ORGANISATIONS in Uttoxeter are joining forces to help raise money toward aid relief for the victims of the Haiti earthquake disaster.

Schools, businesses and clubs in the town have been holding fund-raising events since the earthquake – which measured 7.0 on the Richter Scale – struck the Caribbean island on January 12.

Uttoxeter Lions members have been rattling their charity tins at the entrance to Tesco, in Town Meadows Way, Uttoxeter.

They collected £2,196 in one day.

Lions member Paul Macpherson said: "Through Tesco allowing us to break all their rules to collect and the generosity of the people of Uttoxeter, we raised a staggering amount."

The Lions topped up the collection with £200 from its own kitty.

Meanwhile, Uttoxeter Rotary Club has donated £1,500 to pay for three shelter boxes which contain thermal blankets, 10-man tents and water purifiers.

Rotarian Paul Archer said: "The initial batch of boxes were used as emergency field hospitals and provided secure shelter for patients recovering from amputations."

Fellow member Steven Herbert added: "We would like to thank everyone who helped."

The Inner Wheel and Marchington churches have made contributions.

And Uttoxeter's schools have also been busy staging events for the Haiti appeal.

Thomas Alleyne's High School, in Dove Bank, raised £340.

Pupils at Abbotsholme, in Rocester, bought and raffled off home-made cakes to collect £1,007.

They paid £2 to wear red, with a forfeit fee of an extra £1 for those who did not.

The highlight of the day was the chance to buy tennis balls to throw at teachers in the stocks.

Headteacher Steve Fairclough said: "It is so important that as much money gets to Haiti as quickly as possible.

"I am grateful that our fund-raising commitment has proved to be such a great success."

Also, the initiative of nine-year-old Jonathan Critchley, who attends All Saints First School, in Denstone, raised £222.56 to help the earthquake survivors.

The youngster approached his school council and asked for help to organise a non-uniform day to raise the much-needed cash.

The year four pupil said: "I had been watching the news reports on the TV and saw how the people were suffering.

"I realised they needed all the help they could get."

Rocester-based digger manufacturer JCB has already donated £90,000 of equipment.

Owner Sir Anthony Bamford also donated two 3CX backhoe loaders.

The machines have been used by the U.S. government as part of the aid effort.

To donate money for a shelter box visit www.shelterbox.org.