Applications flood in after single man rents billboard to find a date
![Mark Rofe is trialling a new way to find a date. [Photo: SWNS]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/g5lgJXEIcTKlCkFHryFgKA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD03MDI-/https://media-mbst-pub-ue1.s3.amazonaws.com/creatr-uploaded-images/2020-02/bba35230-468c-11ea-b7ae-0575cf154db3)
Dating can be hard and sometimes you just need to think outside the box to attract somebody new.
That’s exactly what Mark Rofe is trialling at the moment.
At 30, he has watched as all his friends partner up and get married, while he has been single for over four years.
Not content with trawling through dating apps, he has come up with a more novel approach in his bid to find a girlfriend: a £425 3- by 6-metre billboard emblazoned with the words “Date Mark”.
![His friends are all getting married. [Photo: Getty]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/mEwEI78fwWNJOTwD78dOOg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY4Mg--/https://media-mbst-pub-ue1.s3.amazonaws.com/creatr-uploaded-images/2020-02/6a984ac0-468d-11ea-aafe-429792eb4985)
In just a couple of days, he has already received 1,004 (and counting) applications to look through.
People interested in dating Mark are directed to a website he has set up where they can apply by giving him their name, email address and photo.
They can optionally add in their social media details, age, location and a personalised message to the man himself.
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The massive sign can be found in Fairfield Street, Manchester. It says “this could be the sign you’ve been waiting for” alongside the details of his website.
This clearly was the sign that over a thousand people were waiting for.
He described his ideal woman as Maya Jama and said: “I’ve been single for a little while now, and many of my friends are married or in long term relationships.
“I’ve tried the dating apps, but they just weren’t working for me, so I decided to try something a little bit different to try and stand out.”
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He works in marketing - which makes sense - but insists his bid to find a date is entirely legitimate.
He has even set up a crowdfunding account to encourage people to donate towards future billboards. His long-term plan (if he doesn’t find a date from this round) is to put billboards in Dublin, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Sheffield, Portsmouth, Bristol, and London.
That’s a lot of billboards.
His motto: “If at first you don’t succeed, buy more billboards?”
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People interested in dating Mark can find out a plethora of information about him on his website.
He has covered all the essentials; how many girls he has kissed (over 3), length of his index finger (6.82cm) and friends (2).
He has also added plenty of photos of himself on the page, so any potential suitors can get a feel of what he’s like IRL.
The comical website also has a “what people have been saying” section.
“Mark, this is a silly idea and it’s never going to work,” one supportive colleague said.
“This is the most desperate thing I’ve ever seen. Please don’t include my name on the testimonial,” another friend commented.
