‘The Bachelorette Australia’ runner-up Michael Turnbull puts himself up for auction

After losing to Sasha Mielczarek, 30, in “The Bachelorette Australia,” former footballer Michael Turnbull, 34, put himself up for auction on eBay for charity. The retired professional soccer player managed to raise $25,900 for life-saving cancer treatment.

Within one week, Turnbull received 71 bids for a romantic dinner date. The winner was Wendy Bijl from Queensland, who bid $13,000, which will fund the operation of cancer patient Joey Lynch , 23.

Battling Hodgkin's lymphoma patient for eight years, Lynch needs to raise $800,000 to travel to the United States for his early phase clinical trial at the University of Pennsylvania. It was through Fox Sports that Turnbull got involved in the "auction" that will fund Lynch’s operation, Sydney Morning Herald has learned.

Apparently, Bijl will not be the only woman to have a romantic date with Turnbull. The runner-up in the auction, a woman from Western Australia whose name was not revealed, will also get to have a date with “The Bachelorette Australia” runner-up. The woman pledged her losing bid of $12,900 for Lynch's treatment. “The Bachelorette Australia” runner-up was quick to accept the offer for a second date.

According to News.com.au, before Bijl was declared the winner of the auction, Turnbull said in an interview with the “Kyle And Jackie O Show” on KIISFM that the highest bidder would win a luxury date. He even promised “helicopters, jets and fireworks.”

It has yet to be confirmed if the runner-up in the auction will also enjoy a similar luxury date with Turnbull. No other bidders from the auction offered “The Bachelorette Australia” runner-up a third date and pledge their losing bid for Lynch’s operation.

Born in Brisbane, Australia, Turnbull was known as a professional footballer who played as goalkeeper before he joined the first season of “The Bachelorette Australia.” He played in two FIFA World Youth Championships and joined the Australian team at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

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