Suffolk man swaps wages for donations to EACH
Tony Harris is working in 66 places throughout the year
A man from Suffolk is swapping wages for donations to East Anglia's Children's Hospices.
Tony Harris is hoping to work in 66 different places throughout the year as a way of celebrating his 66th Birthday in May and doing some good for a "lovely charity".
Previously Tony was a train driver for Greater Anglia but took early retirement 2 and a half years ago.
He told us he has done a lot of different things in his life, has plenty of transferable skills and is a quick learner.
Everything he earns will be donated to East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH)
He chose EACH because he used to live on Felixstowe Road in Ipswich and where the Treehouse has been built, between Bixley road and Felixstowe road, is where Tony used to play growing up.
Tony followed the building of The Treehouse and said he'd always wanted to do something and now he is retired he has the time and resources to raise some money for EACH.
He is hoping to raise £5000, he said any more would be 'the icing on top of the cake.'
How did this all come about?
Tony told us the idea came to him in a dream at Christmas, where he was sitting in the House of Commons in Prime Ministers Question Time, deputising for Tom Hunt (Ipswich MP) and the Speaker asked Tony to ask a question.
So he stood up and said 'Is the Prime Minister aware that Tony Harris is trying to get 66 days of employment and the wages of that employment will go to EACH?'
Tony awoke in the morning and told his wife, who said it was a great idea and that he should do it.
He told us he is open to anything, even if someone just wants to hire him for a day to do some gardening.
How's Tony been getting on?
Tony began his first day of work at the Geek Retreat in Ipswich on the 13th of January.
Here he was serving customers, making coffees and even hosting a gaming tournament in the evening.
He told us he woke up and thought he would have a bit of trepidation but said he felt "perfectly normal."
He said "as you get older you don't worry about things as much, as long as you do your best that's all that's asked, and then some of the tasks, if I fail. I fail."
Tony also said he is happy to do any training that's necessary as long as he can do that one day of work and earn the money for EACH.
We asked Tony if there were any jobs he really wanted to do
"Anything, maybe something new.. I'll give everything a go. I'll do anything.'
We asked how his first day was going
He told us he was working with "wonderful people". Going on to say that I've never been here before but they've made me feel really welcome and I love what they are doing."
"He told me he is a fast learner and he definitely is"
We also spoke to Gary Scarboro, manager at Geek Retreat in Ipswich.
He told us "Tony got in contact through the owners and the idea just sounded great, it just sounded so different that we sort of had to say yes.
"He's doing really well, he told me he is a fast learner and he definitely is.
"It's obviously a really good idea, but I think it could be really fun and he's going to have some really interesting days... I am sure he is got a really interesting year ahead of him."
One company suggested Tony could be a chef for a day. Tony has instead suggested they have a specific menu for one day for EACH and he serve the customers instead.
Tony is also hoping to get a few local celebrities involved, with Ed Sheeran at the top his list.
He said he is happy to be his chauffeur for the day, not only for the donation but for the "kudos it will bring me from my 2 young grandkids... That will set me up for them."
Tony is most excited to achieve his goal 'to come in on day 66 and say "yeah, well done Tony, you've done that".
He told us if he manages 66 jobs before 2024 he will keep going until the end of the year, and if he doesn't get 66 jobs in 2023, he will continue into 2024 until he does achieve it.
"I don't want to give up. I want that 66 and I want it badly".
Tony has previously raised money for EACH by writing a novel called 'Suffolk's Last Cold War Victim.' He donates 25% of the royalties. The book can be found here.
He also has a just giving page which can be found here.