Helping hands

The amazing generosity shown by people in Britain in response to the Asian tsunami has shown how deep the philanthropic spirit runs in this country. Not that we needed convincing. Even before that disaster struck, Independent readers had given ample proof. Thanks to you, our Christmas Green Shoots appeal - which sponsors Send a Cow, Water Aid and the Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation - raised a magnificent £290,000. This sum will go to help desperate and impoverished people in countries in Africa and the subcontinent where some 30,000 children die from preventable diseases each day. Thank you.

The amazing generosity shown by people in Britain in response to the Asian tsunami has shown how deep the philanthropic spirit runs in this country. Not that we needed convincing. Even before that disaster struck, Independent readers had given ample proof. Thanks to you, our Christmas Green Shoots appeal - which sponsors Send a Cow, Water Aid and the Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation - raised a magnificent £290,000. This sum will go to help desperate and impoverished people in countries in Africa and the subcontinent where some 30,000 children die from preventable diseases each day. Thank you.