraisers and awareness events in North America in particular. "She is a woman who has done so much for HIV around the world," says Ritchie. "It's just wonderful that she would help us like this!" Ritchie says the photograph, taken during the peak of Taylor's exceptionally glamorous career, is accompanied by a letter of authentication. In addition Taylor has included a bottle of her signature White Diamonds perfume. Other items likely to prove highly popular at the auction include a signed tie contributed by Prime Minister John Key, an autographed photo of gold medal swimming hunk Danyon Loader and a weekend break in Fiji. More items are currently being confirmed. The Masquerade Ball will include, as well as the auction, entertainment such as a show from drag megastars Buckwheat and Tess Tickle who received a standing ovation for their show at the NZAF's 25th birthday party, and a live band. Other entertainment is yet to be announced. Tickets for the Masquerade Ball are expected to go on sale within the next couple of weeks. You can discuss this gay community news story in the GayNZ.com Forum
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 30th September 2010 - 7:30am