Tsunami doctor thanks donors for support

A doctor devoted to helping victims of the Boxing Day tsunami in Sri Lanka has sent a big thank-you to supporters for their donations.

Max Mackay-James's aid agency medicalresource has poured œ21,000 into the Weligama Community Welfare and Education Centre this year.

The development offers vulnerable youngsters help with learning and employment opportunities and provides a community healthcare service.

England cricketers, including Monty Panesar, Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell, who were touring Sri Lanka, recently visited the unit.

Dr Mackay-James said the centre is making a big difference to families whose lives were torn apart by the 2004 disaster.

He said: "A big thank-you must go to everyone who helped us. The money's come in from all over the place.

"It's been a fantastic year and I'm really pleased with the outcome so far. All of the money has been committed and not a single penny has been wasted."

Dr Mackay-James, of Wynford Eagle, near Dorchester, was holidaying with his family in Sri Lanka when the tsunami struck.

He, his wife Miranda and sons Archie and Tom survived by fleeing to the top floor of their hotel.

Dr Mackay-James, who is based at the Poundbury Clinic, helped victims by flying back with medical supplies and has been fundraising since.

The Weligama Community Welfare and Education Centre is run by Indian Ocean Disaster Relief (IODR), a charity helping suffering families in the region.

Its community healthcare service was launched this year thanks to contributions from medical-resource and other charities.

Dr Mackay-James said: "IODR are brilliant. The centre has taken longer to build than expected, but I'm so impressed with it.

"They've been able to do an awful lot with the money and the centre is well integrated with the community.

"Local people are getting involved with it and they will be able to take it forward."

The England cricket team offered their support because the centre will feature sports training facilities in the future. Dr Mackay-James said he was confident it would be successful.

He said: "It's a great project and it's sustainable, which is important because we cannot go on fundraising forever.

"IODR are in it for the long haul, whereas sadly other good projects there have failed. "It's a really tight charity and it's making all the difference to people whose lives have been disrupted."

Dr Mackay-James said there are opportunities for volunteers and gap-year students to work at the new centre.

He added: "It's great fun because you're in at ground level and it's all very exciting. You will really be part of something and see it grow."

Anyone interested in volunteering should visit www.iodr.co.uk or email [email protected]