Over 70 celebrities from entertainment and sports donated autographed items to the Luke Neuhedel Foundation for its second Luketacular Online Celebrity Auction held from February 4 through 12. Over $1000 was raised to help children with cancer through the Luke Neuhdel Foundation.

(PRWEB) February 16, 2006 -- Over 70 celebrities from entertainment and sports donated autographed items to the Luke Neuhedel Foundation for its second Luketacular Online Celebrity Auction held from February 4 through 12. Over $1000 was raised to help children with cancer. Celebrities who donated included: Tim Allen, Karen Alfonso, Carol Burnett, Orlando Bloom, Ray Bradbury, Michelle Branch, Matthew Broderick, Ryan Cabrera, Claudia Christian, Jennifer Connelly, Benicio Del Toro, Dom Deluise, Robert Duvall, Dakota Fanning, Bob Feller, Clark Gillies, Tyler Hilton, Kate Hudson, Billy Joel, James Earl Jones, Ed Koch, Cyndi Lauper, Al Leiter, Jesse McCartney, 1986 World Series Champs Mets, Tim McGraw, Rita Moreno, Frankie Muniz, John O¡¯Hurley, Arnold Palmer, Sarah Jessica Parker, Bonnie Raitt, Rob Reiner, Christina Ricci, Joan Rivers, Robert Rodriguez, Steven Soderbergh, David Spade, Brittney Spears, John Tesh, Peter Tork, Donald Trump, Charlie Theron, John Travolta, Ben Vereen, Hank Williams Jr., and Robin Williams. Items not won in the auction are still available for a donation to LNF.

The Luke Neuhedel Foundation is a 501c3 charity dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with cancer. LNF was established in memory of Luke Neuhedel, who died of hepatoblastoma, at age 3 in 2002, by Luke¡¯s parents, Paul and Rebecca, his siblings, and friends. LNF provides aid, donations, and toys to thousands of kids fighting cancer in the United States. LNF is able to grant 100% of all funds directly to children with cancer because LNF is staffed entirely by volunteers. Many of the volunteers are young people, who donate their time to help their peers fight their deadly disease.

LNF works to raise awareness of children¡¯s cancer, to draw attention to an often-neglected disease. Cancer is the #1 disease killer of children --- cancer kills more children than AIDS, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and congenital anomalies COMBINED (while these other diseases are just as life-threatening and devastating as cancer, more children are diagnosed with cancer and die from cancer annually). The incidence of children¡¯s cancer is increasing at a rate of 1% every year. In fact, the rate of cancer in young adults and teens is increasing at a greater rate than any other cancer, including breast, prostrate, and lung. LNF works with social workers at US pediatric oncology centers to provide parents with financial assistance for anything treatment-related. This may include medical bills, food, hotel stays, rent, sibling child care, transportation, phone and utility bills, birthday wishes, and funeral expenses, to name a few.