DORSET Echo readers are continuing to give generously to our Philippines Typhoon Appeal.

Cheques totalling £1,110 arrived at our office yesterday taking the total raised above the £2,000 mark.

Our sister paper, the Daily Echo in Bournemouth has raised more than £4,000 for the appeal.

Meanwhile, youngsters from a church youth group doubled their fundraising efforts after hearing about the plight of people living in the Philippines.

Members of the junior church group at the Hope United Reformed Church in Weymouth were due to hand over proceeds from their bake sales to Shelterbox in December.

But after hearing about the disaster, they stepped up their efforts and presented a cheque to Ian Brooke, of Melcombe Regis Rotary Club, who accepted the donation on behalf of Shelterbox.

Church secretary Anne Pitman, whose daughter Judith Baker is leader of the junior church group, said: “It’s so essential that they get help now, and we knew Ian was over at Asda anyway, so they decided to hand over their cheque for £650 at the weekend.”

The youngsters raised the money through baking cakes and selling bags for life.

They were inspired to help people in countries hit by natural and man-made disasters after Mr Brooke gave a talk at the church.

A collecting tin has been raising funds for the appeal at Alf’s Fish and Chips and owner John Pearce said 10 per cent of takings across the weekend have been donated.

He said: “The response from people has been fantastic. Children have been putting their pennies in, everybody wants to help.”

Alf’s is not the only business to get into the fundraising swing.

How you can donate to the fund

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 visit 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 those in need:

  •  £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

John Fiori, of the Horse with the Red Umbrella cafe in High West Street in Dorchester, will have his leg waxed there tomorrow at 3pm.

All proceeds will go to help victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

  •  The total raised by Dorset Echo and Daily Echo readers is now more than £6,000.

Cheques have been banked immediately so that the cash can start making a real difference right now.

The figure is on top of donations being made by phone, text and online.

Donations ranging from £5 to £100 have been received after the newspapers joined forces with the Disasters Emergency Committee to ask readers to give what they could.