24-hour challenge for fundraisers

WARRINGTON fundraisers are needed to take part in a unique 24hr challenge that could help to save lives in Syria.
Refugee Aid NW is looking for 72 volunteers to work on a round-the-clock rota and fill a shipping container full of warm clothing, food, baby and hygiene essentials.
The sponsored event will take place from midday on Friday January 22 to midday on Saturday January 23 at the group’s Appleton storage unit. Immediately afterwards, the huge container will be shipped to Syria, via Turkey, providing much needed aid to people taking refuge in camps.
Each volunteer will sign up to work a two-hour shift and be sponsored a minimum of £20 by friends and family to take part. Organisers hope the sponsorship will raise up to £2,000 which will be spent on buying more essential items.
Nora Carlin, who heads up Refugee – Aid from the North West of England, said: “Local people have been so generous – we have had many hundreds of bags of donated items over the last six months. And we need many more.
“All donations are carefully sorted and packed into sturdy sacks based on age, gender and clothing type. Anything that isn’t suitable for refugees goes to local charities – nothing is wasted.
“Of course, we still need people to donate clothes and other items but we also need help sorting the hundreds of donations we already have. Which is why we’ve arranged this event. It’s a way for people to offer real, hands-on help in getting aid to the people in Syria who need it.
“The situation for refugees in Syria is absolutely desperate. Winter is setting in and children are freezing to death. I heard about a four-month old baby that died from the cold last week. People are literally starving to death.  We must do something to help. Let’s get this container filled and sent as soon as possible.
“The Mayor and Mayoress of Warrington are visiting the unit on Friday January 22 at 11 am to be shown what we are doing and how.  The Mayoress will pack the first bag of the Packathon at noon then it is over to the volunteers for the next 24 hours!”
Refugee Aid NW has been collecting and distributing aid to refugees in camps in Syria, Greece and other locations since last August. It works closely with other organisations including Syria Relief, Life Line Help and the Hummingbird project in Buxton.
Its storage unit in Appleton Thorn Industrial Estate is provided free by Andrew Wright and Mark Crook, the owners and supported with comfort facilities and various packing items by UK Site Security.
HMP Thorn Cross is close by and governor Pia Sinah has supported the project from the outset by providing labour to load containers and extra storage when needed. This shipping container, along with 19 others across the country, has been funded by One Nation.
Anyone who would like to sign up should contact [email protected]. They will be sent all the information they need to take part.
If anyone would like to donate clothing to be sent in the container, the priority items are blankets, gloves, scarves, hats, warm waterproof coats, warm baby clothes, all-in-one coats and sturdy warm footwear.