Thousands made from eBay sales

CHARITIES rely on their fundraisers but one volunteer has ensured that eBay has become a goldmine.

Janet Braddick is a volunteer at Tenovus Cancer Care’s warehouse in Llanishen, Cardiff.

The charity makes around £85,000 a year from eBay sales, and colleagues say thousands of that is due to Janet who they nickname “The Machine”. Tenovus recognised her contribution with an award at this week’s event.

She signed up two years ago to be an eBay lister and now she has raised tens of thousands of pounds for the charity.

The charity carries out house clearances and can find hugely valuable antiques or items which wouldn’t generate as much in shops.

Janet, 68, lives in Whitchurch, Cardiff, and turned her hobby into a crucial arm of the charity’s fundraising.

“I was computer literate and I could use eBay but I was retired and I had a lot of time on my hands. It was meant to be for four hours a week but now I do two days and train others.”

She said the items that are donated to the charity can be hugely varied but it is up to her and the other warehouse staff to research online their true worth.

Sometimes the prices surprise the team.

“We put some Ercol furniture online and we thought it would raise about £200 but we actually got £500.”

Other items which have raised large amounts have been musical instruments, including accordions, which sell well.

She got involved in the charity after her husband died from cancer two years ago.

“I wanted to work with a Welsh cancer charity, just to give something back. It’s so very rewarding. It’s like working for a family.”