Today she presented a cheque for £1,634 to ShelterBox - but Granny also has a pound-saving message for everyone in the country 

It was almost like a Royal visit. Fundraising ‘royalty’ Alison Midwood visited ShelterBox’s Truro HQ yesterday to hand over a cheque for £1,634. Last November brave Alison flew over Cornwall’s Eden Project suspended on a 660 metre zipwire, and travelling at up to 60mph. All this at the age of 87 and shortly after cancer surgery! Her spectacular fundraiser was featured in 123 newspapers, and a video of her ‘flight’ became an online sensation. See Granny fly here.   

Yesterday Alison – known as Granny Bin or Binnie after her great aunt Albinia – visited ShelterBox HQ with a group of her neighbours from Roseland Retirement Village in Tregony, Cornwall. Joining her were fellow zipwire daredevils Peter Milne, Barbara Mitchell, and her granddaughter Alice Jefferson from ShelterBox’s Operations team. 

Now Alison has lent her friendly and famous face to a ShelterBox campaign that asks everyone to donate their first new £1 coins, which came into circulation this week. The disaster relief charity is asking communities, businesses and faith groups to encourage colleagues and friends to donate the first of the new twelve-sided pound coins to ShelterBox, saying, ‘Will you donate your first £1 coin to help families rebuild their lives after natural disaster or conflict? A £1 coin may not seem like a lot, but by harnessing the power of your community you can make a real difference. Two solar lights cost £15, and a ShelterKit costs only £35.’  

The £1 campaign runs from now until Easter Monday on 17 April. Special fold-out mini-ShelterBox collection boxes can be applied for to help collect the new coins in workplaces and shops. More details from fundraising@shelterbox.org  

Later, in October 2017 just before the old £1 coin ceases to be legal tender, ShelterBox will ask people to search out their old purses and piggy banks, and cash in the contents to help people in need of shelter worldwide. It is estimated that up to £1.3 billion worth of the original £1 coins may be lingering in people’s homes - but they will be worthless after the deadline. 

When it comes to being ‘penny-wise or pound foolish’ ShelterBox certainly thinks that Granny knows best! Alison and her friends were given a special presentation on ShelterBox’s latest work – in the Somaliland drought, the Colombian landslides, in war-torn Syria and Iraq, in Peruvian floods, and after Madagascar’s cyclone. £1 invested in ShelterBox can go a long way to help families after disaster.  

NOTES TO EDITORS 

The photos above are free to use in the context of this press release, but please credit ©ShelterBox and Toby Weller. Thank you.  

To apply for details of the £1 coin campaign, and a free collecting box, contact fundraising@shelterbox.org     

The zipwire and other adventure attractions are run by Hangloose Adventure, and there is no need for an Eden admission ticket or pass to take part. More details here.