The allure of anything to do with singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is quite well recognised these days. His last album = is the latest of many to suddenly rise to the top of the charts, and his 2017 hit single “Shape of You“ has become the first song on Spotify to break 3 billion streams (more of which you can read about here).

However, the musician seems keen on using some of his universal appeal for more charitable ends, working with charity GeeWiz on a raffle which has raised £52,765 for Sir Robert Hitcham’s School in Framlingham (Sheeran’s hometown) in Suffolk. The money will help finance a music pod and extra facilities for students with learning difficulties, with any leftover funds helping other children around the Suffolk area.

The first prize was a prototype guitar made by Sheeran and George Lowden (a guitar-maker centred in Northern Ireland) that was designed for the = album. The instrument has been made from naturally fallen walnut and spruce trees and was won by Kellie Myers, a mum-of-two hospital worker from Ipswich, whose sons Henry and Jacob have reportedly been learning guitar for the last couple of years already.

Myers said that “The guitar is beautiful“ and that “As a family we adore Ed. He really supports our community and local charities.“ Sheeran was also kind enough to adorn the guitar with his own special message, writing “Henry + Jacob! Play this guitar!“. He also wrote a quote from one of his own songs, taking from Myers’ favourite line in the track “Photograph“: “Wait for me to come home…“.

Sheeran had these words to say in a video message tailored for the event: “This is the prototype of the new Equals guitar by Sheeran Guitars by Lowden. It is one of one; there is not another guitar like this. This is the guitar that gets sent to me to check that all the other guitars are all right – it says ‘prototype’ in it. It’s going to build a music centre at a primary school near me, which I’m really excited about.”

However, it wasn’t bad news for everyone who didn’t bag first prize. Runner-up prizes for the raffle were available in the form of three Ipswich Town Football Club shirts signed by Sheeran, which were won by Rossignol Sylvianne (from France), Chris Noakes (Essex) and Justin Taite (Canada). All in all, the raffle tickets cost £5 and the charity sold 10,553 in over 160 countries throughout the world.

GeeWizz founder Gina Long had this to say: “What a wonderful life-changing fundraiser to finish the year with; it’s the very best Christmas present GeeWizz is able to give, thanks to the generosity and kindness of Ed Sheeran, who is charity champion on every level.”