Fundraiser to bring 9ft Lara Croft statue to Derby

The campaign is seeking to raise £30,000 and the fundraiser – which was set up on Saturday – has already raised nearly £11,000, mainly from Tomb Raider fans.

Earle is hoping the city of Derby can help out in bringing the statue to the city. He said the plan was to place the fibreglass monument on the balcony at the Osnabruck Square end of the Market Hall in the city centre.

“There is huge untapped potential in the Tomb Raider story and we have hundreds of people who come to Derby every year to explore the place where the game was made,” Earle said.

“This year’s event is the biggest ever and it’s already a sell-out, which shows that Tomb Raider and Lara Croft are as big as ever.

“Fans have been asking about having a statue to visit for years and with the Tomb Raider: The LIVE Experience having ended and this statue being in storage, it’s too perfect an opportunity for us to miss.

“The response so far has been amazing, but now we’re hoping that Derby will get behind the campaign and raise the rest of the money we need to bring Lara home.”

A spokesperson for Derby City Council added: “Lara Croft is an important part of Derby’s history, and bringing the Lara Croft statue to the city and giving it a home in the Market Hall would provide an opportunity to celebrate that legacy.

“We welcome the campaign and its ambition to bring the statue to Derby. It would be a fantastic way to celebrate the city’s connection to Tomb Raider and its proud creative heritage, particularly as we mark the 30th anniversary of Lara Croft this year with an event at Quad and a celebration in the evening at the Market Hall.”