Andy Murray's racquet an ace way to aid victims of quake

A HAIRDRESSER has scooped a tennis racquet autographed by Andy Murray in a bid to raise money for the survivors of the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

Wendy Brown, the owner of Hair and Image for Men on Queen Street, bid 500 for the tennis racquet at an auction, helping to take the total money raised for the Haiti appeal – led by the aid agency Mercy Corps – to 275,000.

The orange and black racquet was one of a number of items auctioned off at a recent fundraising dinner organised by MEP Struan Stevenson. It will now take pride of place in the salon where Miss Brown plans to add it to her collection of sporting memorabilia, which already includes a signed Scotland rugby shirt.

She said: "We have a lot of sporting memorabilia and Andy Murray's tennis racquet is a great addition and will take pride of place in the salon. I'm delighted too that I have been able to help such a good cause. My donation really isn't a lot when you think of what the people in Haiti have lost."

Miss Brown added: "I heard about the racquet through one of my clients who had been invited to the dinner, and I just put the bid in from home. I couldn't actually believe it when I found out I had got the racquet, I was quite excited. I never actually thought in a million years that I would have actually got it."

The racquet was donated by the Royal Bank of Scotland head- quarters at Gogarburn. Murray, the British number one, is an ambassador for the bank.

The fundraising dinner and auction, which took place at L'Atelier hotel in Brussels on 27 January, raised 2,354 for the Haiti appeal, with The Royal Mail – which sponsored the event – providing an extra 4,000, bringing the total to 6,354.

Other auction bids included 275 for an Edinburgh Gunners' rugby shirt, and 180 for a full bag of Tunnock's caramel wafers and teacakes, and a bottle of Irn-bru.

Mr Stevenson, a Conservative MEP, said: "We are delighted at the success of our dinner and auction. Guests and friends gave generously and with the sponsorship from the Royal Mail, we raised 6,354 to support Mercy Corps' appeal for Haiti to help relieve some of the distress amongst the Haitian population."

John Cunningham, director of fundraising at Mercy Corps, added: "This event was a great success and has made a significant contribution to our current appeal total, currently standing at 275,000. This cash will be used to help survivors of this disaster recover and rebuild their lives."