The Brew's Elmo TMX Auction Twice As Nice

KQBW (96.1 FM) morning show hosts Mookie and Michelle raised more than $500 for the US Marine Corps' "Toys For Tots" drive by auctioning off a Tickle Me Elmo TMX doll - twice.

The "TMX" sells for about $40 but demand has pushed the average price on eBay into the hundreds of dollars. This new version of Elmo rolls around on the floor laughing and smashing his fist on the ground, begging for ticklers to stop.

The TMX, which was donated by the Toys R Us store in Council Bluffs, originally went for $300 to "Greg" last week.

"He showed up Friday, gave us a check, and told us to re-auction the doll so we could raise more money for the kids," said Michelle Matthews, KQBW program director.

So this week, the TMX went back up on the block. "Chris," who unsuccessfully lost out on the doll in last week's bidding, came out on top with a winning bid of $230.

"One Elmo, $530, some happy Marines, and hopefully many smiling kids that otherwise might not have had presents under the tree this year," Matthews said.

The Brew will be collecting toys for the "Toys for Tots" campaign at locations throughout the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. Click here for a complete list of places to drop off new, unwrapped toys.