THE horrifying earthquake and tsunami in Japan has sparked a determined fundraising campaign by a Gunnislake woman, eager to help survivors in her native country.

Tamami Benjamin, who came to live in the UK in 2003, said she was desperate to support those who had lost so much, in any way she could.

Tamami and her husband, Adam, do not have a television at home and the first she knew about the earthquake was after a phone call from a friend.

She said: 'We are so used to earthquakes, we have all the procedures, everyone knows what to do, and I thought it would be the usual type, just a bit bigger.

'But when we saw the pictures on the internet, it was unbelievable. I think it only really sank in after about three days, I was just in shock, it was so big. Then I started feeling desperate to go back, I felt completely torn, but I talked to my husband and friends and everyone agreed I shouldn't go back and be a burden, be another mouth to feed.'

Tamami, whose three sons attend Milton Abbot School and Milton Abbot Under 5s, said thankfully her family in Japan were all safe — although her nephew Keigo had a narrow escape.

'He was in Sendai the day before the earthquake — he is a student and keen tennis player and he was playing in a tournament.

'Luckily, he lost his match which was why he left to go back to his home, but because all the communications were down, my sister couldn't get hold of him for two days. We were really terrified, but luckily he eventually managed to get through to her.'

Keigo is now staying with Tamami — although he wanted to stay in Japan, his family is so concerned about the danger of radiation poisoning they begged him to leave the country.

Tamami is hoping Keigo will accompany her as she goes to schools and organisations to talk about the situation in Japan — and to help her with her fundraising.

Tamami said: 'Thinking about what people are going through at home is what is keeping me going, I really, really have to do something to help.'

She said being a mother, her heart went out to the children who had been orphaned, and the families who were trying to survive in such difficult conditions, with food being rationed and shortages of blankets and warm clothes.

'I've been hearing from lots of different people that little children are getting weaker and weaker. No-one was prepared for this, it happened so quickly, they must be freezing,' said Tamami. The north of Japan, where this happened, is famous for its cold weather, we can easily get snow until the end of April.

'I've heard that children are beginning to get flu in the evacuation centres, and without warm clothes and food, this could spread.'

Tamami was busy collecting for ShelterBox outside the Tesco store in Callington on Monday and Wednesday, and at Milton Abbot School hall tomorrow (Friday), she is holding a jumble sale and stalls selling cakes, Japanese food and local produce, running from 2pm to 5pm.

On Saturday, March 26 at 5pm she is inviting as many people as possible to Milton Abbot Village Hall, where there will be a bring and share supper, a quiz, music and dancing and everyone will be able to play their part in creating 1,000 origami paper cranes — a traditional Japanese ceremony which offers prayers of support and love in times of peril. All are welcome, entrance is free but donations are welcome.

She has asked a Japanese artist Masako Whitehouse to make a special alter of flowers, candles and stones.

Tamami is planning more events and hopes to raise as much money as she can for ShelterBox, Save the Children Fund and the Red Cross.

Milton Abbot U5s have collected almost £200 towards the ShelterBox appeal.

Tamami said she was struck by the generosity of the English in times of crisis: 'I've lived in America, Australia and Spain, but I've never seen anything like the reaction you get from the English.

'I think English people, from a very young age, think about helping other people, which is fantastic.

'People who I know at school, not friends, just acquaintances, have come up to me and given me money, and from the moment it first happened, I've been getting phone calls and so many emails, everybody saying, "What can I do? What can I do?" It's just incredible.'

l Anyone who would like to donate jumble or a cake for the cake stall at Tamami's fundraising sale at Milton Abbot tomorrow should bring donations along at the beginning of the event.