Local businesses gathered for a charity fundraiser last week (Thurs 12th February) as part of a series of worldwide events sparked by a single message sent over the internet.
The Cornwall Twestival attracted more than 50 people from business, politics, media, colleges and universities in a single act of charity fundraising held within a converted engine house on the St.Agnes coastline.
Organised almost entirely over the internet, the Cornwall Twestival was part of a network of events which stretched from Adelaide to Honolulu with more than 175 cities taking part simultaneously to help raise $1m for Charity: Water.
Supported by local businesses; Business Cornwall Magazine, Niddocks Internet Marketing, UKNetWeb, PFA Research, Skinners Brewery and MPAD, the Cornwall event raised around £600 which will go directly to the supported charity.
Gaining its name from the combination of the words ‘Twitter’ and ‘Festival’, the Twestival, featured local users of the social networking site, Twitter, who spoke about their online experiences, a charitable raffle, music and networking.
The whole event was organised in less than four weeks after a call to action message was sent over the Twitter messaging network asking for volunteers to put together local teams in what was to become a massive global event.
Aren Grimshaw, Cornwall Twestival Organiser said,
“It has been fantastic to watch cities across the world pulling together to run an event in aid of charity. To think that it began with one message over Twitter is incredible. In Cornwall we have seen massive support and the event itself attracted a diverse crowd of people who have helped raise a significant amount of money for a worthy cause”.
In addition to the primary business sponsorship received, a number of local people and businesses donated their goods or services to an event raffle. Donations included everything from free coaching sessions through to a skateboard deck and branded laptop bags.
The event lasted just over three hours with cameras sending images over the internet to other locations across the globe. People on the internet were invited to take part by sending in messages of support which were beamed directly onto the walls at the venue.
Organisers are yet to find out whether the global target of $1m has been met; however, initial signs look promising.
More information on both the local and worldwide events can be found by logging onto http://twestival.com for more details.
