Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club to donate £3,000 to the Red Cross Syrian refugee crisis appeal

The club is hoping its donation will kickstart a programme of fundraising activities in the area to help the millions of people displaced by the civil war which has killed 200,000 Syrian nationals since 2011.

The money will be given to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in response to the call for financial support to help people living in refugee camps that border Syria.

Club president Reg Bleaden said: “We have been discussing ways in which our organisation can help and the £3,000 donation is part of an ongoing commitment to do as much as we can to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian refugees.”

Rotary International general secretary John Hewko said: “Rotary members worldwide are profoundly disheartened by the refugee crisis now unfolding in Syria and other parts of the world, which the United Nations has described as the worst in decades.

“We know our members have an inherent desire to act, to relieve the suffering and uncertainty that displaced individuals and families are facing.”

The Chipping Sodbury club is working with the local authorities covering Chipping Sodbury, Dodington and Yate to engage local and business communities to raise funds to go directly to the British Red Cross Syria Crisis Appeal.