Clothing worn and donated by music megastar Ed Sheeran is set to generate vital funds for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) – just in time for the Suffolk hero’s homecoming concerts at Portman Road.
Garments including boxer shorts, vests, jeans, hats, scarves and Ipswich Town merchandise, along with a water bottle, facemask, bathmat, bed set, bowtie and earphones, are being sold via the charity’s eBay shop from Sunday (6th July). Meanwhile, gems such as shoelaces, mugs, cushions, a glasses case, chopping board, hot water bottle cover and lots more clothing will be up for grabs in EACH’s Framlingham store. The sought-after goods were delivered by a member of Ed’s team and are set to cause a stir in the days leading up to his sell-out gigs, taking place on 11th, 12th and 13th July.
“With Ed-mania sweeping through Suffolk, this is a perfect opportunity to maximise funds and raise as much as possible for our charity, while also getting in the spirit and having fun at the same time,” said EACH ecommerce manager Scott Campbell. “Once again, Ed has come up trumps with an incredible, eye-catching assortment of clothing and items – from boxer shorts and bongo drums to jeans and jewellery. There’s something for everyone, and it’s going to be fascinating to see how much things sell for. Hopefully the momentum, interest and bidding will rumble on throughout the summer – with every pound raised making a difference and helping us continue our vital work supporting families and caring for children across East Anglia.”
Meanwhile, eager shoppers have the chance to grab one of Ed’s donations by visiting the EACH shop in his hometown of Framlingham.
Genine Woodcock, the charity’s Retail Central Support Manager, is overseeing sales at the popular Bridge Street store. The first bundle of stock is now on sale.
She said: “What better time or place to snap up one of Ed’s donations than in his hometown of Framlingham. Ed’s profile is always sky-high, but he really is the man of the moment right now with his sell-out concerts taking centre stage next month. We’re seizing the moment, and excited to see what happens when these items go on sale. Our team have been busy designing special materials to promote the goods, so it promises to be a lot of fun – and hopefully very busy.”
Ed is a long-time supporter of EACH and became an Ambassador in 2014. In 2022, he donated a bounty of nearly 450 items, including boxer shorts, jumpers, trousers and hats, as well as jackets, belts, bags, T-shirts and Ipswich Town merchandise. The majority was sold via eBay, raising a staggering £30,000. The average selling price was £103.29, and the best-selling item was an Ipswich Town football shirt, which went for a whopping £770. The top-earning pair of boxer shorts was sold for £330.
News of the donation led to widespread media coverage, from vast numbers of online reports to national press, radio and TV coverage, including ITV’s Good Morning Britain and 5 News. The story was also picked up by international outlets, including websites in Seattle and Minnesota.
In addition to his donations, Ed met staff and families at The Treehouse, in Ipswich, after becoming an Ambassador. The 34-year-old also memorably performed an acoustic set at a gala fundraiser at Cambridge’s Natural History Museum in 2016. He donated a drum kit which was auctioned for £2,650 and the evening raised more than £262,000.
To snap up one of Ed’s donations, head to EACH’s eBay shop by clicking here.
