Bid For The Shirt Off Steven Gerrard's Back And Raise Money For British Red Cross East Africa Appeal

Online, October 23, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Football fans from across the world will have a chance to bid on unique Liverpool FC merchandise in an online auction to raise money for the British Red Cross East Africa Appeal.

Liverpool Football Club has donated 300 items of valuable stock to the Red Cross, including player issue kit belonging to Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, and Pepe Reina. Manager Kenny Dalglish's shirt and tracksuit from last season will also be available to bid on in an auction which will kick off on Monday 10 October at www.redcross.org.uk/liverpoolfcauction Other lots will include kit belonging to Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez and a three-night stay at the famous Beatles-themed Hard Days Night Hotel and a tour of Anfield.

The football club helped raise £18,000 for the Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal in the summer when they donated items which were sold in selected Red Cross shops in the north-west, Northern Ireland and Isle of Man.

Liverpool-owned and managed company www.footybid.co.uk will hold the auction on its site. Footybid business manager Brendon Kenny, said "When we first heard that the Red Cross had such a unique collection of 'money cannot buy' memorabilia to raise money for such a great cause, we just had to help. With the insatiable demand for all things Liverpool FC at home and abroad it just made sense to promote it to a much wider audience and raise money for the amazing work the Red Cross is doing in East Africa."

Eight lots will be auctioned each day with the auction running for six weeks. All money raised, except the costs of postage and packaging, will go the Red Cross East Africa Appeal.

British Red Cross retail field manager, Sue Ratcliff, said: "We cannot thank Liverpool Football Club enough for their generous donation yet again. We are so grateful to the support the club show us. These are items you just can't get anywhere else and we're hopeful that we will raise thousands which will go to help those affected by the devastating conflict and famine which is affecting millions of people in East Africa."

Mike Taylor, deputy chief executive of Liverpool Vision, the city's economic development company, said: "This is another example of an innovation born in Liverpool making a difference in the world and is typically 'It's Liverpool'. Liverpool Football Club and the city of Liverpool are global brands and by working together we can help raise much-needed funds for the Red Cross."

Millions of people have been affected by drought and conflict in East Africa, with many thousands of people severely malnourished and in need of urgent help.

So far the Red Cross has donated more than £4m to Somalia and Kenya. It is being spent on millions of kilos of food including cereals, pulses, corn and Plumpy'nut - a blend of peanut butter, powdered milk, sugar and vegetable oil fortified with vitamins and minerals for malnourished children.