Crowdfunding campaign created by British man to pay off Greek debt

With Greece on the brink of complete financial collapse, a new crowdfunding campaign has been created by a London shoe salesman with the goal of raising the €1.5 billion ($2.1 billion) that Greece owes the International Monetary Fund.

Thom Feeney, a 29-year-old Yorkshire man living in London, set up the campaign on Sunday and has already raised more than €250,000 (£177,000). “The Greek Bailout Fund” campaign has been so popular the website went offline Tuesday afternoon.

Greece slipped deeper into financial crisis this week with banks across the country closed for six days and the country set to become the first developed country to miss a payment to the IMF.

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Feeney created the crowdfunding page on Sunday, and has received donations from more than 15,000 people.

“All this dithering over Greece is getting boring. European ministers flexing their muscles and posturing over whether they can help the Greek people or not. Why don’t we the people just sort it instead?,” said Feeney on the crowdfunding page.

READ MORE: Greece on the brink of financial collapse as IMF deadline looms

“The European Union is home to 503 million people, if we all just chip in a few euro then we can get Greece sorted and hopefully get them back on track soon.”

As with other crowdfunding campaigns those who donate money will receive gifts, like a postcard from the Greek Prime Minister or a small bottle of Ouzo.

• Pledge €3 and get a postcard sent from Greece of Alex Tsipras, the Greek Prime Minister. We’ll get them made and posted in Greece and give a boost to some local printers and post offices.
• Pledge €6 and get a Greek Feta and Olive salad.
• Pledge €10 and get a small bottle of Ouzo sent to you.
• Pledge €25 and get a bottle of Greek wine.

And for those who think the IndieGogo campaign is a joke, Feeney assures people it’s not.

“I can understand why people might take it as a joke, but crowdfunding can really help because it’s just a case of getting on and doing it,” he said the website.  “I was fed up of the Greek crisis going round in circles, while politicians are dithering, this is affecting real people. While all the posturing is going on, then it’s easy for the politicians to forget that. I just thought, sod it, I’ll have a crack.”