ROTARIANS in Cumbria and Lancashire are involved in the massive response to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan which tore through the Philippines.

More than £25,000 has already been released by many of the 71 clubs in both counties for the relief effort.

But the unprecedented scale of the event means that many more disaster boxes will be required and funds are desperately needed to help buy and ship out tents, water purification kits and supporting materials.

Rotarians will be out in town centres and shopping centres in the coming days and are urging the public to help in any way.

A number of regular giving sites including wishing wells at Low Sizergh Farm, Kendal, and at Keswick, will collect for the disaster.

A concert by the Barrow Male Voice Choir in the Lisdoonie Hotel, Barrow, on December 5 is being dedicated to the appeal.

Tickets are available from choir members or Ron Duxbury on 01229 835802.

Kevin Walsh, District Governor for Rotary in Cumbria and Lancashire, said: “While Rotarians in our region have experience of disasters locally, the scale of this event, as with the tsunami in 2004, is difficult to comprehend from afar.

“In due course we will be working with our Rotary colleagues on the ground in the Philippines to assess how we can help with the longer term recovery efforts.”

Members of The Rotary Club of Windermere, together with The Inner Wheel Club of Windermere and The Rotary Club of Ambleside Kirkstone collected £1,800 for the Philippines typhoon disaster appeal from shoppers at Booths, Windermere, over the weekend.

And Burneside animal artist Phillip Allder is offering to donate the fee for one of his pet commissions to the appeal.

Mr Allder, whose works usually sell for between £200 and £800, will paint the animal belonging to the highest bidder and ask them to donate his fee directly to the disaster appeal fund.

“Since seeing the news coverage of the unfolding disaster in the Philippines I, like a lot of people, want to do something to help,” said Mr Allder. “I’m not a wealthy man and I’m not in a position to donate a large sum, but I can give my time.”

To get involved, contact Mr Alder on art@phillipallder.co.uk.

Filipino woman Jane Mason, who owns Seafarers fish and chip shop in Bowness, is selling off items such as bags, shoes and home decorations as well as hand-making jewellery to sell and collecting donations.

Meanwhile Cumbrian GP Dr Sean Hudson, of Maryport, has flown out to the islands as part of the UK’s International Emergency Trauma Team to help.