"I have just been to Foodtown Grey Lynn, and the two hot guys collecting for HIV/AIDS were total honeys," said a posting on GayNZ.com's Forum this morning, so naturally our photographer raced to the scene. Red ribbon day: Ben "I just about took a mortgage out so I could put more money in their buckets," a GayNZ.com reader had typed. "Hot guys will always make you wanna give more," another agreed. Robbie and Ben (pictured) had been collecting in Auckland's Grey Lynn since 7am, and both say they're surprised and "buzzed" by the generosity of passers-by today for the annual World AIDS Day street appeal. Both guys' buckets were heavy with coins at 10am this morning. "Someone put a $100 note in my bucket, someone else bought me a coffee, and then another guy donated a whole roll of notes," said Ben, who had carefully positioned himself close to a Westpac cash machine. Raising cash: Robbie NZ AIDS Foundation staff and volunteers are on street corners around New Zealand today giving red ribbons in return for donations to the local fight against HIV/AIDS. Competition is intense between Auckland and Wellington collectors who try to outdo each other each year. In recent years, Wellingtonians have been generous, with volunteers in the capital raising more money than their queen city counterparts. GayNZ.com's list of World AIDS Day activities today and across the weekend is linked below. Outside the main areas, an instant $3 donation to the New Zealand AIDS Foundation can be made by texting the word 'AIDS' in the body of a text message to the number 883.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Friday, 28th November 2008 - 10:41am