29 SEPTEMBER 2001, Page 67

Q. I have drained my drawers of foreign currency and

sorted it into freezer bags according to country. Unfortunately, my girlfriend and I are not planning any trips abroad before 1 January 2002, at which time the introduction of the euro will make many of these nugatory sums unusable. One will be unable to exchange them for sterling or even repatriate them to any purpose, It seems a shame to throw them away. What do you suggest, Mary?

M.B., London SW11 A. Macmillan Cancer Relief is collecting foreign coins and notes, which will be exchanged by Travelex. You can hand in clutter currency at Barclays Bank bureaux de change. Alternatively, you can deliver bundles of it to Julia Freeland, Macmillan Cancer Relief, St Luke's Church, Sydney Street, London SW3 6NH (020 7795 0055).