Earthquake Fundraising Event

Sadly, one year on from our amazing efforts to raise money to support the people of Ukraine (and I know many of you continue to do this work), our help is needed again.

As you will be aware, a series of devastating earthquakes have hit southern Turkey and north-west Syria killing 20,000 people and injuring many more. People have been left without shelter in freezing winter conditions, with humanitarian needs expected to grow in the coming days.

Many of you will know our friend Didem, who recently moved to Boston with her husband Ralph and daughter Mina. We miss their lovely family, but I know many of you are still in touch with them. Didem’s mother and family come from Antakya and Didem lived and went to school there until she was a teenager. Antakya is one of the 10 cities that are almost destroyed. Whilst her immediate family are safe, she has friends and relatives who are affected by the tragedy and she has been told “almost everyone is under rubble”. People are organizing each other to support their community, but as you will have seen on TV and social media, in papers and heard on the radio there is a desperate need for help.

Accordingly, we are again arranging an afternoon of tea, coffee and cakes on Sunday 19^th February. This event and the refreshments are free, but you are asked to bring cash or cheques in envelopes to make a donation.  Any amount will be so welcome. The event will start at 12.30 for those attending social tennis, and finish at 3.30pm if we have finished the cake…  There will also be a raffle and some prosecco to purchase should you wish to enjoy that with the delicious cake.

Every penny donated will be passed by the Park Tennis Club to the Disaster Emergency Committee, (DEC – dec.org.uk) as advised by the government who have pledged to match fund the first £5m raised in donations. If you are not able to attend but wish to help this fundraising effort, please contact Barrie Shay to pay by bank transfer with the reference “Earthquake Appeal”.