Anonymous donor boosts earthquake fund (From Bucks Free Press)

Anonymous donor boosts earthquake fund

10:40am Friday 10th February 2006 in News By Clara Story

A mystery donor has given an astonishing £50,000 to help victims of the Pakistan earthquake.

The woman, who did not want to be named, approached the Five Pillars charity run by High Wycombe magistrate Arif Hussain after seeing the story of his mercy mission to the disaster-hit country in the Bucks Free Press.

She spoke to Arif again before the cheque arrived, and she asked him if he knew how much it would be for.

Arif, 40, said: "I told her it didn't matter - anything she could give would be gratefully received.

"Then she told me it was for £50,000. I felt so emotional that later I cried."

Around 75,000 people died in the disaster and Arif hopes to build an orphanage for survivors, which would cost around £150,000. He also plans to build a village of shelter homes.

The charity has now raised more than £145,000, including this latest donation, but £45,000 of the fund was spent straight after the disaster.

Arif says they are also going to spend up to £20,000 on temporary shelter housing for survivors facing freezing winter temperatures now down to -10C.

He said: "There is no point holding on to the money for months when people are dying. In the north especially it is extremely cold."

The Pakistan Government is not encouraging new permanent housing while there is still a risk of another earthquake. But the orphanage remains the magistrate's top target.

He said: "I think the lady was moved by the idea of the orphanage. There are so many children left without parents."

Arif went out to Pakistan on Saturday on another two-week aid mission, to help the survivors still in the mountains.

Back in November, Midweek reporter Benedict Moore-Bridger joined Arif in Pakistan as he handed out medicine, clothes, blankets and cash to survivors.

If you can help please send a cheque, payable to the Bucks Free Press Earthquake Appeal, to the Bucks Free Press, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, Loudwater, High Wycombe, HP10 9TY