Village Auction Success

An auction held at Helmdon to raise cash for the south Asian tsunami appeal raised a whopping £2,645.

The event, held at the Reading Room on Friday, March 18, included a total of 60 lots. Chief organiser Susan Lidgley said:

"I appreciate everyone's wonderful generosity whether they gave an item to auction or placed a bid.

"It was really strange, some items went for a song whilst others went for well above what they would normally cost,

"I had a good team of helpers who I have to thank. Everyone pulled together to make the event a success and hopefully they had a good time into the bargain."

The money raised will go towards the Hope Outreach Ministries South Asia which lost its orphanage in Sri Lanka when the tsunami hit.

The organisation is planning to rebuild and has plans for a second orphanage as another 400 children were left homeless by the disaster.

A spokesperson for HOMSA said:

"The response to this appeal has been magnificent.

"We have reached the six figure mark. The great heart of compassion of the British public has been moving.

"We dispatched £16,600 immediately for relief supplies - water, food, clothes and medicines - to four different mission partners and co-workers on the ground in Sri Lanka.

"They have all managed to ensure adequate food and clothes for those affected in their area."

The Brackley Post - 25th March 2005