You could always trade in your ride on lawn mower Bazza!
Sure that is worth more than my bag of camera bits!
However it does amaze me how much money, or what a priority photography can be for people. I'm not rich and I try to get my photograpphic equipment at a good price and do not mind buying secondhand, in fact sometimes it is an advantage. I do however have to balance it against other purchases and a modest income.
I'm amazed from reading through various website forums that people scrape the last penny to buy a lens or a camera, and a month later maybe have to sell it because the car goes wrong. I couldn't live like that unless I was down to my last penny and my kit was my income. Other people you can see obviously have a good incomes or a few quid in the bank and can afford it all. To buy the best lens or the latest flashgun isn't a big deal. However clearly it's not about having the best equipment that makes you a good or interesting photographer.
You should set up a fund Bazza... there are folks who put 'give a donation to me' type tagline on their emails and web postings... it only needs a small percentage of people stupid enough to pay but sadly there are some... Me, i'm off to Nigeria to set up a scam... nothing to lose, you are bound to hit on lucky with one or two folks..