The Shanghai Charity Foundation will hold an auction on Saturday afternoon to raise funds for cataract patients, deaf and mute children, and children with congenital heart problems.

Auction lots include Chinese paintings and calligraphy, precious ornaments, and an advertisement on the front page of Xinmin Evening News.

Some of the art works have been created by disabled artists with their mouths or feet, and donated by Shanghai Disabled Persons' Federation, the event co-organizer.

A Spalding basketball signed by NBA stars, donated by the National Basketball Association of the United States, will also be auctioned.

Lots will be on display between 9am and 4pm on the first floor of the Shanghai International Commodity Auction Co Ltd, on Fuzhou Road in Huangpu District, until tomorrow.

Anyone who wants to participate in the auction should register at the company and pay a deposit of 1,000 yuan (US$135) to receive a bidding number.

Details are available on 6339-2222, but English speakers will need an interpreter.

The auction has been an annual fundraiser for the foundation since 2000. Since then, it has raised more than 13.4 million yuan and assisted more than 4,900 patients.

(Shanghai Daily January 24, 2008)