Page 25 - link magazine

24 The LinkMagazine • December 1998
Operation Save Ocotal
Only the best launched by SOL

An appeal has been launched by Swindon Ocotal Link (SOL) to
will do at send relief aid to Swindon's twin town in Nicaragua after Hurri-
cane Mitch ravaged Central America in mid-November.
Christmas

For a wide selection of

top grade Christmas
trees, come to Stone
Lane Garden Centre.

All our trees are
bushy and we
stock many sizes The Mayor of Swindon councillor Brian Ford received an initial contribution of
from 3ft. to 12ft! £1,500 to the fundraising effort from the Princess Margaret Hospital staff trust
fund on 10 November with, centre, Swindon Town football club chairman Rikki
Many varieties of Hunt and Swindon Ocotal Link emergency volunteer coordinator Mary Shaw, and
from left, Fidlema Meehan of the Swindon Baha'i Community, Gillian Rallis and
tree available to Miriam Deleon of SQL, lain Wright of the Swindon Chamber of Commerce, Jamie
suit individual Robertson and Bruce Clarke of SQL, and Swindon councillor Mike Bawden
preferences. Thirty eight inches of rain in five town is where the Princess Diana
days overwhelmed Ocotal with Comedor is situated. This is a feed-
flood waters. Over 12,500 people ing station funded by Swindon
* Bigger range of are homeless and 200 people are people for the poorest children.
decorations on missing, feared swept away by the The Mayor of Ocotal Martha
display this year mud and raging torrents of water. Adriana Peralta says the disaster
Power supplies have been cut, food has set the town back decades.
is scarce and the lack of clean drink- Operation Save Ocotal is appeal-
* HTA Gift Tokens ing water brings the risk of cholera ing to the people of Swindon to
available - ideal and other diseases. 80% of local give generously to support Ocotal's
food crops have been wiped out struggle to save its community.
presents for
and half the coffee crop destroyed. It has set itself the target of rais-
keen gardeners. Nearly three weeks after the hur- ing £50,000 in the next year to help.
ricane, Ocotal was still cutoff from Swindon Town chairman Rikki
Or, view the the rest of the country and without Hunt and the Chamber of Com-
range of gifts, clean water. merce have committed their or-
Over the last ten years, Swindon ganisations to helping.
from houseplants Christmas presents for has supported Ocotal's investment Spokesman Jamie Robertson
to propagators, your pets! We have in developments such as a feeding said, "everybody can help, no mat-
station for the towns poorest chil- ter how small the contribution."
gardening books and lots of tasty gifts for dren, latrines, housing and hospi- For information, contact Mary
garden tools. your favourite animal. tal equipment. Shaw on 871940 or Bruce Clarke:
One of hardest hit areas of the 533338 (home) or 533370 (work).
U and Mistletoe How to help. Donations can be made as follows:
Real Wreaths, Holly %

to the Halifax Building Society Account 00057415, sort code 11-10-67
* Open 7 days a week * Plenty of free parking * Coffee Shop • Cheques made out to Operation Save Ocotal can be sent via your bank
• Cash, cheques or credit card payments can be made at the
3ff1 Swindon Information Centre, Regents Street
1
• Cash or cheques can be taken to Swindon Borough Council reception
points at Wat Tyler House, Princes Street, and Premier House,
Station Road
• Cash or cheques can be posted with this coupon to Swindon-Ocotal Link,
11 Fosse Close, Swindon SN2 2BP
Stone Lane, Lydiard Millicent, Swindon I/we support the appeal for relief work in Swindon's twin town of Ocotal and
enclose a cheque for:
Tel: (01793) 771766 Please tick if you would like a receipt to be sent LI
Par,on Please tick if you would like to help in any way with the appeal Li

Parton Road Haydon
Wok S e'4t 04t
Stone Lane I Please tick if you wish to be included on the mailing list
Garden Centre
for campaign updates LI
da,d
VIJice,d S Shaw
Name
M.dInIno,,
.stea. F,a.yb,000. G,nga P,,k, 000tfld1 1iO4eh 5W4 Address
& SReo
Tel: