GENEROUS Echo readers have helped us raise almost £13,000 for the victims of the Philippines typhoon.

The Dorset Echo and our sister paper the Daily Echo in Bournemouth joined forces with the Disasters Emergency Committee to ask readers to give what they could to support those affected by devastating Typhoon Haiyan.

Donations ranging from £5 to much larger amounts have been received, including a bumper cheque for £5,000, which was sent to the Bournemouth office by an anonymous donor.

Following a flurry of cheques yesterday, the total so far received by the Dorset Echo for the fund is £3,975. Combined with cash being sent to Bournemouth, the total currently stands at £12,655.

Cheques are being banked immediately so that the cash can start making a difference.

Meanwhile, fundraisers all over Dorset are continuing to raise cash for the appeal.

Brave Dorchester cafe owner John Fiori bared his legs for the cause.

Mr Fiori from the Horse with the Red Umbrella had his legs waxed as part of a week-long fundraising effort at the cafe.

As well as a raffle, dressing up days have also seen staff wear pink and pyjamas to work while it is holding a crazy hair day tomorrow.

Mr Fiori said the idea for the leg wax came from customer Karen Armitage.

He said: “I was coerced into it.

“We have been doing things for the appeal all week and this is just the culmination of it.

“It’s all for a very good cause.”

Mr Fiori said the first three days of fundraising had seen over £700 collected and he was hoping to raise £1,000 by the end of the week.

All proceeds will go to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

The waxing was done by Hayley Morby from Serenity Nail and Beauty in Dorchester, who gave up her time to support the fundraising effort.

After it was done Mr Fiori, who managed to restrict himself to a relatively minimal level of screaming and expletives during the ordeal, said: “Certain parts of it were very painful.”

Anyone wishing to contribute to Mr Fiori’s efforts can drop into the Horse with the Red Umbrella and make a donation.

Dorset Echo:

  • To make a donation, you can drop in cash or send a cheque made payable to ‘DEC Philippines Typhoon Appeal’ to the Dorset Echo offices at Granby Industrial Estate, Hampshire Road, Weymouth DT4 9XD; Antelope Walk, Dorchester DT1 1BE or at the Bridport News, 67 East Street, Bridport DT6 3LB.
  •   You can also vist dec.org.uk or call the 24-hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900, donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office or send a cheque.
  •   You can also make a donation of £5 by texting the word SUPPORT to 70000.
  • What your money will buy:
  • £25 – Water purification tablets for ten families for a month; £50 – Feed a family for two weeks; £100 – emergency shelter and bedding for a family.
  • Visit dorsetecho.co.uk/typhoon