Fundraising for Shelterbox and the Virgin Unite Appeal to help the victims of Hurricane Irma and Maria.

Kingsbridge Estuary Rotary Club have raised £1000 to support Shelterbox who are stationed in the Caribbean, offering aid to those facing the aftermath of the storm.

Immediately after the disaster on Saturday, September 9, they collected donations for Shelterbox, which the rotary club are very grateful for.

Shelterbox are currently coordinating the provision of aid across five countries including Antigua, Barbuda and the British Virgin Islands, with a team also stationed on the island of Dominica after the devastation created by Hurricane Maria.

On some islands, natural resources are being used to quickly rebuild homes with the help of a Shelterkit and on others the Shelterbox tents are the most appropriate option. This creates a warm and safe temporary place to stay for those who have lost their homes, whilst the lengthy clean up process commences.

However, it is not just the Caribbean that has been affected by these extreme weather conditions. There has been horrendous flooding in Nepal and Bangladesh which has left more communities in urgent need of aid.

Teams from Shelterbox, are on the ground in both countries , but the need is overwhelming.

The rotary club want to reassure residents that their kind donations will be put to good use in the effected areas.

These funds may reach the island of Tortula, where the fifth South Hams family discovered with a connection to the hurricane, were living.

Ex-Kingsbridge residents Rob Hales, Gil Hales and her son Tim Parsons were all hit by the storm, but fortunately survived. Tim had been living in the Caribbean for five years and Gil and Rob had recently moved out there in January.

Gil’s other son, Sam Parsons has worked tirelessly to raise funds for the victims in the Caribbean. At Monmouth School for Girls, where Sam works as an Assistant House Parent, a swimathon was organised in aid of the disaster.

Around 40 pupils and staff got involved to swim 55.7km, the distance of the surface area of Tortula, covering 2,228 lengths. All their efforts look set to raise £2,500 for the Virgin Unite appeal, created to raise money for the long term reconstruction of the British Virgin Islands.

Gil and Rob who have expressed their gratitude to their son and the pupils and staff at his school, are expected to return to the South Hams shortly, to see friends and Sam’s grandmother who still lives in Thurlestone. However, Tim is remaining in the British Virgin Islands due to the amount of work he has to do.

These fund raising activities increase the beneficial work conducted in the South Hams to help the victims of Hurricane Irma and Maria.