New 500 C converts bids into funds for charity

A specially designed version of one of the first Fiat 500 C models in the UK has been auctioned at a gala evening, raising £55,000 for two major cancer charities.

The black 500 C – the convertible version of Fiat’s award-winning supermini – was specially designed by leading artist Sir Peter Blake for the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation fourth annual gala dinner, held last week at Hampton Court Palace, London.

The new Fiat was one of several top prizes made available from generous sponsors for the star-studded gathering, whose guests included former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev, author JK Rowling, actress Vanessa Redgrave, musician Jamie Cullum, London Mayor Boris Johnson and the Prime Minister’s wife Sarah Brown.

The event raised a total of £1.5 million to be split between the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation and Marie Curie Cancer Care in the UK.

The Fiat 500 C goes on sale throughout Fiat’s 158-strong dealer network next month, priced from £11,300.