ON behalf of the Okehampton Rotary Club and all the other members of the joint charities committee I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for the support that everyone in Okehampton and district gave to the recent tsunami appeals. This has resulted in a phenomenal result whereby you all managed to raise a stupendous sum of £24,931.78 so far. This money has been in part spent on £12,500 for Rotary Aqua Boxes at the outset of this appeal. This was to provide enough fresh water to supply a town the size of Okehampton for a month. This initial appeal was followed up with various fundraising events culminating in the thank you concert in the school hall where we were all royally entertained. This has resulted in an amount of £12,431 being held at present awaiting advice from Sri Lanka for help with a school rebuilding project. The Devon Rotary district has undertaken to supply a fresh water plant in Sri Lanka and has asked all the clubs in the district to support this. We have, in common with the other clubs, forwarded a sum to this appeal from the funds we hold on your behalf. We are very conscious of the fact that the area seems to be awash with funds, and until we have sorted the project that fits with the original criteria set out we will hold the money and only forward this to Sri Lanka via the Rotary Clubs to ensure its use. I would point out that if anybody wishes to pass funds to this part of the world we will still be happy to receive the money on your behalf. All the organisations involved in the appeal worked exceedingly hard and to everybody involved thank you again for your help and support. The ongoing problems of the local community need your help again and we are all addressing this, so please support your group with either assistance or funds. I would like to take this opportunity to remind everybody of the Rotary May Fair and Duck Race on Sunday May 1 in Simmons Park. Please come along and make the usual fun day a wonderful day out for everybody. John Moppett President Rotary Club of Okehampton
