$108,000 raised for Angel Appeal
Posted: 17 May 2006
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More than 500 guests recently attended a ‘construction-themed’ fundraising reception at The Fairmont Dubai, which generated AED 400,000 ($108,000) for the Angel Appeal.
 The Mission to Seafarers in Dubai aims to raise over $1 million before the end of 2006 to build and equip a boat appropriately named “Angel” to support some of the estimated 140,000 seafarers using the East Coast Anchorages of the UAE each year.
The highlight of the evening was the pledge of AED 250,000 from Holy Trinity Church , part of the Chaplaincy of Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates towards the project.
John Wier, Senior Chaplin, Holy Trinity Church , Dubai said: “The Council has worked closely with the Mission to Seafarers for over thirty years now. We value their efforts to support seafarers without discrimination of religion or nation ali ty and the decision of the Chaplain’s Council to donate such a considerable sum was unanimous.”
The Fairmont Dubai generously supported the Angel Appeal initiative by providing their ‘construction-themed’ ballroom and full catering for the event.
"This is just part of an ongoing relationship we have with The Seafarers," said Michael Kaile, Vice- Pr esident and General Manager, The Fairmont Dubai and Area Director, Kenya . "We are thrilled that we could partner with this terrific cause on such a successful event."
Generous prizes were raffled during the evening and included a AED 10,000 holiday voucher from National Bank of Dubai, a 42” Plasma Screen TV from LG Electronics, a weekend at the Savoy in London from The Fairmont Dubai, a weekend at the Burj Al Arab from Jumeirah International, a AED 2,000 pen from Cartier, a Mont Blanc Mozart Anniversary Pen and a colour TV and DVD from Gulftainer.
More prizes were received from Inchcape, Lloyds Register, Chedi Oman , IIR Middle East, Barwil, Oytun and Sensasia.
 Reverend Stephen Miller of The Mission to Seafarers in Dubai , said: “We were thrilled by the donation from Holy Trinity. Clearly this amount of money will help our fundraising efforts enormously. We have already received substantial pledges of support from corporate donors, as well as many smaller private donations, so we are well on our way to hitting our $ 1 million target.”
The money raised will contribute to the construction of the customised boat, currently being constructed by Albwardy Marine in Al Jadaf. It will provide an Internet Café, a library with both educational and fictional DVDs and books, a medical clinic with a fully trained paramedic, access to telecommunications and pastoral and spiritual support with a dedicated Welfare Officer. The order for the ‘Angel’ was placed earlier this year and the estimated time to build the craft is approximately eight to ten months. Consequently the boat should be operational by the end of 2006, which will be a superb achievement to celebrate the international charity’s 150th anniversary.
The service will operate every week for 72 hours at a time, by sailing out to the ships using the East Coast Anchorage, allowing seafarers to step off their ships for a period of rest and relaxation. With 99% of all UAE imports arriving by sea we all have a vested interesting in ensuring the welfare of seafarers. The ‘Angel’ will offer many seafarers support and help who are unable to come ashore.
The East Coast is the second largest Bunker Anchorage in the world with 100 to 150 ships anchored off shore at any given time. As many as 2,000 seafarers maybe unable to communicate with family and friends at home for weeks, sometimes months, leading to isolation and loneliness, which the ‘Angel’ is designed to alleviate.
Email the Appeal Team on mts150@eim.ae
Posted by Editor Offshore Arabia Magazine
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