eBay is marking having raised £50m in donations through its eBay for Charity mechanism with a auction of items from celebrities including Stephen Fry, One Direction and Paul McCartney.

eBay has gathered 50 celebrities asked them to auction off a personal item or event each to the public, designating a charity of their choice to receive the money raised.

The auction went live yesterday and will run until 1 September. 

Celebrities include Stephen Fry, who is auctioning off a signed tie for Laura Cancer Youth Trust; Michael Vaughn who is offering a cycling experience to raise money for Laureus; and Paul McCartney, who has donated show tickets and soundcheck access with an opportunity to meet him, with the proceeds going to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.

Other items include the opportunity to be in the next Sherlock Holmes novel, a golf lesson, a training session with the Lions Rugby team, designer clothing and signed merchandise from famous musicians such as Elton John, One Direction and Jessie J.

Stephanie Mitchell, individual giving manager at the Willow Foundation, said: “Over the last five years eBay users have raised more than £100,000 [for our charity]. Each year Willow provides special days for around 1,000 young adults and the £100,000 that eBay users have donated has helped to make this possible."

In addition to funds raised by the public, the PayPal Giving Fund will provide a £10,000 unrestricted grant to match the funds raised from the top items for the benefiting charities.