Sisters auction off middle names for cancer-suffering friend

Sisters Lynda and Katy Grimmer are selling off the rights to their middle names to help out a friend suffering from cancer. Photo / supplied

A charity auction with a novel twist is causing a stir on Facebook and Trade Me, all in the name of friendship.

Wellington sisters Lynda and Katy Grimmer are auctioning off the rights to their middle names in order to send their friend - who has terminal cancer - on the roadtrip of a lifetime.

The generous young women tell potential Trade Me bidders they will change their middle names and use them in their daily lives.

"All money will be donated to our dearest friend Molly Frank, 18, from Paraparaumu who has had a long battle against an aggressive cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma."

Although previously in remission, Molly recently found out a tumour had returned and was so close to her heart that it could not be operated on.

The auction started last night with a reserve of $1500, and has already drawn some interesting suggestions, ranging from Indian actresses to President Barack Obama.

"As long as it's not rude or offensive, we won't say no to anything," said Lynda, 19, who, like her sister, was not given a middle name at birth.

The young women have targeted companies and used social media in the hope of getting as much money as possible to fund a campervan trip around the South Island for Molly, who was born there.

The sisters have both been friends with Molly for nearly five years and said that while she was going through a range of emotions, Molly has told them she is overwhelmed with their generous offer and thinks the idea is "really cool."

Their TradeMe auction can be found here.