College Worker Helps Raise Thousands for Japan Appeal

A member of staff at Canterbury College has helped to raise almost £8,000 for people affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Ayumi Roberts, who lives in Bridge near Canterbury, is the International Administrator at the College on New Dover Road.

The 27 year-old joined a group of more than 60 friends, who all live in and around Canterbury, and spent two days collecting money in Canterbury High Street and in Whitefriars Square.

Ayumi’s family live in Hiroshima which wasn’t directly affected by the earthquake and tsunami, but she has a lot of friends in Tokyo who have suffered. She said: “When I first saw the footage of what had happened in Japan, I couldn’t believe it, it was like a bad dream. The pictures on the television didn’t seem real; it doesn’t look like my home anymore. Because I am so far away I felt a bit powerless to help so thought fundraising was the best idea, I’m hoping the money will go some way to helping people back home.”

While some of the fundraisers dressed in a traditional Kimono, others wore red and white to symbolise they were collecting for the British Red Cross.

Ayumi added: “The people who were donating told us they didn’t really know how to help after the disaster so appreciated being given the chance to give money. Everyone was so incredibly generous which was fantastic especially during economically difficult times in this country.”

The group raised a total of £7859.47.

You can still donate to The British Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal. (Opens in new window)