The incredible generosity of Cumbernauld people was highlighted when a nine-year-old girl donated most of her pocket money as she had been so touched by TV reports of the disaster.

Rotarians collected a fantastic total of £2400, donated by warm-hearted shoppers, which will go towards helping the relief effort.

Club secretary Professor Frank Clark told the News & Chronicle that the fundraiser was launched in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake which has left over 100,000 dead and an estimated 500,000 homeless.

He added: "Apart from the immediate priority of tending to the wounded and rescuing those trapped, the biggest challenge for the authorities in Haiti is a public health one.

"With no safe accommodation, no cooking facilities and no water or sanitation, the continuing threat to health is huge and this is why Rotary International was among the first to provide aid directly into the airport at Port-au-Prince."


See this week's News and Chronicle for the full story.