Stone Roses legend Mani and wife Imelda’s star-studded auction for cancer fund-raiser

If you’ve ever wanted to get your hands on a pair of David Beckham’s football boots or guitars played by musicians in bands such as Oasis or the Foo Fighters, now is your chance.

Big names from the worlds of music and sport have donated an incredible array of exclusive items to go under the hammer in an online auction organised by a Manchester musical legend and his wife. Stone Roses musician Mani and his wife Imelda are staging a glitzy and sold-out fund-raising evening to benefit Greater Manchester cancer causes in the city later this month. This followed Imelda’s diagnosis with stage four bowel cancer in November 2020 that had spread to her liver and a tiny nodule in her lung.

But alongside the glamorous night out there is also an online auction anyone can take part to swell the total for charity even further. Here’s some of the amazing lots going on sale and how you can take part.

What items are being auctioned, when is the sale and how can I take part?

Among the lots which are being auctioned include the pair of football boots David Beckham wore in his final game for Paris St Germain (PSG) in 2013, signed by the midfielder.

A host of big names from the Manchester music scene have also donated lots. Mani’s fellow member of The Stone Roses, John Squire, has given a hand-painted and signed Hofner guitar while Noel Gallagher of Oasis and High Flying Birds fame has offered framed presentation discs of the six-times platinum album What’s the Story Morning Glory and his brother Liam has donated his personal NME Gold Award. Peter Hook from Joy Division and New Order has donated a signed guitar and there are also presentation discs from The Stone Roses and Johnny Marr.

Other musical donations include signed guitars from the likes of the Foo Fighters and The Who and Damon Albarn’s signed Taylor guitar.

Auction participants can also bid for items such as a vintage 1960s Vespa scooter, a seven-night stay at a five-star resort in the Maldives, a week at a French country estate, a year’s supply of wine from Cork of the North, an overnight stay at Manchester’s Stock Hotel with a pre-dinner drink in Sterling Bar and dinner for two at celebrated chef Tom Kerridge‘s restaurant The Bull & Bear followed by breakfast the next morning with members of The Class of ‘92.

The auction goes live at 9pm on Friday 18 November, the same night Mani and Imelda are staging their glitzy fund-raising evening at The Kimpton Clocktower Hotel Ballroom in Manchester. The catalogue will appear before the sale at the website of Adam Partridge Auctioneers and Valuers in Macclesfield, which is organising the sale. The deadline for bids is Thursday 1 December.

All proceeds from the auction, like the fund-raising evening, are going to The Christie and Stockport NHS Charity, two causes which have been picked as they are close to Imelda and Mani’s hearts.

What has been said about the auction?

Mani said: “When life deals you a pair of twos, you have to get your game face on. These past two years since Imelda’s diagnosis have been brutal in so many ways, but it’s also opened our eyes to so many things.

“This disease needs to be eradicated - we feel duty-bound to do our bit to achieve this. So, everybody get on board, dig deep, help out. We will win.”

Auction organiser Adam, who has appeared as an expert on TV programmes including Cash In The Attic, Bargain Hunt, Flog It! and Dickinson’s Real Deal, said: “It’s a privilege for Adam Partridge Auctioneers to host this amazing charitable auction for such a worthy cause. The world is your oyster. Everything to bid on and nothing to lose.

“Lots include rock and pop through the decades with signed guitars, gold discs and more, football memorabilia, artwork, fine wines, gastronomic delights on the white sands of The Maldives, fishing at 16th-century Crathes Castle, or a tour of iconic Coronation Street.”

The charities being supported through Mani and Imelda’s fund-raising have also expressed their gratitude at the help.

Louise Stimson, head of fund-raising at The Christie charity, said: “We’re really touched that Imelda’s experiences as a patient have spurred her and Mani into action for our charity, helping us provide more support to patients like her. Mani obviously has legendary status in Manchester, and I’m sure all their plans will result in a legendary event and auction too.”

Karen James OBE, chief executive for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, said, “We’re hugely grateful to Imelda and Mani’s efforts in organising this fundraising event and auction. We’re proud of the care Imelda and many others with cancer have received at Stepping Hill Hospital. This fund-raiser for our charity is a really touching display of her thanks, which will help us go on to support more patients in the future.”