`Important Chain Letter" is the dreaded heading on a sheet of paper which at this very minute is weaving its way through our top business circles. The copy which reached Quidnunc asks the recipient to send a cheque for £7, a risible sum indeed for some of those involved, and concludes with the instruction: "Have this letter re-typed on your note paper and send it to 10 individuals or companies known to you. Please enclose your list of other participants to date. This is the worst part."
Chain letters have an unsavoury if not dangerous image. While this one does not threaten dire consequences for non-compliance it is an unusual device for a good cause. And the good cause is none other than Dublin's Beaumont Hospital. The chief executive, Pat Lyons, says the chain is being organised in an ethical manner and is one of a number of projects to raise £600,000 for intervention radiology and cardiology equipment. Fundraiser Mike Hannon says the special corporate committee has raised £250,000 in 12 months through contributions and events. The chain letter was designed to appeal to a wider audience, without the huge expenditure of direct mail. While they were conscious of the bad image the concept may have, it was being used positively, and £30,000 had come in from 2,500 responses in two months. Yes, £7 might be a bit low, but it costs £3 to send it on to 10 friends.
Some of the great and the good whose names are listed as part of the chain, include no less than Joe Davy, stockbroker, Lochlann Quinn of Glen Dimplex, Eoin Ryan TD, Noel O'Callaghan of hotels and Archers Garage, Noel Hanlon of Aer Rianta, Eugene Magee of the travel firm, John de Vere White, auctioneer, Philip Lynch of IAWS and solicitor Noel Fox. There was only one woman among the 80 names.