The Stephanie Marks Appeal is enjoying a New Year boost as members of the sporting world unite to take the Appeal closer to its goal of creating a ‘state-of-the-art’ diabetes Resource Centre. Chelsea Mid Fielder, Michael Essien has, together with his team mates at Chelsea Football Club, signed a limited edition football to support the local Diabetes Appeal. In a welcome double whammy for the charity, cricketing legend Ian Botham OBE, who is Patron and long time supporter of the initiative, has also donated a signed cricket bat. Sporting enthusiasts will have a unique opportunity to bid for these two items of sporting memorabilia at a live auction conducted by Wellers Auctioneers on Saturday, 20^th January from 09.30 am onwards.

Bids are invited for these two fabulous items in aid of The Stephanie Marks Diabetes Appeal. The live auction will take place from 09.30 on Saturday 20th January.  Both items can be viewed at the Wellers Auction House, Chertseythroughout the week prior to the auction or on their website www.wellersauctions.com. The limited edition, Chelsea Football signed by the first team has a reserve price of £300 and cricket bat has a reserve price of £150.  Bids can be placed in person, by email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) by phone (01932 568678).

Chris Sykes, Managing Director of Wellers Auctioneers said, “I am delighted to have an opportunity to assist this local charity to raise funds.  Having a daughter of a similar age to Steph makes me realise personally how devastating diabetes can be to a family.  Wellers has a policy of making auctions as accessible as possible to the community and is delighted to be offering such exclusive sporting memorabilia items as these which we are sure will generate significant funds to support diabetes.”

Chelsea also kicked the New Year off in style by featuring the Appeal in its match day Programme and raising a tremendous £2,785 by hosting a raffle at the Chelsea v Fulham match on Saturday, 30^th December. Chelsea FC spokesman Simon Greenberg said: “Many of our players now live and train within Surrey and the club is keen to support local initiatives that encourage healthier living.  We wish the Stephanie Marks Appeal all the best and hope the signed ball does well at auction.”

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The Stephanie Marks Diabetes Appeal is raising funds to create a new state of the art, dedicated diabetes resource centre in the first hospital/GP based ‘hub and spoke’ model of care. The hub will be in the form of a main ‘centre of excellence’ that will provide integrated diabetes treatment, education, and research across the community and all sectors of the healthcare system for patients, carers and medical professionals. The initiative aims to deliver first class local accessibility in line with the National Service Framework for diabetes care.  It will be linked to community clinics (or spokes) by a sophisticated IT system allowing quicker and easier access to information for both patients and medical professionals