Joy as Minion raises cash for a cause

Stella Angus, 8 (left), will use the money raised in a TradeMe auction for a Minion letterbox built by Geoff Innes to support the Child Cancer Foundation. Photo / File

Thousands of dollars have been raised for the Child Cancer Foundation thanks to a Minion letterbox built in Rotorua.

A TradeMe auction for the letterbox built by Geoff Innes closed on Sunday and had a winning bid of $2270. Mr Innes meticulously crafted the Despicable Me character and decided to give the money to Rotorua local Stella Angus, 8, who has leukaemia to give to the charity of her choice, the Child Cancer Foundation.

Mr Innes said he never thought his letterbox would reach such a high price. "I was absolutely over the moon, it was such a good sum. It had 28,000 views which is mind-blowing. "

Fastway Couriers have offered to deliver the mailbox free. It will be sent to auction winner, Kane Silcock of Auckland.

"From our point of view it was really unique, quite different," Mr Silcock said. "The added bonus was that it was supporting a really good cause and allowed somebody to donate money to a charity of their choice which directly affected them."

For Stella's mother, Philly Angus, it was wonderful to have Mr Innes and the community get behind the cause. "We're really stoked with the money raised as Child Cancer Foundation does so much for us as a family and for other families in Rotorua and New Zealand, so we are really pleased."