REDDITCH Rotarians dug deep last Monday in an impromptu appeal to buy a £500 emergency supplies box after Cyclone Idai wreaked havoc across Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi.
Rotary International supports the charity ShelterBox which delivers essential aid to disaster zones around the planet.
The appeal made an immediate impact on members, who had gathered for lunch at the Abbey Hotel in Redditch.
They had earlier heard different tales of Africa from their guest speaker, Redditch businessman Nitin Sodha.
Mr Sodha, the man behind Knights Chemists and Lexxon pharmaceutical supplies, comes from a family that had moved from Gujarat in India to Kenya in Africa and from there to Britain.
He launched his business with a £30 a week government business grant from a temporary cabin in Crabbs Cross.
When the supermarkets also started offering pharmacies he too expanded to avoid being swamped, launching him on the road to a business empire which today, still based in Redditch, has a multi-million pound turnover.
One of 11 children, he spoke of his love of the town and its people and emphasised the importance of lifelong learning and working hard to understand the needs of those around you whether at home, business or in the community.
His company has a charitable arm and he has been a driving force behind faith walks both in Redditch and Birmingham in an effort to spread understanding and tolerance.
For more on ShelterBox visit https://www.shelterbox.org/ .
