Mucho money for Spice tickets

A Bradford man said he saw his daughter happier than she's ever been yesterday, with "a smile you couldn't peel off with a crowbar," and all he had to do was fork over $3,500 for two tickets to the Spice Girls.

Bob Adam said he made his daughter Christie's day, and maybe even her nine-year-old life, when he ended a day-long bidding war for a pair of tickets on Mix 99.9 around 3 p.m.

After borrowing money from relatives and friends, Adam handed over the cash and then sent his wife, Terry, and Christie off in a limo with two fourth-row tickets and two VIP passes. The money raised from the auction goes to the Mix Children's Fund to support the Hospital for Sick Children.

"When Julie James announced we had the highest bid, Christie jumped up and down with her mother, her eyes as wide as saucers," said Adam, 39, who is an Adidas vice-president. "She began hugging everyone she could find. I was going to go to scalpers but this is for charity and it's a win-win situation."

Adam had to borrow a lot of the money when he found out his bank was closed. The station accepted only cash or a certified cheque. "I had to call in a lot of favors, especially from my parents," he said.