A Lichfield author is auctioning off the chance for people to have their name in her next book.
The author of Since You’ve Been Gone and Letting You Go will auction off the chance to become a character in a 10 day auction starting at 8pm on February 25.
Anouska revealed a personal reason to support the charity, as her sister Mena – who was treated for cancer a decade ago – has suffered a recurrence.
“I took part in this wonderful campaign last year,” she said. “I wrote how ten years ago my beautiful sister had been diagnosed at just 19 with Ewing’s Sarcoma, how she nearly lost her life to it, and how despite that horrific year of treatment and set-backs, that girl toughed it out and got through it.
“A few months ago, Mena’s cancer came back. Apart from being reminded what a tough cookie she is, the rest of us have been reminded how utterly useless cancer can make a family feel.
“We can’t cure Mena’s illness. We couldn’t stop her hair from falling out, or her kidneys failing under the pressure of chemotherapy, or the endless stays in hospital.
“We can’t even donate anything that might help her body to cope. We can only offer her as much emotional and practical support as possible, something CLIC Sargent understands the importance of and is providing for families every day.
“As dreadful as it is watching my brilliant sister go through her ordeal, I have three children of my own and can only imagine how harrowing it is to watch a child or young person deal with this disease and I’m thrilled to have been asked to take part again in supporting the wonderful work CLIC Sargent do in supporting children and young people with cancer.”
Other writers taking part include Emma Donoghue, Paula Hawkins and Simon Kernick.
Clare Cox, from CLIC Sargent, said: “We have a fantastic array of authors taking part in this year’s auction, ranging from romance, to children’s books, to hard-boiled thrillers.
“We are hugely grateful for the support of these authors, who are giving their fans a fantastic opportunity to become part of one of their stories while also raising vital funds to help CLIC Sargent provide practical, emotional, financial and clinical support to children and young people with cancer, and their families.”
To bid in the auction, visit www.clicsargent.org.uk/getincharacter