Literary Elite Support MS Charity

Dec. 2, 2009 - PRLog -- Some of America’s leading authors have donated signed copies of their best selling books to be auctioned online by a British Multiple Sclerosis charity BrAMS.

Top authors including Stephanie Meyer, Harlan Coben, Patricia Cornwell and Dean Koontz have all signed copies of their best selling work to raise money for the charity.

John Twelve Hawks has donated a signed copy of his New York Times Bestseller The Traveler and Paolo Coelho has given a signed copy of The Alchemist to be auctioned.

Many of the books are rare and some are first editions. The collection even includes a rare, first edition copy of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, taken from the “moonlight signing” at the Natural History Museum in London. The edition features a special hologram and will be sold as a package along with signed photos of the cast.

The collection also boasts several other British books and memorabilia including a signed poster of Dame Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth.

British MS victim Grant Thompson, 46, who masterminded the auction from has been working tirelessly for two years to contact authors and collect all 600 items in the collection.

Grant said: “BrAMS, in my home town of Bristol, England, is the leading MS centre in the world and it has done some great work researching and treating MS. I wanted to give something back but because of my MS I couldn’t do the standard marathon run which is when I thought of doing the book auction.

“Many of the US authors I contacted after reading online reviews in US papers. I never imagined I would get some of the gems I have; I started with a few books but the collection has grown to include novels by the big names in writing. The items will go up on the charity section of eBay and all proceeds will go to this great cause.”

Money raised by the auction will go towards the unique MS centre based in the UK which supports and treats sufferers of the illness locally, nationally and internationally.

The centre conducts groundbreaking research, drug trials and pioneering treatments. Funding from events like this will help sustain treatment of the symptoms and the progression of MS.

BrAMS volunteer and promoter Alison McCarthy said: “BrAMS is a world-leading MS centre and we rely on donations to keep our valuable work going. The time and effort Grant has dedicated to amassing this incredible collection in unbelievable.

“The end result has become a who’s – who of authors and celebrities and any of the items would be the perfect ‘money can’t buy’ Christmas present. Many of the books are not only signed but include a personal note from the author.”

All BrAMS items will be available to bid on for a 10 day period from Wednesday 2 December until Sunday 13 December. Find the link on the BrAMS website at http://www.brams.org.uk

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BrAMS, based at Frenchay Hospital (Bristol), provides comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis patient care and carry out disease-orientated research. The unit is well-placed to provide a regional MS Centre of Excellence, with three MS specialist consultants leading a steadily growing team dedicated towards clinical care and research in MS.