Members of the Japanese community are hoping the combined generosity of Dundee FC fans and Courier readers will help boost their funds for the rebuilding effort in their home country.
A 20-strong group will be auctioning off a signed Dundee FC shirt and two signed footballs which were presented to them at the game against Cowdenbeath, where they were guests of the DFC Supporters’ Society.
The items are to be auctioned on eBay to raise money for the Japanese Red Cross and other voluntary organisations dealing with the chaos caused by last month’s earthquake and tsunami.
The group has already raised a significant sum through bake sales and donations and is hoping the Dundee merchandise will help to boost the funds.
Dr Kei Sakamoto from the college of life sciences at Dundee University is co-ordinating the effort and said Tayside’s Japanese community have been overwhelmed by the generosity of residents, in particular Courier readers.
“There have been a few articles in The Courier about the bake sale we were holding and that helped quite a bit we raised over £3000 from that,” he said.
He said individuals and community groups who could not come to the bake sale but read about it in The Courier have sent donations.
He added, “So far, we have raised over £5000 and Dundee FC has been very kind in donating the signed shirt and footballs.”
Bids can also be made by emailing k.sakamoto@dundee.ac.uk or by calling 01382 386378.