'BUY a unique piece of Jane Austen 200 history and support a cancer charity’s £5million fundraising campaign'

That’s the opportunity Ark Cancer Centre Charity is offering with the auction looming of the Sitting With Jane public art BookBenches

On Friday, September 15, 22 BookBenches will be sold at auction and 75 per cent of the proceeds raised will go to the Sitting With Jane charity partner Ark Cancer Centre Charity – leaving a lasting legacy that will help and support cancer patients and their families as Ark is raising £5million towards a unique local NHS cancer treatment centre.

Merv Rees, Ark Cancer Centre Charity trustee, said: “Sitting With Jane has attracted a great deal of attention locally, nationally and internationally – and now the charity auction is set to provide a grand and fitting final chapter to this wonderful event.

“Hopefully, each of the BookBenches will raise several thousand pounds, which will make a significant difference to Ark’s campaign to help fund the new cancer treatment centre.

“If a business wants to support Ark, leave a lasting legacy, and own a unique piece of Jane Austen 200 history, then buying a BookBench is a great way to achieve all of these goals.”

The auction will take place at The Ark Conference Centre, in Basingstoke. It is being organised by fine art auctioneers and valuers Andrew Smith & Son, from Itchen Stoke, near Winchester.

Tickets to the auction cost £10, and include a welcome drink and auction catalogue. In order to bid for one of the bookbenches, potential bidders must complete the online registration before the event by going to arkcancercharity.org.uk/fundraising/sitting-jane where there are also details on other aspects of the auction.

Largely being funded by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the new cancer treatment centre – which will be built in the Basingstoke area – will deliver the best possible care for cancer patients, their families and loved ones.