Thank you for looking at our fundraising page for the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.  We work together,  we both have connections to Christchurch, in different ways, and ballot places for the 2011 London Marathon.  Following the devastating earthquake on February 22nd we both had the idea of using these places to raise money to help support those affected.   Thank you for your donation, for supporting us and supporting Christchurch.  Lauren & Debs

 Lauren's story:

I have secured a place in the London Marathon 2011 which did not require me to fundraise for a charity. However, six weeks before the Marathon, there was a devastating earthquake in my home town of Christchurch in New Zealand. Whilst listening to the heartbreaking stories of terror and loss from my family and friends, I decided to use my place in the London Marathon to raise some money for the British Red Cross Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.

Debs' story:

I was on holiday on the New Zealand's beautiful South Island with my partner Alan when the earthquake struck.  We flew into Christchurch on February 9th and flew out three weeks later,  tragically leaving a very different city to the one we'd arrived in.   We heard and saw first hand the consequences of the earthquake and the myriad ways in which it affected people in and around Christchurch.  Luckily our friends in Christchurch were safe but sadly many others were not so lucky.  As I was doing one of my training runs (around the lovely Lake Wanaka) I had the idea of using my London Marathon ballot place to raise money for the Red Cross Christchurch Earthquake appeal.  When I texted this idea to Lauren later the same day she said that she'd had exactly the same idea and had already started fundraising - one step ahead of me as usual!  Lauren will be many steps ahead of me on race day but I know that we will both be running for the people of Christchurch.

Christchurch, New Zealand Earthquake Appeal:

 

As you know, on 22 February 2011, a devastating earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck New Zealand’s second largest city, Christchurch. The epicentre was only 10km southeast of the city, home to 340,000 people. It hit at around lunch time, the busiest time of the day, and was followed by several aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging between 4.5 and 5.7. Over 147 people are known to have been killed, and over 200 people remain unaccounted for. Many people have lost their homes and livelihoods in this earthquake.

 As the scale of the disaster unfolds, the priority for the authorities is focused on searching for survivors and recovering casualties. The National Crisis Management Centre is anticipating a need for temporary accommodation due to the extensive building damage. Sewerage contamination into rivers and water systems is also a key concern, and water supply locations have been established throughout the city in schools and other central locations. One third of the buildings in central Christchurch were so badly damaged that they may need to be demolished.

 No donation is too small, and all donations are greatly appreciated. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity. Thank you.