it will cost 250k and as you say 250 people giving 1000. thats quite alot of dosh ! you should except small donations that every rider would give if there down there ( so in the entrance or where ever) this will get alot more people donating!
Maybe he's talking cripticly about the chairlift... or maybe not...
I think he must be talking about the chairlift fund though its hard to tell lol, its a good idea about having a collection tin for smaller donations at events though as they say at tesco's 'every little helps...'