• Hope in Every Line auction launches in October in support of Action Medical Research
• Tom Fletcher, Julia Donaldson, Rob Biddulph, Michael Morpurgo and Nick Butterworth are among contributors
• Auction will raise funds to save and change children’s lives.

Children's charity Action Medical Research has launched Hope in Every Line, a unique creative auction bringing together some of the UK's most celebrated children's authors and illustrators to raise funds for life-changing medical research for babies, children and young people. 

Featuring artwork, illustrations and literary contributions inspired by the themes of hope, healing and imagination, the collection will launch at the British Library before being sold through an online auction, with proceeds supporting vital research. 

Contributors include acclaimed names from across the children's publishing world, including Bob Alley, Rob Biddulph, Nick Butterworth, Julia Donaldson (pictured below left), Tom Fletcher, Karen Jankel, Michael Morpurgo and Liz Pichon (pictured below right) alongside many other authors, illustrators and creatives who have donated pieces especially for the campaign. 

The campaign was inspired by Sophia Whitfield, children's author and Director of New Frontier Publishing, whose personal experience of losing one of her children to complications linked to cerebral palsy gave rise to the idea of bringing the publishing community together in support of medical research. 

In this year's National Year of Reading, Hope in Every Line celebrates the power of words, stories and illustration to inspire change while helping fund the next generation of breakthroughs for children facing serious illness and disability.

Find out more at Hope in Every Line | Action Medical Research.

Action Medical Research funds pioneering research to help sick and disabled babies, children, and young people. Its work has helped achieve major breakthroughs – including developing ultrasound in pregnancy, tackling meningitis, and preventing stillbirths. 

"Hope In Every Line is a unique creative collaboration that brings together children’s authors and illustrators to shine a light on the life-changing and life-saving power of medical research,” says Lewis Coghlin, the charity’s Director of Fundraising.

“Each creator has interpreted this message in their own voice or style, resulting in a moving and diverse collection that reflects the imagination, compassion, and insight of this creative community.

“The knowledge that diseases can be beaten, that children’s lives can be saved, drives us forward. We are determined to help more children, but we can’t do it alone, which is why we are so grateful to all those who have supported Hope in Every Line.” 

The auction also coincides with the centenary of the birth of beloved Paddington Bear creator Michael Bond – and 50 years since the author gave his blessing for Paddington to become the mascot of Action Medical Research, adding further significance to the campaign's celebration of children's literature and charitable giving. 

Contributions will be exhibited at the British Library for a special private viewing event in October. They will also feature in an online auction to raise funds for Action Medical Research, which opens on 12 October and runs until 30 October.

Find out more at Hope in Every Line | Action Medical Research – the online auction site will open for bids at 9am on Monday, 12 October.