The story of Cabaret Vs Cancer’s charity music auction

CVC patron, Dave Cross, recounts how a signed Debbie Harry photo sparked an annual online auction that has now raised more than £25,000 for Cabaret Vs Cancer.

I’m proud of everything I’ve been involved with for Cabaret vs Cancer over the past eight years, from the shows I’ve produced to times I’ve been part of the team collecting or selling raffle tickets. 

But there’s one fundraising thing that I’m especially proud of… our annual online music auction. 

How did the music edition of the online charity auction start?

It was Christmas 2021, and an old music industry friend of mine sent me a signed promo photo of Debbie Harry from the late 1970s. I added this to a general gift online auction that Rose Thorne, founder of Cabaret Vs Cancer, was putting together. 

The photo sold for £100 and it occurred to me that I could use my contacts in the music industry to put together a music auction with limited editions, signed items, memorabilia, vinyl, CDs and anything else that could get people’s attention. 

When I proposed the idea to Rose, I told her I thought we could raise £1000. That was my target for the first auction, launched in March 2022. 

A-list connections

In the first two months of 2022, I contacted everyone I was still friends with from my days working in the music industry. I hunted down contacts for managers and record labels, and emailed out information about Cabaret Vs Cancer and what we hoped to do with the auction. 

Top of my list was a genuine A-list music legend,  someone I had worked with a lot and someone who I knew —  if we got their support — would make this charity music auction a resounding success. 

So, after weeks of gentle nudging (bordering on nagging her very patient PR person), a large parcel of signed records arrived, from none other than Kate Bush. 

It’s difficult to oversell just how important Kate’s support for the auction and Cabaret vs Cancer has been.

She has sent us signed items every year for the auction and aside from the large amounts of money they have raised, having her name attached has given us credibility, not only with record collectors but with other acts and record companies. 

We’ve also been supported by other old friends including, Kim Wilde and her family, Steve Pitron at Universal, Peter Lorraine founder of Facination and Belinda Carlisle, who I met a few years ago through my work at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern. We’ve also had items from Kylie Minogue’s management. 

As the years have passed people have seen the auction and donated items, plus I’ve hunted down limited editions and signed items across the internet, including collectibles from the likes of Taylor Swift, Cynthia Erivo and The Weekend.

Bringing joy to music fans and raising money for a fantastic cause

We have now raised over £25,000 from the music editions of our charity auctions. But more than that, we’ve brought joy to those people who buy the charity auction lots. 

Just recently I got a lovely message from someone who got one of the signed Kate Bush vinyl. They told me their mum, who had died of cancer, had got them into Kate, and getting the signed LP on our auction, knowing the money world help others, felt like a full circle moment.

When will the next charity music auction take place?

Want to get your hands on a signed Kate Bush vinyl or other exclusive music goodies? Good news: I’ve already got a lot of cool stuff for the 2027 charity auction, stay tuned for more information. It’s coming in March! 

You can keep an eye out for further details on our Online Charity Auctions page.