There's a still time to bid on a piece of musical memorabilia that helped shape international superstar Ed Sheeran - and raise valuable funds to support children with life-threatening conditions at the same time.

%image(14809684, type="article-full", alt="File photo dated 22/10/2015 of Ed Sheeran. British pop stars made up half of the 10 biggest selling recording artists of 2015. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday April 12, 2016. The UK's "big five" - Adele, Ed Sheeran, One Direction, Coldplay and Sam Smith - between them sold almost 28 million albums last year, new figures show. See PA story SHOWBIZ Music. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire")

The Suffolk-based singer has donated the drum kit he used as a teenager which is being offered as part of the Ultimate Charity Auction in partnership with East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH).

The auction comes just weeks before the singer is due to make an exclusive performance at the Natural History Museum, for a very exciting evening in aid of the charity.

Ed Sheeran he has been an ambassador since 2014 and all proceeds from the sale of the kit will go towards the EACH nook appeal, which is the charity's £10 million appeal to transform children's palliative care across Norfolk. The kit already has an autograph from Ed and he has also agreed to pen a further personal message to the highest bidder at the end of auction.

Bidding on this top lot and the range of other exclusive items is receiving lots of interest and runs until Sunday, November 6 - bidders are being encouraged to get involved now to avoid missing out.

%image(14809685, type="article-full", alt="Ed Sheeran signing the drums to be auctioned for EACH")

Greg Hodder, EACH Capital Appeal Manager, said: 'Interest in Ed's drum kit from across the globe has been tremendous. There's still time for you to become the proud owner of this piece of musical history, so please do go on the site and place you're bid.

'Not only will you be bidding on a once in a life-time lot but you'll be helping to take EACH one step further towards our vision of a new hospice to care and families across Norfolk.'

The drum kit, which was spray-painted by a teenage Ed himself, was signed by the international superstar during his visit to the charity's Treehouse hospice in Ipswich with the inscription 'This is my old drum kit, love Ed Sheeran'.

The kit was originally given the singer by his mum and he played the instrument through his formative teenage years developing his life-long love of music - all the drums have been well used showcasing Ed's passion for music. The drum kit is painted bright orange with a green snare with a paw print pattern. Ed has agreed to pen a further personal message to the highest bidder.

The sale of the donated drum kit will raise valuable funds for the EACH nook appeal – as will funds from the exclusive live performance Ed is due to give at the EACH Gala Dinner being held in the famous Hintze Hall at the Natural History Museum on Wednesday 30th November.

EACH's inaugural Gala Dinner will see guests treated to a three course dinner, a variety of entertainment, fundraising auction, and the only chance to see Ed play live this year.

The nook appeal is the charity's £10 million campaign to transform children's palliative care across Norfolk, including building a new hospice called the nook. EACH has outgrown its current hospice in Quidenham, due to the changing and more complex needs of the children and young people they care for and needs to move to a purpose-built site. The nook will be built on a five-acre woodland site south of Norwich and will offer services which are either currently unavailable or extremely limited at Quidenham hospice.

Graham Butland, EACH Chief Executive, said: 'We are thrilled this generous gift from our ambassador Ed Sheeran will be a top lot in this high profile auction. Special thanks to everyone involved in organising the auction, particularly Gina Long who is a long-term supporter of EACH and her hard-work and dedication to our cause is truly fantastic.

'Ed has been an EACH Ambassador for more than two years and has shown us tremendous support in that time, donating clothes for online auctions and paying a visit to our Treehouse hospice in Ipswich. Of course, most recently the announcement of his live performance at our Gala Dinner later this month. Not only will this auction lot raise valuable funds for our nook appeal, but it will also greatly raise the profile of EACH and the vital care and support we provide to life-threatened children, young people and their families. We are so very grateful for Ed's continued support of EACH.

'The money raised through the auction will go towards taking us one step closer to reaching our vision of providing a 21st century building for 21st century care for families in Norfolk.'

The star-studded donation sits in pride of place alongside a host of glittering auction items donated by the world of sport, celebrity and lifestyle to the Ultimate Charity Auction.

More information on the auction can be found at www.ultimatecharityauction.com or by following the auction on Twitter @UCOnlineAuction.

EACH has a limited number of individual tickets available as well as VIP tables and sponsorship packages for their Gala Dinner on November 30. For further information please contact: 01223 205192 or email specialevents@each.org.uk.