Campaigner’s aim to get celebrity support (From News Shopper)

Campaigner’s aim to get celebrity support

10:10am Tuesday 5th December 2006 in Traffic & Travel By Chris Johnson

A JOLLY commuter behind a campaign to get Londoners smiling by giving each ther "niceties" tokens is seeking celebrity support.

News Shopper reported two weeks ago how Liz Akers, of Vesta Road, Brockley, launched a scheme enabling commuters to pass each other the tokens - simply for being nice.

The idea has already received support far and wide with marketing manager Miss Akers appearing on radio and news shows across the capital.

She has even recorded an interview with a Spanish television network called Televisa which took to the idea.

And last week at a BBC music gig, 28-year-old Miss Akers passed a token to Radio One DJ Jo Whiley and Alex Pennie from elctro-rock group The Automatic.

Miss Akers say: "I was at the Radio One Little Noise Gig in Islington which was hosted by Jo Whiley in association with Mencap.

"Both Jo and Alex seemed to really like the idea, and promised they would log some comments on our website, which I am still waiting to see.

"I gave Jo a yellow token called Gary, and Alex another yellow called Mitchell.

"It got me thinking, if we get as many celebrities involved as possible, it will make the campaign really special and add a touch of glamour to it."

Now Miss Akers is on a mission to get more members to add to the 500 who have signed up in the past month.

So far, 100 tokens were distributed at a launch party in Soho earlier last month, and another 200 personalised Fimo clay tokens are due to be dispatched soon.

When someone is given a token, they are encouraged to go to the website niceties-token.com and log its colour, name and write a message of how they were given it.

On December 16, Team Nice is holding a coffee crawl'. Go to the website and become a member for more information.