Over £5,000 was raised by bids for a variety of prizes at an auction before Christmas by Manheim Auctions in Gloucester.

The most fought after prize was the child-sized Subaru Rally overalls. Bidding started at just £20 and two buyers went head-to-head until the kit sold for £510. The star prize, a Stator Blade from the Bristol Siddeley Orpheus Engine fitted to Donald Campbell’s K7 Bluebird sold for £450 and the same bidder went on to win the Nick Mason signed drumsticks. The VIP Day with British Superbike Team AP Kawasaki sold for £400 and proved to be so popular that the Kawasaki team very kindly offered another session, which again was sold for £400.

The event, organised by Rebecca Nicholls, the daughter of a well-known trader who has been coming to Manheim Auctions, Gloucester for 35 years, is the first of many to help raise £40,000 for the charity and culminates in a trek to Machu Picchu in Peru in September 2011.

“Manheim has been so supportive and everyone has fully embraced everything we’re doing to raise money for such an important charity. I’ve been coming to Manheim Auctions, Gloucester for years with my dad, they all know me and I’m thrilled the charity auction raised so much money,” commented Rebecca Nicholls.

“We were only too happy to help Rebecca and raise money for Help for Heroes,” commented Matthew Wade, assistant auction centre manager. “So much so, that I’ve decided to join the trek team in September 2011”