HASLEMERE Hares charity arts project supporters leapt at the chance to swell the grand total raised.

The grand finale auction hosted by Lythe Hill Hotel last Wednesday, saw the final 18 sponsored artworks from an edition of more than 100 go to the highest bidders, with each one benefiting a different good cause.

An impressive £3,000 was raised for Hinhead’s Stepping Stones School, and Shooting Star Chase children’s hospice St Christopher’s from tickets sold for the concluding reception, auction and dinner, sponsored by Lythe Hill Hotel and luxury leather goods makers Aspinal, of London.

The most expensive artwork ‘Blue Hare’, sponsored by Grayshott salon Blue Hair and decorated by Ziggy J Simon went for £1,450 in aid of Pancreatic Cancer Action.

Coming a close second, was ‘Hare today, gone tomorrow’ sponsored by Graduate Landscapes and decorated by Wendy Richards , which made £1,100 for WWF conservation charity and Rainbow Trust children’s charity, with ‘Paddington Hare’ sponsored by Henry Adams, decorated by Michelle Clegg and signed by film star Hugh Bonneville, fetching £1,050 for The Horizon Project at Haslemere Museum.

Supporters included Surrey Air Ambulance chairman Helen Bowcock representing the charity, which received £650 from HareAmbulance sponsored by Nat West and decorated on a Watts Gallery theme by Sorelle Levy.

Hindhead Golf Club captain Lorne Magory celebrated with Stepping Stones school representatives Steve Grigsby and Caire Cullen after ‘Hare’s Alliss’ signed by Peter ‘Voice of Golf’ Alliss, sponsored by the club and decorated by Nicky Chubb, fetched £550 for the school.

Project mastermind Brian Howard wielded the gavel and donated additional lots, including golf and a hotel stay for four, swelled the auction total to £15,000.