GENEROUS islanders have donated more than £67,000 to the Final Hour appeal – and there’s more to come. Organiser Richard Searle said that a number of larger employers would not be taking the money from staff salaries until the end of September because of the time it takes to organise.

‘The fund can only go one way,’ said a delighted Mr Searle.

His original calculations of how much money would be raised had been far exceeded.

‘Optimistically, we were looking at getting round £45,000. The response has been tremendous.

‘We only had an idea of the number of companies. Now we’re turning it into real figures.’

All the money raised will go to the Bailiff’s Disaster Emergency Fund and onwards to the UK Disasters Emergency Committee.

No administration costs have been incurred by the appeal. Chartered accountants BDO Guernsey and joint promoters the Guernsey Press and Island FM have all given their services free.

‘Every penny that is raised is being pushed out and onwards to Sudan,’ said Mr Searle.

Guernsey Press editor Richard Digard said that the amount of money raised in such a short time – the campaign began on Monday 9 August – was phenomenal.

‘We knew islanders were generous but we’ve been overwhelmed by the level of public response. It’s gratifying the number of businesses and employees who wanted to jump on board.’

A spokeswoman for Island FM was equally impressed by the amount of money raised.

‘What a magnificent effort on the islanders’ part,’ she said.

Mr Searle said that extra money had been donated directly by people not having a final hour’s salary deducted from their pay.

‘You can’t fail to be moved,’ he said.

‘We had a card from a parent who enclosed some money from his son. He had heard of the appeal and wanted to give something to somebody who had nothing – he sent his pocket money.’

Others who had contributed were pensioners, the unemployed and a number of people who come from outside the island.

Sports and social clubs had made collections, as had hotel and restaurant staff.

‘It’s captured the imagination of people across the board,’ said Mr Searle.

His sister, Amanda, is in Sudan preparing to spend a year working as a paediatric nurse. Her first impressions of the country were that all looked normal.

‘Not everything is quite as it seems, as we soon discovered, having admired the view of a hillside village from across a river. Only driving through did we realise that it was completely deserted and consisted of the burnt-out remains of a mud hut community.

‘There were even overturned ceramic cooking pots and a smashed up suitcase as evidence of people rushing out to survive.’

She was enormously grateful to her brother for initiating the appeal and to islanders for their generosity in donating money that is much needed in the country.

‘There is plenty of need here and an amazing commitment from the communities themselves to serve each other and help one another,’ she said.