Former Ipswich Town club captain Mick Mills has issued a rallying call to people to back efforts in a campaign to raise £1 million to fund cancer research.

The one time Super Blues skipper and former England international is one of a host of celebrities, personalities, former footballers and business and community leaders who are at the forefront of raising the money through Sir Bobby’s Breakthrough Online Auction.

It will go towards supporting clinical trials for new cancer treatments, ongoing support of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Breakthrough Breast Cancer, as well as Ipswich Hospital and West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds.

The auction is to take place between October 10 and 27 but those not able to bid the big bucks for the array of glittering lots can enter the Text-To-Win competition, which costs 50p plus a £3 donation.

Already on offer is a luxury trip to next year’s Monaco Grand Prix, an England training session and tickets to the 2014 Champions League Final, in Portugal, with others due to be revealed over the coming weeks.

Mr Mills, who was a key member of the committee in 2011, which raised over £200,000 though a similar auction, called on people to engage with the latest campaign and help to “spread the word”.

He said: “There are so many way people can get involved with this either by bidding for prizes or taking part in the Text-To-Win and even donating an auction item no matter how big or small.

“If you cannot afford to do any of these then just try to think of someone who could and tell them about it.

“There are so many ways people can become involved through various means including social media which has really caught the imagination.

“We’ve got some fantastic prizes and I know there are even more to come.”

Mr Mills told of his long association with Sir Bobby and his family and how, following his former manager’s death, he was asked to become a patron of the cancer foundation.

It came via Sir Bobby’s wife Lady Elsie and a request he was quick to acknowledge.

“It was a real honour to be asked and now through the latest campaign I’m able to help take it on further and help to raise money not only for the foundation but for Breakthrough and the two hospitals,” he said.

“Everything seems to be going well so far and we have some amazing prizes with people from all over the country getting involved but it’s got the local feel to it with the hospitals set to benefit as well.

“I think many people will be aware of what’s happening as so many have a great deal of admiration for Sir Bobby not only as a successful international football player in his early days and then his success at Ipswich and England but also his managerial career elsewhere.

“But so many people admire his courage for his fight against cancer and the suffering he endured.

“He did not disappear and his workaholic nature continued to the end and we will never forget what he did even in the last weeks of his life with the foundation. We want to continue that work in his name but we need the help of the public to support us.”

For full details of the auction and how to get involved go to the website: www.sirbobbysbreakthroughauction.com