Hundreds queue up to help Arc

MORE than 250 people were in the queue when Aid Reaching Children opened its fund-raising sale on Saturday. The charity is helping to fund an orphanage in the Aceh province of Indonesia and the event was opened by an emotional Deputy Jean Pritchard.

She was on holiday in Sri Lanka with Deputy Peter Roffey and her daughter, Azy, when the tsunami hit and both deputies are vowing to return once medically fit to travel.

'This gives me the opportunity to thank Guernsey people for their generosity ' people across the Bailiwick, too ' it's been superb, really outstanding,' said Deputy Pritchard to those waiting outside the former postal HQ.

She added that the villagers who had helped them had treated them like royalty despite having lost their homes, family, friends and livelihoods.

'Medical aid is still having problems getting through, the sewers were destroyed immediately, the wells were polluted and the roads don't exist,' she said.

Deputy Pritchard praised the hospital that treated both Deputy Roffey and her.

'We were so lucky and we're glad to be here today, but we know we've left behind people who will be experiencing disease and infection,' she said. As they were waiting at the airport in Sri Lanka, people were beginning to get ill. She thanked everyone in Guernsey for what they had given already.

Speaking after the opening, both deputies said they were improving after their life-threatening experience.

Deputy Pritchard said she had taken up knitting to pass the time.

'We're impatient to be fit enough to go back out. We feel we need to do that,' said Deputy Roffey.

They are aiming to travel before April, when Sri Lanka's monsoon season begins.

With communications down, the pair have been unable to contact the village, Unawatuna, where they were staying and could only send letters to friends in the region.

They have made contact with a friend in England who set out for Sri Lanka at the weekend and asked him to pass on messages.

Deputy Pritchard added that the fund-raising efforts were all needed.

'What we've seen in the first couple of weeks has been personal money and donations and the next stage will very much be fund-raising events.'

The two deputies have set up their own fund to help the village in which they were staying and donations have reached nearly '10,000.

Arc director Linda Garnham was delighted at the response to the sale ' the tombola stall was cleared in under half-an-hour.

'It's fabulous ' I can't really put words to it. It's just a wonderful turnout.'

'The money raised now will go towards an orphanage. We've got a plot of land and we're working with an agency in England.'

She hopes to go to the area next month to carry out an assessment.

'Initially it's to house 100 and next door will be a school. Hopefully we'll be funding that for the first year and then hand it over and maybe move on.'

Arc now has 88 volunteers offering to help with fund-raising events over the next 12 months.

Money raised from its Santa run, which was held for the first time last year, will also go towards the orphanage.

'There are so many children that have been orphaned. We're a children's charity and want to do our bit for those youngsters who have lost their families and been though trauma,' she added.

'We're aware they have nothing and hopefully we can help a little bit and bring some happiness.'

With recent news reports telling of child-trafficking in the region, Miss Garnham said the orphanage would offer a secure environment.

n'Islanders can donate to Arc's appeal via www.aidreachingchildren.org.gg or to deputies Pritchard and Roffey's Una Fund at any branch of Lloyds TSB. The sort code is 30-93-73 and the account number is 02453305.

Alternatively, cheques made payable to the Una Fund can be sent to Four Cabot, St Andrew's Road, St Andrew's.