Win an Oliver Jeffers artwork and help support Cancer Focus NI

And Cancer Focus NI has now launched a competition to give two lucky people the chance to win one of these highly-collectable artworks in a one-time-only opportunity.

The proceeds will help the charity continue to provide its lifeline support services to local people affected by cancer.

The prize sketches by the Belfast artist are based on illustrations from the popular books, The Incredible Book Eating Boy and Lost and Found.

The Incredible Book Eating Boy is a winner of the Irish Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year and follows the trials and tribulations of a boy with a voracious appetite for books. Lost and Found won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize 2005 and Blue Peter Book Award 2006 and is about a boy’s friendship with a penguin.

Oliver Jeffers who now lives and works in Brooklyn, said: “I am delighted to be able to help such a wonderful charity who do amazing work with local cancer patients and their families. Times have been tough for everyone and especially for those who are going through cancer and other serious illnesses, so they really do need our help more than ever.

“I am very proud of my roots and I’ve had a lot of support from Northern Ireland people who have bought my books. I’d like to ask a huge favour and call on everyone who loves art and children’s books to buy a ticket or two for this great cause. It would be fantastic to know that my gift is helping people in Northern Ireland get through this difficult time.”

Rosie Forsythe, from Cancer Focus NI, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to win a beautiful, original sketch by a world-renowned artist. Parents will love to have this decorating their child’s bedroom wall and we also expect interest from art lovers, collectors, libraries, bookshops and schools.

“The money raised will help us continue to provide our vital services. Fortunately we have been able to offer some of our most important services throughout Covid such as counselling, family support and art therapy. We are 90 per cent dependent on donations and the pandemic has severely impacted our ability to fundraise, so, we’d encourage as many people as possible to enter this competition to help us continue to keep on offering lifeline support to local people when they need it most.”

Tickets are £5 each and you can buy as many as you wish. Visit cancerfocusni.org/oliverjeffers The closing date is 12 midnight, Sunday May 30, 2021.