Thumbs up for Tony's Fundraising Idea

SINCE Harrogate fund-raiser Tony Hunt invented an idea for a coin-collecting ‘thumbs up’ box, donations for his Gavioli Fairground Organ have doubled.

And now it is hoped other MND fund raisers can benefit from his original idea.

No longer are people expected to drop a coin into Tony’s bucket. Instead, they roll a coin into the slot at the front of the box which trips a mechanism.

This activates a large blue ‘thumbs up’ sign along with a loud voice saying: ‘Thank you very much!’

Now Tony and the Yorkshire Dales Branch are hoping to produce a smaller, more portable version of the box to be used for table top and tombola stalls.

‘The attraction of the box has resulted in sales roughly doubling in size – and value,’ says Tony, whose wife and brother-in-law died from MND. ‘And it is noticeable that children in particular go back to their mums and dads for more coins as they are desperate to have another go.’

Tony, who has raised around £5,000 for the Yorkshire Dales Branch, has travelled with his Gavioli Fairground Organ to steam traction shows, fairs and fetes across the north of England.

And along with him went the all-important collection buckets for MND.

It was while he was at one show that Tony hit on the idea of a more novel style of collecting box. He discussed his ‘roll a penny’ idea with Remap, a national charity which designs and manufactures disability aids. The Branch agreed to fund the making of a prototype box.

The Gavioli Fairground Organ, which is reputedly the oldest in the world, now has the added attraction of this special fund-raising box.

‘Tony and his Gavioli team, with their regular presence in our area, have ensured a continuing awareness of the activities of our Branch, says Branch Chairman Peter Thompson.

Anyone who believes such a box would enhance their own fundraising efforts can contact Peter Thompson, Branch Chairman on 01423-870130.

From Chatter October 2008