Kerry and Ernestine are raising funds

A little pink pig on the counter of an Oxford Street coffee bar is showing the way for Levin retailers.

Kerry Henderson owner of Caffeinate Too was so taken with the plans for the updated cenotaph in the Levin Public Gardens that he has diverted plans for the money mounting up in his tips piggy bank.

"I think the new design for the memorial is beautiful and i want it to happen," he said.

Mr Henderson remembers the appeal 15 years ago for Levin woman Lyn Maclean to have a liver transplant when $100,000 was raised in a very short time.

"There were signs in all the shops and a big barometer showing progress," he said. "The place was really buzzing."

He thinks the town can do the same for the memorial and challenged the rest of Levin's retailers to make a donation.

"If everybody gets on board $100,000 is easy to raise."

Now Ernestine's ‘fly me to the moon' tag has been ditched for a poster promoting the cenotaph upgrade and mr henderson is promoting the project to his customers.

Ernestine was a heavy wee pig before Mr Henderson's change in plans and she has been receiving plenty of coins as well as notes since Monday.

"It's something I can do and it comes from the heart," he said.