Two initiatives from the banding world in the UK is helping the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami that hit the North East region of Japan

Destruction

The earthquake, measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale, triggered a tsunami which hit the east coast of Japan with 7-metre-high waves, leaving a trail of destruction.

The number of confirmed dead is expected to rise to around 10,000. The earthquake triggered fires and caused severe damage to buildings, leaving 1.2 million homes without electricity and 1.4 million without water.

Shoko Morimoto of the City of Cardiff (Melingriffth) Band organised a collection on behalf of the Japanese Red Cross which raised a total of £567.514BR

Welsh collection

Shoko Morimoto of the City of Cardiff (Melingriffth) Band organised a collection on behalf of the Japanese Red Cross which raised a total of £567.51.

Further donations

Further donations can be made directly to the Japanese Red Cross at:
http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/relief/l4/Vcms4_00002070.html

For people who don’t have Japanese bank account, donations can be made through the British Red Cross at: http://www.redcross.org.uk/Donate-Now?single=1

Foden's help

Meanwhile, Natsumi McDonald and Fumika Kimura — both members of Foden's Band are in the process of arranging a number of fund raising events involving Foden's with all proceeds going to the British Red Cross.

The first of these is dedicating all download tracks of the recording 'Crimond' to the British Red Cross 'Japan Tsunami Appeal'.

Any one interested in purchasing this download and helping the Appeal is asked to visit the bands website www.fodensband.co.uk