Erimus Housing Help Reaches Thailand

A BIG-HEARTED Housing Manager recently travelled to Thailand in an effort to help survivors of the Indian Ocean tsunami piece their lives back together. Neil Burgess saw the devastating effects of the disaster first hand while he was on holiday in Sri Lanka when the giant wave struck on Boxing Day.

He and other members of his group were shielded from the immediate effects of the disaster by the tour company but they were horrified as the full scale of the tragedy unfolded before them.

After returning home, Neil, who works for Erimus Housing in Middlesbrough, knew he had to help in whatever way he could.

"Because of the memories of the unfolding events in Sri Lanka I would find it too heartbreaking to go back there so soon," he said.

"I needed to find another place where I could, at least, try to help those that had suffered."

He immediately booked himself on a flight to Thailand without any plans, knowing it was the right thing to do.

The compassionate Housing Manager raised funds of £230 to hand out in Thailand from the employees and board of Erimus Housing, as well as the residents of Bellamy Court, a sheltered housing scheme in Pallister Park.

Neil is also a member of a singing group which held a concert in Saltburn, raising a further £1,200, which went to help buy a new boat for a community that relies on fishing to survive.

Neil funded the trip himself and set off on his quest.

In Phuket, Neil met some people who were working with tsunami survivors at Kamala.

A woman who had lost one of her young sons and her home in the disaster was living in a tarpaulin shelter.

The community was trying to build new homes but its members were desperately short of money for materials.

"This lady, Kwanyhun, goes out to work every day to support herself and her surviving son," said Neil.

“She works long hours, serving holidaymakers in a restaurant and then returns to her shelter each night. I gave her the Erimus Housing donations, which, along with other donations from British ex pats, will help to buy some of the materials for their new home.

"Nothing will ever replace what she has lost but at least the money is helping her to look forward."

Neil still feels he needs to do more and is planning to return again to use his housing knowledge to help further rebuild the lost communities.