'Rally round' plea to aid disaster victims (From Gazette & Herald)

'Rally round' plea to aid disaster victims

A RALLYING call has gone out to the people of Ryedale to show their true community spirit in support of the millions of tsunami victims.

In just the last few days thousands of pounds have already been generously donated by Ryedale residents adding to the mammoth aid appeal.

And many more fundraising events are being planning in the coming week by young and old alike across the area.

This week Ryedale MP John Greenway commended the fundraising efforts of local people but said: "It will take months if not years, and the fundraising needs to go on for a long time. We need action now but also a continuation of action."

Mr Greenway added: "It is the worst human tragedy in my lifetime. The loss of life and the havoc it has caused in literally thousands of communities across Asia has moved everybody to feel that something has to be done."

More than 140,000 people have now been confirmed as dead in the earthquake tragedy. Attentions have now turned to helping the millions of people left homeless.

Four of the leading charity organisations in Malton and Norton are joining forces to mount a big street collection this weekend.

The Rotary Club, Round Table, Lions and Soroptimists have made arrangements with Ryedale District Council and the police to enable their mammoth fundraising bid go ahead.

Members from the four organisations will be holding collections in Malton, on Friday between 9.30am and 1pm, and again on Saturday from 8.30am to 1pm.

Jim Everett, president of Malton and Norton Lions Club, said: "It is a splendid example of four major organisations uniting to provide the maximum help to the people in the countries which have been devastated.

"This is probably the worst natural disaster we will see in our lifetime. So many people have been killed and communities wiped out. It will be a major long term operation to rebuild them. People have not only lost loved ones but all their possessions. We must do everything we can to help."

Mr Everett added: "I am sure that the people of Malton, Norton and district will give generously. With many coming into Malton to shop on Friday and Saturday from well outside the town, we are confident there will be an excellent response."

A massive £5,000 was raised through street collections held by Pickering's Rotary Club in just 12 hours on Friday and Saturday. President Peter Woodall said: "The response from the public was unbelievable."

And the figure is expected to rise as the club is holding a similar collection in Kirkbymoorside today - Market Day. In addition Rotarians have put collecting boxes in pubs in Pickering, Kirkbymoorside and Thornton-le-Dale.

Within hours of the extent of the tragedy unfolding the Rotary Club pledged to raise £3,000 to buy aquaboxes to ship drinking water purification units out to the stricken countries. "We quickly realised that from the response we were getting from the public that we could increase that pledge and now we are making arrangements for our takings to be sent to help the Rotary campaign to fund the aquaboxes," said Mr Woodall.

One person had given £200 in the street collection, while many others handed over £5, £10, and £20 notes and kiddies gave pocket money.

"We are very, very grateful to everyone for their generosity and to all those who help us in the collections," he said.

Rotarians in Malton and Norton have bought two drinking water purification units at a cost of £500.

Aquabox is an official project of Rotary International, said the towns' club president, Paul Pritchard, who added that it was hoped businesses would back an appeal to send more aquaboxes at a cost of £250 each.

The Rotary Club has used the recent receipts from this year's Father Christmas collection outside St Michael's Church, Malton, - about £700 - to fund the aquaboxes and more funds will be sent as the money becomes available, said Mr Pritchard.

Meanwhile a fundraising quiz night is to be held at Norton College on January 14. Businesses and individuals who would like to support the aquabox appeal are asked to contact Mr Pritchard on (01944) 758505.

Updated: 11:39 Wednesday, January 05, 2005