Little Liam Porter started something much, much bigger than he - or anybody else - expected when he urged other Kiwi kids to donate their pocket money to a tsunami aid appeal.
We were touched when we received a letter from Liam last week.
In his 7-year-old handwriting, it read: "Hey kids of New Zealand, I've just had a great idea! Why don't we all donate $2 of our pocket money to the Samoan people to help them rebuild their houses and get some food and fresh water!"
We liked Liam's kind-hearted spirit so much that we published a photograph and article about the plucky Papamoa boy on the front page of the Bay of Plenty Times.
Within days, Liam's fund had swelled to an amazing $6000.
That was impressive enough, but the following day it had leapt to $36,000 and yesterday stood at an astonishing $43,000.
This is the power of genuine, heartfelt charity. Liam has no thought for his own gain, for publicity or agendas. He also has little concept of how much money he is actually gathering. He is just a boy who sincerely wants to help - and people have responded.
How different to the other "charity appeal" story on today's front page.
While the pair who set off to walk around the country raising funds for Starship (and raising profile for their business) no doubt had good intentions at the outset, the bid has failed to generate any cash for the hospital - and those who gave money or support in the form of accommodation, food and other assistance will be upset that their generous gifts have been of no benefit to the intended recipient.
Rather than spending free nights in luxury accommodation, they would have been better advised to take a leaf out of Liam's book - keep it simple and let the focus be on the giving.
EDITORIAL: Go Liam - you've got a big heart
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