ONE year on from Typhoon Haiyan devastating the Philippines, an Appleton family have said the support and kind donations from residents in Warrington has helped give their relatives in the disaster-hit country the courage to move on.

John and Geri Rhodes made the journey to help Geri’s family 12 months ago following one of the worst storms on record and appealed for desperately needed aid, as previously reported in the Warrington Guardian.

But the response from residents completely overwhelmed the couple as the charity Christian Aid revealed this week more than £10,500 was raised in Warrington to provide food and shelter alongside Lymm Baptist Church members pledging £30,000 to rebuild a church in Geri's hometown of Leyte.

The 45-year-old mum added: "The response and generosity of people in Warrington has been amazing.

"All I can say is thank you so much for everyone's help.

"I'm speechless when I see how kind-hearted people have been."

The mum to 14-year-old daughter Holly added progress has been slow in the country as a lot of people with carpentry skills to repair roofs and help rebuild towns were killed in the floods.

The shoots of recovery are now starting to emerge however with more supplies coming through and one hospital near her family has now been rebuilt.

Geri's project ‘Seeds of Hope’ has also been successful providing seeds for schools and communities to grow their own vegetables while generous donations from Lymm Baptist Church members has seen the first stage of rebuilding work on a church in Leyte which can also be used as a refuge if there is ever a similar disaster again and a school for young children who may have lost their parents during the catastrophe.

Geri added: "The ground-breaking was three weeks ago and it's all thanks to Lymm Baptist Church.

"It has really touched me and has been such a selfless act by members.

"Knowing someone out there loves us and cares for us outside our country gives us the courage to move on."