Hundreds of celebrities, artists and illustrators have helped to raise almost £23,000 for charity through National Doodle Day. Now in its 22nd year, National Doodle Day is an annual fundraising event run by national charity Epilepsy Action, where one-of-a-kind artworks are auctioned. Some of the most famous faces on the line up this year include Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Joanna Lumley, R.W Alley, Freema Agyeman, Axel Scheffler and more.
Falling on 25th September this year, the auction ran for a ten-day period with some of the most popular doodles amassing four-figure bids. Sir Ian McKellen’s Gandalf sketch went for almost £3000, Doctor Who’s Freema Agyeman’s piece sold for over £1000 and the “Scon vs Scone” debate was settled by Chris Spargo, with Scon winning by just £10. All funds raised from the event will go towards the charity’s work delivering vital support to the 630,000 people with epilepsy and their loved ones across the UK.
Doodling for his seventh time, Ian McKellen said: “I’m delighted to lend my hand, quite literally, to National Doodle Day again this year. My little Gandalf sketch joins countless others in raising vital funds for Epilepsy Action, whose work makes such a difference to so many lives. It’s a joy to be involved, and I hope these doodles bring both smiles and support where it’s needed most.”
Rising star comedian Jake Lambert, who lives with epilepsy, spoke about his second Doodle Day: “I’m so happy to be supporting National Doodle Day again this year. I know how important the work Epilepsy Action does is. I’ve doodled all my life, at school, during exams and on zoom calls, so it’s nice to be able to put all that practice to good use for such a great and important cause.”
After a last-minute push on his social media, Jake’s doodle sold for almost £280 – more than triple the original bid of £90.
Epilepsy is often a lifelong condition, which affects around 630,000 people in the UK. Epilepsy Action provides support for people with epilepsy across the country, through a range of services including support groups, an award-winning support line, one-to-one Peer Support and more. The charity also runs many national campaigns that improve the lives of and care for people with epilepsy, as well as tackling the stigma that often comes with the condition.
Michael King, Doodle Day Lead, said: “We’re thrilled to have already achieved the second-highest fundraising total in National Doodle Day’s 22-year history. With so many brilliant artworks by talented creatives still open for bids, there’s still time to push that total even higher.
“As always, we’re overwhelmed by the generosity of bids. Sir Ian McKellen’s doodle sold for almost £3000 – this could help fund almost two Epilepsy Action Talk & Support groups for a whole year.
“Epilepsy remains an incredibly misunderstood condition, and improving public awareness and understanding continues to be a challenge for charities like ours. Because epilepsy isn’t always visible, it can be overlooked, leaving many people unaware of the realities of living with the condition.
“Events like National Doodle Day give us an opportunity to break down those barriers and reach people who may know little about epilepsy. By putting creativity at the heart of the campaign, rather than focusing solely on the condition, Doodle Day helps challenge stigma and creates a positive, accessible space for people to start conversations about epilepsy.”
This National Doodle Day is also accompanied by a unique collaboration between Epilepsy Action and Mr Doodle. The internationally renowned artist hand-painted a giant mural in Peckham, at the heart of the South London neighbourhood’s thriving creative community.
All doodles can be found on Epilepsy Action’s eBay site: https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/epilepsyaction. Mr Doodle’s mural will is located here.
Epilepsy affects around one in every 100 people in the UK and around 80 are diagnosed with the condition each day. Epilepsy Action is committed to improving the lives of people with epilepsy, by campaigning for better services and raising awareness of the condition. The charity provides a national network of support groups, with expert advice available on its freephone support line 0808 800 5050 and online at www.epilepsy.org.uk.
