The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund
Press Release
October 6 2009

Gore teacher concerned for sponsor child following disaster

A teacher at St Mary’s school in Gore is concerned about the child the school sponsors in the Philippines, after the country was hit by the heaviest floods in more than 40 years.

Bernard Lepardo is sponsored through aid agency TEAR Fund New Zealand which has launched an appeal to help the victims of the disaster. Rhonda Dennis, who met Bernard in his home in the Philippines, said her heart was pounding when she heard the news of the flooding.

“Bernard's home regularly flooded even in moderate rained so I'm really concerned about him. When it rained they had to go up a 2m ladder to a higher floor in his slum house to get above the water.”

Ms Dennis said, it was only quite recently that pupils at the school tried to make his birthday special by sending him New Zealand board games that the children at the school had made for him.

“I hope he got out with his treasures from the St Mary's kids. He has kept every letter and picture ever sent and keeps them all in a big folder. They were so important to him.”

She said, “He has a new little sister in his family and things were going so well for them. What a terrible situation for them all.”

TEAR Fund’s acting executive director Jon Horne said communications with the Philippines is still a little difficult but there have been no reports of deaths among children sponsored through TEAR Fund NZ, but many of the children’s homes have been submerged.

To donate to the Philippines disaster appeal visit www.tearfund.co.nz or phone 0900 90777 to give an automatic $20 donation.

ENDS

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