Anton Ferdinand and Carlton Cole showed their support for the Richard House Children's Hospice this week when they attended the organisation's annual ball in central London.
Richard House is one of the club's two official charities along with the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK. London's first children's hospice, Richard House has helped hundreds of children and their families by providing respite from the emotional and physical trauma living with a terminal illness can bring.
Ferdinand saw at first hand just what an impact Richard House has on those that need its help when he visited the hospice with team-mate Mark Noble earlier this season. Therefore, not only was he more than happy to go along to the ball, held at The Brewery, as a mark of his support - he went one step further by offering himself up as an auction prize to the highest bidder.
He said: "It all started as a joke really. I said in passing that if someone bid £5,000 I would get up on stage and sing one verse of a song. Then Coley added in that he would do a moonwalk! We obviously didn't think anyone in the room would pay that sort of money to see us two jokers even if it was for charity but we didn't realise there was another footballer and a good friend of both of ours at the ball!"
The good friend the defender is referring to is former Hammers midfielder Joe Cole who became an ambassador for Richard House during his time with the club. He was more than willing to pledge the money to see two former team-mates perform to a room of 500 distinguished guests and Anton and Carlton were more than happy to oblige.
"When I saw Joe's hand go up to offer to pay the money I knew I would have to go through with it but to be honest I was more than happy because I believe so strongly in the charity and what they do," Ferdinand added. "When I went to the hospice I was so touched by what a wonderful warm place it was and how hard the staff work to make sure the children there are always having fun but also being stimulated. I have also been told my voice isn't that bad so I knew I wasn't going to embarrass myself which I think Joe was hoping for!"
Click here to see Ferdinand and Cole's performance on the WHUTV Exclusive channel and look out for a special feature and pictures from the ball in the Tottenham Hotspur matchday programme on 25 November. For more information about Richard House, click here