# Twitter ask on a train gets @RioFerdy5's involvement

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/01/14/twitter-ask-train-gets-rioferdy5039s-involvement/
- Published: 2013-01-14T13:50:46+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Here's another example of the power of Twitter when combined with a dose of serendipity
and a willingness to ask.

Manchester United footballer Rio Ferdinand last week agreed to support charity Danceaid
after he was contacted via Twitter on a train journey. Michelle Clark spotted him
on a train and shared the news with her friend via her mobile. One friend, Danceaid
founder Laura Wilson, urged her to tell Ferdinand about the charity.

Although Clark did not pluck up the courage, Wilson then tweeted directly to Ferdinand,
asking him to make contact with Clark on the train. A rather surprised Clark then
found herself being approached by Ferdinand who agreed to help the charity.

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> RT @[shukibyrne](https://twitter.com/shukibyrne): Rio [twitpic.com/btutlr](http://t.co/9jG9QvQm)
> is this true? » Yep, news travels fast on this twitter! See if I can help out.
> [#ThrowSomeShapes](https://twitter.com/search/%23ThrowSomeShapes)
> — Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) [January 9, 2013](https://twitter.com/rioferdy5/status/289115743377817601)

You can follow the process of the interaction via this collection of tweets, reading
from the bottom to the top. Click on the image to enlarge it:

[⌊Impressive stuff from Rio Ferdinand (start reading from below... on Twitpic⌉⌊Impressive
stuff from Rio Ferdinand (start reading from below... on Twitpic⌉[

While not all celebrities might react so positively, this example does demonstrate
the value of being able to respond to unexpected opportunities and of the ability
to communicate directly via Twitter.

 

 * **[Aviva avoids “doing a Hoover” in Twitter fundraiser for Railway Children resulting in c£100k raised in a day](https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/02/25/aviva-avoids-doing-hoover-twitter-fundraiser-railway-children-resulting-c100k-raised-day/)**(
   25 February 2013)
 * **[Fundraising Ireland conference 2013](https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/03/28/fundraising-ireland-conference-2013-543/)**(
   28 March 2013)
 * **[Can you get withdrawal from Twitter?](https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/07/24/can-you-get-withdrawal-twitter/)**(
   24 July 2013)