Tin Pei Ling has agreed to donate her famous Kate Spade bag to an Aware fundraiser.

This year's Aware's annual fundraising event, called the Supersonic Big Ball, will auction the bag on September 10 at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel.

Ms Tin said: "In the course of my work in the community, I have met many women, from single mothers to the elderly, who need help and support. I hope that the proceeds from this bag will help to sustain Aware's crisis Helpline, Sexual Assault Befrienders Service, Legal Clinic and counselling services for women. These are laudable efforts to help women in Singapore.

"This particular bag received much publicity during the last GE, and I hope to put it to good use. When Aware approached me and asked to put it up for auction, I saw this as an opportunity to raise funds for a very worthy cause."

Aware describes the infamous photo of Ms Tin posing with the Kate Spade box as being one of the defining images of last year's General Election which attracted "everything from criticism of her candidacy to misogynist vitriol".

The starting bid for the yellow handbag, which Ms Tin says she used only a few times, is $500.

Other items that will be auctioned during the fundraiser include jewellery from a local social enterprise, and artwork by a Singaporean artist.

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