A YOUNG girl has had her head in the books to raise money for the tsunami appeal.

Lucy Dawson, from Darlington, took it upon herself to organise a sponsored read and collect sponsorship from family and neighbours.

The eight-year-old, who attends Mowden Junior School, read all 225 pages of Golden Treasury in two days, raising £115 for the south-east Asia disaster fund.

Her mother, Paula, of Staindrop Crescent, said: "At Christmas, Lucy watched some of the news reports in Asia and became upset with the effects of the tsunami, particularly seeing the children with nothing.

"She decided to do this by herself and we are really proud of her and over the moon that she has raised so much."

A NORTH-EAST club singer has recorded a single to raise money for the tsunami disaster fund.

Jan Vickers, who performs under the stage name Jenna Highfield, has covered The Impossible Dream, a song made famous by Diana Ross.

The 47-year-old freelance hairdresser launched the record at Darlington's Alpha Radio yesterday.

Proceeds from the single, which was recorded free of charge at Whitewolf Studios, in Stanley, County Durham, will go towards the disaster relief fund.

She said: "Like everyone else I am donating cash, but cash is very limited unless you are lucky. The only thing I have that I can give that is endless is my voice."

Alpha DJ Shaun Harrington said: "It is such a good cause so we are delighted to help Jan with sales of the record."

The record is on sale, priced £3.50, at Alpha's Woodland Road studio and Eastbourne Road hair salon.

Disaster victim's father launches grieving website

THE father of a tsunami victim has developed a website for grief-stricken families to share their thoughts about lost loved ones.

Alan Cox's world fell apart when his daughter, Leanne, was swept away from the guest house where she was staying with friends on Ko Phi Phi island, in Thailand.

He has now all but given up hope that the 23-year-old will be found alive, but is determined to help others conquer their despair as he fights through his own.

The 53-year-old finance worker and his stepson, Graeme Elliott, a 24-year-old software engineer, have designed Tsunami Stories, a site dedicated to the families of the 150,000 dead.

Mr Cox, of Hartlepool, Teesside, has posted moving tributes and pictures of Leanne, an accountancy graduate, and is inviting others to do the same.

He said: "People around the world are feeling the grief and despair that this appalling event has brought.

"I wanted to share my thoughts about the way I was feeling, but it was difficult to express myself and I knew others would be feeling the same way. So we decided to put this website out there for people to share their stories about the loved ones they lost."

Leanne and friends from school travelled to Australia where, four months ago, she met Australian bank worker Alen Syrol, 23.

Mr Cox said: "I spoke to her on Christmas Day when she told me 'this truly is paradise'.

"The waves hit the following day and she was last seen clinging to a tree by one of her friends and has not been seen since."

The site can be found at www.tsunamistories.net

North-East in Action

DARLINGTON: Darlington Rotary Club and Darlington Centennial Rotary Club joined forces to raise £8,666. The groups collected for eight days at Morrisons Morton Park supermarket, raising £7,000, and at Sainsbury's and Darlington Football Club. The money is being used to buy aqua boxes which make 30 litres of otherwise undrinkable water clean and safe.

Catterick: Soldiers at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, will today swap combats for comedy costumes during a fundraising "dress down day". All ranks will be encouraged to take part, and will be charged a minimum of £1 and on-the-spot fines will be handed out for "inappropriately dressed" soldiers.

Consett: Parents of children at Consett Infant School, County Durham, donated nearly £580 after acting headteacher Jill Stephenson sent out a letter asking for contributions.

Shadforth: Shadforth Village Association, near Durham City, is holding a coffee morning in the village hall tomorrow, from 10.30am to noon. Everyone is welcome.

Cassop: A coffee morning at Cassop Community Centre, near Durham, on Saturday, raised £1,284. The organisers thank everyone who contributed.

Middleton St George: A collection held at Middleton St George Cricket and Social Club on New Year's Eve raised £1,000.