Frankel silks under hammer for charity A set of Khalid Abdullah silks signed by the late Sir Henry Cecil and his jockey Tom Queally are being auctioned to raise money for Cure Leukemia. The silks were made by the Prince's own silk-makers and were originally used as part of a publicity shoot with the Household Cavalry to celebrate Frankel's final race in last year's Champion Stakes. They will be framed alongside an official photograph of Frankel, his trainer and jockey, and a letter of authenticity. Four tickets to Newmarket races and a personal tour to see Frankel at stud are also part of the lot donated by Lord Grimthorpe on behalf of Prince Khalid Abudllah while Jockey Club Racecourses have donated four meals at Newmarket too. The auction is the culmination of a series of fundraising events initiated by Matilda Elwell - sister of Racing UK presenter and sportinglife.com columnist Lydia Hislop - who last July lost her husband Neil to acute myeloid leukaemia. Neil, a keen cricketer better known as Edger, was remembered by a match at his local club on Sunday July 7. Under the banner Walking4Edger, the fundraisers walked 150 miles in five days (1st-5th July) from Lord's to Edgbaston cricket grounds. The auction of the silks marks the conclusion of the fundraising. The auction closes at midnight on Sunday, July 14. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Cure Leukaemia in Neil's name. "We always said, once Neil was better, we'd do something to help the cause that had helped us. Unfortunately, we can't now do that together," said Matilda. "But, with the help of our fantastic family and friends, I am still raising money for Cure Leukaemia. It's the charity that supports Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth II hospital clinical haematology centre where Neil was treated. "I am hugely grateful to Prince Khalid and Lord Grimthorpe for generously donating something so amazing that we can auction. I would also like to thank Jockey Club Racecourses for their contribution. What we raise will help those who are facing the same battle as Neil."
