One of the first Fiat 500 C models into the UK, specially designed by leading artist Sir Peter Blake for the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation's fourth annual gala dinner, was auctioned off and it raised £55,000 for two major cancer charities.

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.

Each year, 5000 children are diagnosed with cancer in Russia. Potentially 75 percent can be cured but around 6-7 percent of those children are misdiagnosed or improperly treated. Many children do not have access to a hospital with modern technology or the funds to pay for private medical treatment. The money donated through the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation gives hundreds of children suffering from cancer in Russia direct access to the best possible treatment. The Raisa Gorbachev Foundation seeks to provide children with malignant tumours treatment, free of charge, in compliance with international standards and their parents with comprehensive assistance. These objectives are realised through the programs developed and funded by the Foundation: since 2006 two clinics in Russia have benefited from almost £4 million - the Raisa Gorbachev Children's Institute of transplantology and haematology and the Moscow institute. 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, which was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March, goes on sale throughout Fiat’s 158-strong dealer network next month, priced from £11,300.