CAR WASHES, walks, dances and raffles for Children In Need have raised over £4,000 for the Haiti relief effort, with the help of local groups and businesses in Rhayader.
Jess Evans, Children in Need’s community fundraiser for Wales gave a presentation on the charity’s work to Elan Valley Social Club members at the Elan Valley Hotel on Friday, June 11.
The local community have raised an impressive £4,151.64 since the earthquake disaster in Haiti through a series of events including car washes and dances.
The social club have been helped in their efforts by many local groups, businesses and individuals including Rhayader fire fighters, Rhayader Running Club, Rhayader WI and many others.
The problems already experienced by the people of Haiti were greatly exacerbated by the disaster, Jess said.
“Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere and Children in Need have been working there since 1985.
"As Children in Need were already established in the country we were well placed to get the aid effort moving quickly.
“In these situations the United Nations usually co-ordinate the aid effort, but their building was devastated and over 100 of their staff were killed in the disaster.”
The money raised by local communities such as Rhayader will be put to good use, long after the story has faded from the headlines, Jess explained.
“Children in Need has reached over 500,000 people with the aim of getting Haiti’s children back into education and leading normal lives,” she added.
Social Club members expressed their thanks for the presentation and said how it brought home the true gravity of the situation that still exists in Haiti.