The Prostate Project is holding an online fundraising art auction with original works from over 40 Surrey-based artists.

The auction, which runs until Saturday, December 5th, will help raise cash for the charity, whose fundraising efforts have been hard hit by Covid-19.

The auction features more than 85 pieces of original artwork, from experimental abstract art to still life, from etchings to fine art and rock star photographic portraits.

The project was the brainchild of one of the charity's leading scientists, Dr Nicola Annels.

Alf Turner, Chair of The Prostate Project, said: "The last nine months have been challenging for everyone. Lockdown restrictions have resulted in all our major face-to-face community fundraising activities being cancelled or postponed, leaving a huge gap in our income.

"Finding creative ways to fundraise virtually is our only way forward. We have been overwhelmed by the generous response from our local art community during such uncertain times, and together we are fully committed to funding the groundbreaking prostate cancer research Professor Hardev Pandha, Dr Annels and the team carry out at the University of Surrey.

"Prostate cancer has become the biggest cancer killer of men. each year nearly 47,500 men in the UK are told they have prostate cancer and more than 11,700 die of the disease. It kills almost one man a day in our catchment area. If caught early, cure rates are excellent.

"However, for those men whose cancer has spread (advanced metastatic prostate cancer) there is sadly no current cure."

Dr Annels said: "The shocking statistic is only 30% of men survive five years. These men - our fathers, brothers sons and friends - are in desperate need of our help.

"Our cancer research team is focusing on developing new and better targeted treatments to help keep advanced prostate cancer under control, manage symptoms and ultimately extend the lives of men with advanced prostate cancer."

"As a cancer researcher working in a lab that has been supported by the Prostate Project charity for over 10 years, I am all too aware of the amazing difference this support makes to our research. The charity has not only funded our PhD students and scientists but has also invested in state-of-the-art equipment for the lab.

"This supports the internationally recognised work we are doing, maintains our novelty, competitive edge, attracts more grant funding and clinical trials, and allows us to achieve our ultimate goal of giving men a better chance of beating prostate cancer."

Surrey-based artist Becca Clegg said: "Giving paintings to support The Prostate Project felt the right thing to do. I have lost grandparents and close friends to cancer. The fathers of two of my best friends suffered from prostate cancer before they died, and other lovely friends have had breast cancer.

"By donating my paintings to the auction I hope that valuable funds can be raised to support the brilliant work that this charity is doing. I hope that my colourful, essentially happy work can bring light and joy at this dark and difficult time, and in doing so raise much-needed funds that can help build a safer future for half the world's population."

And Surrey-based artist Verity Walsgrove said: "I am delighted to be able to support The Prostate Project. It is a cause close to me, as I have known several sufferers of prostate cancer. The research being carried out by Nicola and the team at the University of Surrey is crucial to the development of new and ever better treatments for this often ignored but life-threatening disease.

"This year has certainly seen the need for an innovative approach to fundraising, and I hope not only that the online art auction is very successful but also that, launching as it is during lockdown 2, it enables people to cheer themselves up with a new piece of art for their walls, while supporting such a worthwhile cause."

To view the works and place a bid, visit the auction website.

The auction closes at 5pm on Saturday, December 5th. All proceeds will go directly to The Prostate Project.