Fans and friends of Chris Sievey, famous as his alter ego Frank, raised a staggering £8,000 within four hours of launching a massive internet fundraising campaign to pay for his funeral.
The appeal was set up after the M.E.N. revealed the 54-year-old, who died following a cancer battle, was virtually penniless and facing a pauper's funeral.
Generous offers of support have flooded in from across the region, including from a number of funeral directors. The family are now considering which one to use, but hope to use a Timperley based one – because that is what 'Frank would have wanted'.
Top comic Jason Manford is also planning a tribute gig later this year.
Son Stirling, 31, said they were 'overwhelmed' by the generosity of donors who wanted to pay tribute to the man who brought so much laughter to their lives.
He said: “We just want to give him a good send off so the sort of money raised is more than adequate – we are totally overwhelmed at the amount of support we've received.
“We've had so many calls from people wanting to help – we just can't believe they are doing all this for him.
“The one thing he always wanted was recognition so he would have liked this and we'd like to say a big thank you to everyone.
“Any money left over will go to cancer charities because he would have wanted that.”
The fundraising campaign is being organised through former friends and associates Jon Ronson and Guy Lovelady and is gathering pace on the social networking site Facebook.
His former manager Guy said: “We tweeted about the campaign on Twitter and within 20 minutes, over £800 had been donated. This figure had jumped to £8,000 within four hours with donations varying from 44p to £200.
“We were only trying to find a measly amount of money so it's great we'll be able to pay for the funeral and any other money will go to the family to be used in the best way they see fit to honour his memory. The way the campaign has taken off is just incredible.”
Salford-born comedian Jason Manford said M.E.N: “Chris was a comedy icon on the North West circuit and comics tend to look after each other.
“He always made me laugh as a kid so I just thought it'd be nice to do a benefit gig in his memory.
“Perhaps the money could go to charity or to his family at this difficult time.
“I didn't know him personally but reckon he'd probably be surprised that he had an impact on so many people, especially because his act was a man with a papier mache head!
“You just remember him with a smile and surely that's worth a couple of quid and a night out?
“It's still early days but hopefully we can organise something for later in the year – Justin Moorhouse and Clint Boon are up for it and hopefully it'd be a good night.”
The Facebook appeal site has attracted more than 700 members. Some have suggested that a statue of Frank should also be funded for Timperley.
Contributors can pledge donations through a secure Paypal site.
Chris, 54, died after a battle with cancer. He was found collapsed at his home in Hawthorn Road, Hale, early on Monday and died later in Wythenshawe Hospital.
He leaves sons Stirling, 31, and Harry, 18, and daughter Asher, 30. Tweet
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I gave £10. A Pleasure. R.I.P Frank Sidebottom.
proud of you manchester
It's not just Manchester giving!
that's just brilliant.
Say it quietly, but there's plenty of Liverpudlians who've donated too ...
manchester will go on to produce another comedy legend from franks ashes
The rest of the country loved Frank too, and have been donating to the fund.
Sid in London
I would let the family have the rest of the money.
Yet again why have the MEN made out that only Manchester has given to this good cause - he was known UK wide
I'm so happy that everyone has pulled together at this very sad time. Like a couple of others have said, it's not just Manchester giving - I'm in Leeds. His passing has moved people from all over the country and beyond
I'm from Halifax, now based in London and my boyfriend is from the Wirral and also based in London and we both gave cash.. non Mancs donated as well guys!
The Manchester Evening News is a local paper and so obviously it puts a Manchester spin on the story.
What is really important is that so, so many people who were touched by the brilliance, warmth and shear stupidity of Frank are prepared to put their hands in their pockets and give him a dignified funeral.
I know that his appeal went far beyond the confines of Manchester or even the North West of England. Jason Manford's fantastic offer to headline a benfit for Frank is a tribute to affection he was held in and loyalty that he generated.
Cracking! Northern spirit prevails once again! :)
do we know when the funeral is?? is it goign to be a family only affair?
Medieval Knight, Reedy Ditch (24/06/2010 at 13:32)
do we know when the funeral is?? is it goign to be a family only affair?
Chris's daughter was on here yesterday and said it would be a private funeral but that they would be looking into doing something to celebrate his life with his fans soon, obviously they're too grief stricken at the moment to think any further than that.
Is there any way Frank's head can be suspended,and kept forever, in time ? Damian thingy did it with a shark,and made a living out of it.....so come on UMIST or whatever you call yourselves nowadays...(I do know thingy's arty-farty surname,but Frank's shed cant get a shark in it)
Slight shot ion one's foot Alice. Love from The City of Trinty North West, oh yeah Liverpool
just to remind everyone http://www.trinitymirror.com/our-portfolio/regionals/men-media/
Still extremely sad. Very glad I at least got to meet him.
Lets not bitch about who comes from where. Lets just be thankful to the M.E.N. for running the story,whoever set up the appeal and Frank/Chris for touching all our funny bones and to ourselves,wherever we are/come from for being able to give something back to a man who gave us hours of pleasure.