The Kickstart Today LifeStraws Appeal

In support of the Rotary Club of Sidcup

Please help us raise money to buy LifeStraws by donating as much as you can afford right now.

Or read on ...

Just a few dollars from you will buy a Lifestraw that can provide drinkable water for an adult for a whole year. Please help us to raise as much as we can to really make a difference to people in time of devastating natural disaster.

There is no point in waiting until disasters strike - by then it is too late. Rotary Clubs the world over prepare for the inevitable by stockpiling emergency aid so that it can be ready to transport to areas of greatest need at a moment's notice.

What is a LifeStraw?

The LifeStraw is a personal water purification device designed to turn surface water into drinking water, thus providing access to safe drinking water wherever you are. It was developed by a specialist commercial company, Vestergaard-Frandsen who research, develop and manufacture disease control textiles.

LifeStraws are approximately 25cm long with a diameter of 3cm, very light and of solid construction. It has a cord to place around your neck. It kills disease-causing micro organisms which spread diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid and cholera.

The LifeStraw contains a number of filters and a pharmaceutical pouch that clean the water and treat it chemically. There are no electrical or moving parts and no maintenance is required - simply blow back after use to remove the debris that has been filtered.

Why are LifeStraws needed?

There is a massive need. More than one billion of the world’s population are without access to safe water, half suffer from waterborne diseases of which approx. 6000 people, mostly children, die every day from consuming unsafe water - even if we could help a small fraction of these people, what an achievement that would be.

William Boyd, Rotary International President 2006-7 has placed the provision of safe, clean water in the developing world at the top of his list of priorities for the coming Rotary year.

LifeStraws can be used -

• For immediate use in disaster zones when the water supply is polluted or interrupted
• For populations on the move e.g. refugees or those in war zones
• For people working away from home all day - in fields on remote farms for instance
• As emergency water purification for people in difficulties at sea

What does it do?

By sucking through the LifeStraw the user can drink from surface water such as streams or rivers and it protects them from the micro organisms responsible for causing waterborne diseases. It will filter approx 700 litres of water - more than enough for one adult to survive for a year. After this it will become become clogged up and therefore inoperable.

Does it do what it says it does?

The efficacy of LifeStraws is backed up by data issued by the manufacturers. Dr Thomas Clasen, Lecturer at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has looked at the product and the data on behalf of the Rotary Club of Sidcup. On the strength of his opinions, the current Rotary Club of Sidcup president, Chris Clayton, has gone ahead with a massive fundraising appeal.

How much do they cost?

The cost of a LifeStraw is less than the price of a cup of coffee, but by buying them by the container load, the fundraising effort spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Sidcup will reduce the unit cost to an absolute minimum. That way every penny raised will have the maximum effect on helping improve lives of people in real need.

Where will they be used

Initial distribution will be via the Shelterbox organisation who will send them when called for - to disasters and areas of great need around the world. Discussions are also in progress with other International organizations, such as the Salvation Army, to ensure that LifeStraws can be effectively distributed to exactly where they are needed, with a minimum of delay.

About this appeal

As a member of the Rotary Club of Sidcup, I support my club's fundraising efforts for many good causes, both local and International. We are a very active club with over 50 members and have raised money for many great causes - from helping raise funds for a special aqua pool for a local school for severely disabled children, to following a worldwide Rotary initiative to raise cash in the wake of the SE Asian Tsunami.

But when I heard about the LifeStraws project I was moved to go a step further.

I live in an area of England that is experiencing a drought. We complain about the shortage of water, but truly have no idea what life is like for the one billion people around the world for whom water isn't just in short supply - it is positively dangerous for them to drink. 6000 people die every day from drinking contaminated water and we are upset about not being allowed to water our roses!

So when I learned that for less than the price of a single cup of coffee we can make a difference, doing my bit to help raise money for LifeStraws was a no-brainer.

That's why I've launched this Kickstart Today appeal and why I hope that you will be able to help me to raise a substantial sum to contribute directly to the Rotary Club of Sidcup's LifeStraw Appeal

How can you help?

Right now - please give cash! As much or as little as you can afford. Every dollar will help save lives.

There is a donation button here:

Please note that the donation will be made directly to the Rotary Club of Sidcup's PayPal account.
Kickstart will not receive a single cent.

In the longer term:

• Tell your friends about the Kickstart Today Appeal
  and send them to this website.
• If you have your own mailing list, please tell your
  subscribers about this appeal and point them to this page.

Thank you

Together we can make a difference to the World - one person at a time.

Martin Avis - www.kickstartdaily.com

On behalf of the Rotary Club of Sidcup