Community rallies to aid of survivors

11:33pm Friday 16th May 2008

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The district's Chinese community is rallying in a bid to raise thousands of pounds for ten million people affected by the worst earthquake to hit the country for three decades.

The quake was magnitude 7.9, with most of the casualties in Sichuan province., So far, 19,509 deaths have been confirmed, but latest reports estimate the total could more than double.

TV news reports from their homeland have left the district's Chinese community reeling. Sally Nui, who is originally from Chang Chun in northern China, said: "Watching the TV coverage has left me with a lump in my throat.

"People are being buried alive and it is especially bad for the mothers seeing their children hurt and buried."

Miss Nui, who owns the Thai Fever restaurant in Saltaire Road, Shipley, and the Magic Wok takeaway in The Parade, Cottingley, has joined forces with the British Red Cross to raise money for those suffering the after-effects of the quake.

She has collection buckets in both outlets and staff were due to be in Shipley today collecting on the streets.

She said: "I was born in China and I feel very upset about this. I have applied for a collection licence, so we can collect every Saturday.

"I just hope we can let more and more people know so that, if everybody gives £1 they will be able to help these people."

West Yorkshire Chinese Association vice-chairman Peter Chiu, of Cullingworth, said the association had been in contact with similar associations in Manchester.

Mr Chiu, who owns the Don Wang takeaway in Halifax Road, said: "At the moment, a lot of people in the Chinese community in Bradford are fundraising. I have spoken to people in Manchester and everybody is trying to do house-to-house collections. We will collect it all together and send it to the Chinese Embassy.

"It is terrible news for China at the moment. They have not given the total amount of people who have died and every day it is a different story.

"If anybody involved in business can do something like organise a charity collection, I will be very happy."

A Shipley construction company, whose boss became caught up in the devastating WenChuan earthquake, has also agreed to donate a slice of the profits from its shop to the appeal.

Director Clive Horsman, 53, said he was lucky to be alive after the quake struck 60 miles from his office in Chengdu, which is the Chinese base for the Robinson Design Group.

A spokesman for Robinson Design Group said the company would be happy to donate more funds to the British Red Cross China Earthquake Appeal.

China has issued a rare public appeal for rescue equipment as it struggled to cope with the aftermath of the earthquake.

The quake directly affected ten million people and caused landslides that blocked roads to the hardest-hit areas.

Anyone who wishes to help out with fundraising for the Red Cross China Earthquake Appeal should contact Sally Nui on (01274) 580033 or (01274) 510631 or visit redcross.org.uk.