As we are now in the last 24 hours of the RA birthday auctions, here is another update for Sunday night (BST), before I head to bed. As a reminder: This morning, when I opened up the laptop and checked for the progress, the combined bids came up to 821 USD$ (725 Euro). Over the day, things developed further, in two ways: Bids continued to be raised, and several wonderful e-mail suggestions came in.

I will get to the details further down, but let me already say that we crossed the 1,000 USD$ mark at about 9pm BST! Guys, I don’t have words that can express how amazing you are! Your generosity of spirit and wallet simply leaves me speechless. I already thank you for your kind support of this fundraiser! 

Secondly, I have had a number of messages from a few kind supporters of the auctions who have offered to chip in with the shipping costs that I had volunteered to take on. That is a wonderful idea, and I happily accept that. In effect that will mean that I can bump up the donations with the remainder of what I had allocated to the shipping costs = more money for the Syrian Children Fund. If anyone would like to donate to the fund – maybe in lieu of a bid on the auctions – I can offer you the same service as in previous auctions: I can collect your contributions and donate them together with the final auction proceeds in one tidy sum. If you wish to donate this way, please e-mail me at guylty@photographer.net and I will let you know how you can transfer the money to me. In case you’d prefer to organise your own donation, please consider donating to Save the Children’s Syria Fund HERE or to Richard’s own supported charities via Just Giving HERE.

Thirdly, I have had a wonderful reaction from our fellow fan Glady who has spontaneously sat down today to hand-craft a couple of gifts that will be raffled among all those who donate (or contribute to postage costs) via me. Staying with the RA theme, she has made two practical, yet swoony gifts that you could win. Look at those fabulous air fresheners that both come with RA charms.

 

Mr Thornton will refresh your cottons (…) in your wardrobe, while RA himself watches over you from the rear-view mirror in your car. Ahem, we accept no liability as to distRActed drivers…

Lastly, here is now a last update over current highest bids (in USD$) on the various items, as of Sunday night, time of posting:

1. Framed/mounted Richard Armitage autograph

184.02 $

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 17:54 BST

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2. Unframed/unmounted Richard Armitage autograph

117.21 $

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 23:45 BST

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3. Unframed/unmounted Richard Armitage autograph

113.25 $
Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 21:13 BST

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4. Framed/mounted Richard Armitage autograph

201.01 $

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 22:36 BST

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5. Commemorative poster pull-out The Hobbit AUJ

 

17.55 $

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 22:23 BST

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6. Hobbit Movie Guide – AUJ

 

37.37 $

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 21:58 BST

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7. Empire magazine, issue with Thorin Oakenshield hologram cover

70.78 $

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 21:31 BST

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8.  The Crucible theatre programme

45.30 $
Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 21:22 BST

 

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9. RAPS “King Oleron” (Alice Through The Looking Glass)

114.38 $

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 23:24 BST

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10. RAPS “Love Love Love”

58.32 $

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016 23:36 BST

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11. Custom RAPS

60.00 $

Auction ends: 22 Aug, 2016, 23.59 BST

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If you add all this up, you will see that the bids now amount to a massive total of 1019.19 USD$. (Imagine a flashing garland of lights around this number!) This would already allow us to sponsor FOUR shelter kits for families. Just imagine – we can make a tangible difference to four families, that maybe even 20 people! That, to me, is a mind-blowing thought!

I would also like to add here – slightly prematurely – that the fantastic response is really getting to me (in a good way!) on a personal level. As you know, I have been struggling a bit with (my idea of) RA and fandom in general, but what I am seeing now is reinvigorating me and reinforcing my commitment. It’s just a by-product and not for me but for RA and the children of Syria, but hell, I am loving it 😀 . Thanks!

I am really looking forward to waking up tomorrow morning – on Armitage Day :-). But before that, I will have very sweet dreams. 😘