Despite his giving up of cigars over 20 years ago, humidors autographed by Cuban president Fidel Castro are to be auctioned again at Havana’s Habanos festival this March – with the proceeds going to cancer research.

An annual event, Habanos’ gala banquet last year raised €610,000 from Castro-signed humidors, despite being without its traditional guest of honor, el Comandante. Obviously, poor health (is there a superlative form of poor?) will again keep the dictator from attending in 2007, the fourth consecutive year he’s been absent from the event.

While we actively advocate the smoking of cigars (and wouldn’t mind any Latin benefactors putting in a bid for us), we have to ask: is this the most blatant example worldwide of a potential carcinogen being auctioned off to raise money for cancer? It’s like drag racing for motor safety or boxing for Parkinson’s research. Both of which we’re also up for, if anyone wants to forward us the invite.

Castro signing cigar humidors for big Habanos fest [Reuters Oddly Enough]