Russell Crowe helps UK bookstore smash fundraising target with surprise £5000 donation

Virgin Radio

11 Oct 2022, 09:31

Some wholesome Russell Crowe news incoming. 

The Hollywood heavyweight has helped one struggling Norwich bookstore to stay open after donating £5000 to their fundraising campaign.

The independent shop, called Bookbugs and Dragon Tales, had reached out for support from buyers online to help keep their business afloat, and found some support from an unlikely source. 

The shop wanted to raise £15,000 to give some financial breathing room, and to do more outreach work with local children, and thanks to Russell, they’ve smashed that target to raise over £20,000 (at time of writing).

Bookbugs owners Leanne and Dan Fridd said their fundraising link had been noticed by the Gladiator star, and revealed on Australia’s Channel Nine Today Show that the shop has been “packed ever since.”

Dan explained: “It's incredible what he's done because he's not just given the money, but he's given his name and the ensuing media attention that we've managed to get because of it.

“We know this isn't the first time he's done something like this to change people's lives. He's not just changed our lives, he's changed the children of Norwich's lives and the people we can reach. “

It’s not the first time Russell has opened his wallet to help out others. He once donated $200,000 to help a struggling primary school near his hometown in rural Australia. 

Elsewhere, the generous actor was last spotted on the big screen in Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder, and according to director and star Taika Waititi, Russell was “one of the best things” about the whole movie. 

While at the UK Gala Screening of the comic book adventure back in July, Waititi told virginradio.co.uk and other press: “It was incredible because [Crowe] just wasn't afraid to just take the p*** out of the character and himself…wearing a miniskirt and then a breastplate. 

“He just jumped into it and I think he's one of the best things in the film.”