A CONTRIBUTOR TO a charitable cause set up in aid of the Grenfell Tower residents has seen his bid go through the roof after asking that a character in a book be named after someone he knew who died in the tragic blaze 12 days ago.
Hundreds of lots have been put up for auction, as part of London Writers Week, by renowned authors in order to raise money for the British Red Cross London Fire Relief Fund, for those affected by the fire.
At present the death toll from the fire stands at 79, but this figure is expected to greatly increase as it becomes clear who exactly was in the London tower block when the fire started on 14 June.
As part of the Authors for Grenfell Tower fundraising drive, writer Philip Pullman has auctioned the naming of a character in his forthcoming work The Book of Dust Part Two.
Late yesterday evening, James Clements donated £1,500, requesting that the character be named after a former pupil who had perished in the fire.
“I expect this will go for a lot more (and I hope it does), but here goes: £1500,” he wrote.
If this is still the leading bid on Tuesday, I’d like to call the character Nur Huda el-Wahabi.
The real Nur Huda was an ex-pupil of mine who lived in Grenfell Tower and didn’t make it out of the building that night. A life that was so full of promise has been cut short in the most terrible way. As well as raising some money, this would mean her name would live on. Plus Nur Huda is a pretty cool name for a character.
Please outbid me by lots though – it’s an important cause.
Rather than outbid Clements however, those who have joined the auction have dedicated their bids to his cause.
That has seen nearly £18,000 raised from the one lot in a little over 12 hours, with nearly every bid joining that of Clements.
“£10 for this amazing tribute,” reads one donation.
“What an extraordinary story. Please add £100 from me to James Clements’s bid for Nur Huda el-Wahabi to be a character in the second part of The Book Of Dust,” reads another.
The auction concludes tomorrow.
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