Portrait of Rio set to boost Steele appeal

Mountaineer Paul Steele, aiming to climb the highest peak outside the Himalayas.

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Painting will be auctioned online

England international Rio Ferdinand is helping a Saddleworth mountaineer whose goal is to raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust.

The Manchester United star defender has signed a specially painted portrait of himself in celebration mode, showing his pecs on the pitch at Old Trafford.

And the painting is being auctioned online to help Paul Steele, from Diggle, whose latest challenge is to climb Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, the highest peak in the world outside of the Himalayas.

Paul, (37) who works at a surgery in Ashton, is a former Army medic who left the force five years ago.

Tired of putting on weight, he got back into mountaineering and climbed Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, last year.

In January he will attempt to scale Aconcagua, in the Argentinian Andes, which is 6,962 metres or 22,841ft high, in aid of the Anthony Nolan Trust.

After hearing of Paul’s challenges, Stockport artist Wendy Mallas donated a signed Take That painting which raised £1,500 for the bone marrow transplant charity from an online auction.

Now she has also given another artwork, the Rio Ferdinand original, which the footballer signed at the gates of his house, for the Trust.

A delighted Paul said: “It’s fantastic to be able to do something I love whilst supporting worthwhile causes.

“I was touched by this cause when the life of an old Army friend was affected by leukaemia in his child. There is a considerable shortage of bone marrow donors in the UK and not only do I hope to raise much needed funds, I also hope to raise awareness of the bone marrow shortages.”

Bids for Rio’s painting can be made by e-mail to steele15@btinternet.com  or by visiting the action site at http://artforanthonynolan.blogspot.com