SCHOOLS, churches and other organisations in the Ilkley area have been busy organising sales, sponsored events and quizzes in a bid to raise money for the people of the tsunami horror.

Money is still being collected and the number of events are mounting to raise support for the victims of the Indian Ocean earthquake disaster.

Ilkley Baptist Church held a retiring

collection after their Sunday morning

service and raised over £400, with more gifts still being donated.

Menston Methodist Church managed to raise £1,300 from two Sunday morning

collections and plan to hold a Coffee Morning and 'Bring and Buy Sale' on Saturday, February 5, at 10am, in order to raise more money for the cause.

Menston Parish Church has held retiring collections on two occasions and officials said they had yet to count up the total amount raised from the donations, but expected churchgoers to have been very generous.

All Saints Church in Ilkley celebrated the arrival of the new year with a Bonfire and the proceeds from the event are to be donated to the Tsunami Aid appeal, as well as the proceeds of two retiring collections, which so far have raised more than

£1,000.

Addingham Methodist Church have sent money from retiring collections and church funds, along with their prayers, to the people of the tsunami catastrophe.

Meanwhile the local schools are not to be out done and have been holding their own events to support the relief effort.

Addingham Primary School are having a non-uniform day on Friday, when children will be asked to make a donation for the privilege of not wearing their uniform.

Staff, pupils, parents and governors at All Saints Church of England Primary School, Ilkley, have already succeeded in raising £1,222 from donations and a non-uniform day.

They have further plans for tomorrow, Friday, which include, a bring and buy stall, sponsored silence, bike ride, and Karaoke. The children are also being encouraged to 'do a job for a bob' at home for a neighbour or family member.

Ben Rhydding Primary School has had a loose change collection and plan to hold a gymnastics event later in the

month which will raise money for the cause.

Sacred Heart RC Primary School, Ilkley, held a special assembly of prayer and reflection for the victims of the tsunami disaster and are to hold a collection on Friday.

Children and their parents at Ashlands Primary School will be holding a special charity quiz to raise money for disaster victims. Children will be given a sheet with celebrities to identify and the winner will get a cash prize.

Meanwhile, the Fifth Ilkley Brownies are having a bring and buy sale at Riddings Hall, Christchurch, on Wednesday, January 26, starting at 6.30pm, with all the money going towards the cause.

Tesco stores around the country allowed the Red Cross to hold a cash collection last weekend in order to help the communities affected by the disaster.

The Horsforth-based Red Cross was among them and Sally Cater, Senior Fundraiser for Yorkshire said: "The national collection at Tesco stores offers millions of people the chance to donate and is a real opportunity to raise a substantial amount of money for the much needed relief."

At the Methodist Church in Burley a total of £1,796 has so far been sent to Christian Aid for the disaster appeal. More than £500 was raised at a Sunday morning collection, with over £600 from a coffee morning and additional donations of £650.

Minister Helen Harrell said: "The size of the donations that individuals gave were very, very generous. We can only say thank you and keep it going, because it is not going to be an immediate solution, it is going to take years."

Meanwhile ambulance station staff from Menston were among those who took part in an energetic fund-raising event.

Employees from WYMAS, West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service got on their bikes last weekend to undertake a 236 mile relay run and cycle ride, visiting the service's 21 ambulance stations during 24 hours.

Also in Menston a charity quiz and disco night at the Malt Shovel raised £1,080.

And at the Generous Pioneer in Burley, more than £400 was raised with a collection among staff and customers.

There is still plenty of opportunity to support those effected by the earthquake. The Rose and Crown Pub on Church Street, Ilkley are holding a fund-raising evening on Saturday, January 29, at 7pm.

People will be asked to pay the DJ to play requests.The male members of staff will be spending the evening working topless in order to symbolise that they are giving the clothes off their back.

There will be a bin for donations of clothes and toys and a grand raffle is being held. Organisers Bridget Dawson and Andrew Dobson are asking local companies to donate prizes for the raffle and can be contacted at the Rose and Crown.

Meanwhile White Wells bath-house, which often flies international flags, has been flying the Thai flag at half mast, with a black sash, since the tidal wave hit Asian coastal regions.

White Wells tenant, Mark Hunnebell, said he has a collection of flags from around the world, which he flies at White Wells to celebrate various countries' national days.

White Wells is also collecting money for tsunami relief efforts. Mr Hunnebell says many visitors have been throwing

coins in the pool as a donation, or handing over money in the coffee shop for the appeal.