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Ab Fab News for Shelterbox

International disaster relief charity ShelterBox, a global Rotary club project, has announced that popular British actress Joanna Lumley is to become one of its Patrons.

Miss Lumley OBE - the star of such hit television series' as the New Avengers and Absolutely Fabulous - said that ShelterBox was a charity “she really loves and admires”.

Miss Lumley was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 1995. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS). She was made an honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Kent in July 1994. In 2006 she was awarded an honorary degree from the University of St. Andrews and in July 2008 she was also awarded an honorary doctorate from Queen's University Belfast.

Rotarian Tom Henderson, ShelterBox Founder and CEO, said: “I am so pleased that Joanna has agreed to become one of our Patrons and support our work. These are momentous times for ShelterBox. Since 2000 we have provided emergency shelter in the aftermath of 80 disasters in more than 50 countries. We have now set ourselves the goal of helping 500,000 people a year by 2013. I know that her support will help us reach our goal.”

ShelterBox, which exists to provide humanitarian aid worldwide in the form of shelter, warmth and dignity for people displaced by natural and other disasters, started in 2000 as a project of the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard, Cornwall.

ShelterBox is now a major project of Rotary clubs worldwide and has raised over £25 million (US$40 million) and responded to over 80 major disasters including the Indian Ocean Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (Burma) and has operated in 57 countries.

Rotary eClub One has been a sponsor of ShelterBox for several years. Rotary eClub One sponsored the first ShelterBoxes that were shipped to the bushfire disaster area in Victoria, Australia, in February this year, when more than 1800 homes were destroyed as giant fires raced at frightening speed across a vast area of Victoria. Thousands were made homeless in several small towns as an area of 500,000 hectares (1,235,500 acres) of farmland and eucalypt forests were reduced to ash. Jenni Heenan of ShelterBox Australia reported: “When people saw the contents of the green ShelterBoxes, they could not believe they were being given a tent, blankets, a cooker and other equipment … and at no cost. They were so grateful … tearfully saying their need is now.”

In the current Rotary year (July 2008 to June 2009), Rotary eClub One has committed US$25,000.00 in contributions to ShelterBox.