16.01.2018

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The traditional charity auction in aid of Gift of Life was held on 13 January at London’s Savoy Hotel and raised more than 31 million roubles. The charity supports children suffering from oncological and haematological diseases. This annual event is now in its seventh year.

Auction lots included a Paris lunch with the model and philanthropist Natalia Vodianova, tickets for the premiere of the ballet Nureyev at the Bolshoi Theatre and the Wimbledon Women’s Singles final and a trip to the Maldives.

Among the musicians who performed during the evening were a 15 year-old violinist, Viliam Khailo, who only a year ago was receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and Nikita Merkulov who ten years ago was treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the Russian Children’s Clinic Hospital.

Gift of Life UK raises money to pay for the treatment of children and adolescents for its Russia-based sister charity, the Podari Zhizn Foundation. Thanks to its work, more than 310 children have received vital drugs that are not directly available in Russia (erwinase, methotrexat, lysodren, adcetris, aleksan and alkeran).  Donations received by the charity are used to help pay for the services of foreign specialists from the National Medical Research Centre for Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Immunology who carry out operations and train Russian doctors using unique surgical procedures.

Source: https://www.asi.org.ru/news/2018/01/16/podari-zhizn-london-auktsion/