Local people rally to help Haiti victims

Rescuers tell story of the disaster

RESCUERS who helped save two-year-old Mia from earthquake-ravaged Haiti told North Chadderton School pupils about their harrowing ordeal.

Royton firefighter, Peter Stevenson, and his colleague Mike Dewar, visited the school to talk to pupils about the difficult conditions they worked in.

They took with them rescue dog Anna, who works for the fire service like Echo the dog who found Mia. Echo is currently in quarantine after returning from Haiti.

Alison Cheetham, assistant head in charge of North Chadderton lower school, said the firefighters had pupils spellbound with their stories.

She said the years seven and eight students, who are aged 11 and 12, were fascinated to hear first-hand experiences from the earthquake zone, and eager to learn how rescue dogs were trained.

She said: “The children have been following the story on TV, and the firefighters who came into school were inspirational.

“Pupils learned it is just ordinary people who make a difference, and they have been fundraising all week with a raffle, cake sales and a non-uniform day to raise money to help out.”


Bosses collect buckets of cash

MANAGERS at Applied Language Solutions grabbed buckets and sponges to start off a series of fundraising events to raise £500 for the Haiti earthquake appeal.

Seven of the bosses at the Delph-based business cleaned 20 vehicles during the charity car wash to raise £100.

Staff are pledging more money to see colleague Jonny Bates have his legs waxed to help reach the target.

In addition to donating money, the business is also liaising with the International Red Cross and has offered to arrange free translations of important documents surrounding the aid effort into French and Arabic — two languages that are proving to be central to the charity’s communication around relief efforts in Haiti.

Sarah Wilson, head of operations, said: “As soon as the staff heard about the Haiti tragedy, everyone was keen to do what they could to help.

“Our staff in India have contributed significantly and we have a number of additional fundraising efforts organised over the next few weeks.”


Survivor appeal reaches £70m

Public donations to a UK appeal to help Haiti earthquake survivors has reached £70 million.

The Disasters Emergency Committee said that its Haiti Earthquake Appeal had secured funding for short–term emergency aid efforts, but further cash was still needed to help the Haitian people rebuild their lives.

Up to 200,000 people died in the 7–magnitude earthquake on January 12, including more than 30 UN workers, while leaving thousands of others injured and homeless.

Agencies are still working to provide emergency relief, including food, shelter, clothing, medical help and clean water.

The DEC said the next challenge was planning for rebuilding and recovery, giving survivors the chance of a better quality of life.

A DEC spokesman said: “Passing this extraordinary milestone just a few weeks after the earthquake is a testament to the generosity of the UK public.

“The money we have raised will allow us not only to continue to finance the emergency relief that we are providing but also to plan to help the Haiti people to rebuild their ruined lives.”