The Download Festival and The Heavy Metal Truants have jointly initiated The Download 20 Auction to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the festival. This significant auction comprises exclusive collectibles that will be sold to raise funds for four children’s charities through the Truants Foundation.
The online auction, which also includes a raffle component for select bundles, is located at https://auction.heavymetaltruants.com and will go live from 10AM and remain online for one week. Entries will close on Thursday 6th July 2023 at 23:59 UK time. Winners will be announced for each item the following week, with proceeds going to the Heavy Metal Truants chosen charities: Teenage Cancer Trust, Nordoff & Robbins Music Therapy, Childline, and Save The Children.
HMT co-founder Alexander Milas highlights the appeal of this auction, stating, “If you desire hand-written lyrics or a guitar associated with some of the greatest songs ever created, this is the event for you! The rock and metal community’s incredible generosity has been truly remarkable, and I eagerly anticipate the impressive prices these exceptional museum-worthy items will fetch, benefiting our chosen charities.”
The Heavy Metal Truants, established in 2013 by Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood and ex-Metal Hammer editor Alexander Milas, have raised £1.2 million over their 11-year span. They achieve this through an annual 150-mile cycle ride from London to Donington Park, the venue for Download festival. They also organize various events, auctions, and raffles, along with virtual challenges that enable participation worldwide by walkers, runners, and cyclists.
Smallwood emphasizes that the Heavy Metal Truants provides an excellent opportunity for the rock and metal community to unite and assist underprivileged children. Whether a fan, industry professional, or musician, everyone can contribute significantly to enhancing the lives of kids and young people by participating in or supporting these initiatives.
