Press release – 22 October 2022
A young woman from Cornwall is hoping to raise hundreds of pounds to help people who’ve lost their homes to conflict or disaster. Lydia Cooke, who lives in Newquay, is hosting an online charity raffle via her Instagram page to raise crucial funds for the international disaster relief charity, ShelterBox.
The environmental activist and model is being generously supported in her fundraising mission by businesses who have donated prizes.
Lydia says: “Even in times where our own immediate climate feels a little tough, it’s important to remember that we are a global community and one that should look out for each other.
“Everyone who enters the raffle will have a chance of winning a prize, but their donation will also be making an impact on the lives of those affected by conflict and disaster.
“I decided on the price of £3 to donate as it equates to just that of a coffee; something that I felt individuals may be able to exchange for a donation in aid of this incredible cause.”
Companies donating prizes include Passenger Clothing, Circular & Co, Pentire, Mora Cornwall, Origin Africa, Cove clothing, and Pip Stewart.
Lydia, who studied Geography at the University of Exeter, adds: “Whilst participating in my dissertation discussions, which looked at the human impact of disasters, ShelterBox taught me how to put my passion into action.
“Having had the pleasure of wearing the ShelterBox ambassador badge for the past four years, it’s fair to say that this NGO (non-governmental organisation) has an incredibly important place in my heart.
“They’re transforming despair into hope. They want to see a world where no family is left without shelter after disaster.
“I am forever in awe of the work that ShelterBox does. Their selfless dedication to the lives of those across the world is a beautiful insight on the idea of a global community. It gives me pride to know that our small county in the corner of the UK is home to a global connection of hope.”
ShelterBox is currently helping people affected by the war in Ukraine as well as people who had to flee their homes in Pakistan when deadly flash floods left more than a third of the country under water.
Community Fundraising Assistant for ShelterBox, John Stanbury says: “Right now, more than 100 million people around the world have been made homeless by disaster and conflict – that’s more than the entire population of the UK.
“At ShelterBox we’re working to change this by providing emergency shelter, tools, and other essential items to help people who need shelter.
“That’s only possible with the support of our incredible fundraisers like Lydia, who put their time and effort into raising the funds we rely on so heavily to fund our responses across the globe.”
ShelterBox specialises in providing emergency shelter and other essential items to people who have had to either flee their homes or had them damaged or destroyed. As well as Ukraine and Pakistan, the charity is currently working to support people displaced by conflict in Yemen, Syria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. ShelterBox has helped more than two million people across 98 countries since it was formed in 2000.
For full details about the raffle and how to enter visit Lydia’s fundraising page. The prizes will be drawn on November 3.
For more information about ShelterBox visit shelterbox.org.
