A STRIKING football boot signed by Argentinian World Cup star Carlos Tevez will kick-start next month's fundraising Pink Ball.

The Manchester City striker is just one of a host of sportsmen and celebrities who will help score thousands of pounds for local charities at a special auction.

The fourth annual Pink Ball, to be held at Forest Pines Hotel and Golf Resort, near Broughton, on Saturday August 7, will see the Nike football boot go under the hammer alongside a set of other autographed items, including a Liverpool FC shirt signed by the full team, a Manchester United football signed by Old Trafford legend Eric Cantona and a framed Scunthorpe United shirt with certificate and signed by the club's former striker Paul Hayes.

Pink Ball organiser Paul Hope said closed bids could now be placed on the items ahead of the evening auction.

He said: "It's an ideal opportunity to bid for something which you would not usually have the opportunity to do and raise much-needed cash for Ward 18, Lindsey Lodge Hospice, Macmillan nurses and Help For Heroes.

"If anyone wants to put in a bid on their mobile phone – and if the bid goes higher on the night of the ball and they would like someone to contact them during the auction – then that could be arranged."

Mr Hope and his daughter Charlie, 24, set up the annual fundraiser in 2007 in memory of Paul's wife, Diane, who died aged just 48 in November 2006 after a ten-year battle with breast cancer.

As reported, the fundraiser, which has helped raise £19,625 for Scunthorpe cancer patients, faced the axe unless an alternative venue could be found.

After a change of owners at the Lincolnshire Golf Club at Hirst Priory, the fundraisers lost free use of the marquee.

But Forest Pines was warmed by the Pink Ball organiser's heartfelt appeal published in the Telegraph last month and was the first of a handful of businesses to make an offer.

Mr Hope said plans for the Pink Ball were well under way and they had already sold more than 200 of the 270 tickets.

He said: "Forest Pines have been absolutely brilliant. Just over 200 tickets have gone so everything is going really well."

Items also to be auctioned on the night in aid of the Help For Heroes charity include:

A framed signed T-shirt from the cast of Legally Blonde The Musical, including Sheridan Smith and Duncan from Blue.

A number of Formula One items (one lot for all) including signed caps by Timo Glock and Lucas Di Grassi and T-shirt signed by both drivers, plus Renault Formula One team fleece jacket.

Signed Mike Tyson photograph in a frame.

Tickets for the Pink Ball are still available. They cost £26 and include a three-course meal, with guests invited to arrive from 7pm.

To book, e-mail Paul Hope at thehopes@talktalk.net

If you would like to make a closed bid for any of the items, send in a note, containing your name, age, address, telephone number and the details of how much you are willing to bid.

Mark it for the attention of Paul Hope, to either Scunthorpe Fire Station, Laneham Street, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, DN15 6JH or Crowle Fire Station, Fieldside, Crowle, DN17 4HL.