Whitegate man dies in Asia tragedy (From Warrington Guardian)

Whitegate man dies in Asia tragedy

A WHITEGATE man has been named as Cheshire's first victim of of the Asian tsunami disaster.

Roger Hankinson, who was a director of Middlewich Road-based construction firm Hankinsons, is understood to have been on holiday in Thailand with his brother John when the disaster struck.

West Mercia Police, who are dealing with the tragedy, confirmed Mr Hankinson was among the victims but were unable to specify where and when the Foxwist Green resident died.

The Foreign Office had no information at the time of going to press.

Mr Hankinson's family declined to comment.

Little Leigh resident Roy Clarke and Mark Wright, who is a director at Hankinsons, are among the people to have organised a charity event in aid of the disaster relief fund.

The duo, who are both founding members of 'Razza's Runners' have lined up a 5.5-mile 'run or ramble' starting and finishing at Barnton Football Club on Townfield Lane, with the event getting under way at noon on Sunday, January 16.

The route will follow the nearby canal and take in Marbury Country Park. Children and pets are welcome. The entry charge is £5 per person, £8 for families, and all cash raised will go to the tsunami relief fund. The Barnton club will be open for refreshments.

Roy said: "We were originally going to do the run for other causes but after what has happened in Asia, we decided to dedicate the event to the relief fund instead.

"We are hoping to raise about £1,000 for the fund and we are hoping about 200 people will take part.

"We will probably hold another event for other causes later on in the year."