Kent Messenger Maidstone

Chippy donates takings to quake-victim charity

Owner confident of raising £1,500 in memory of young villager

- @SuzElvey

selvey@thekmgroup.co.uk Hundreds of Maidstone residents helped children in Nepal from the comfort of their homes on Monday... by tucking into fish and chips.

Donda Michaelas, owner of Marino’s Fish Bar, Bearsted, pledged to donate his day’s profits to a charity being set up by the family of Matthew Carapiet, a young man from the village who was killed in a Nepalese earthquake earlier this year.

In addition, Mr Michaelas left a loose-change jar on the counter, his children stood outside the shop with a collection box, and some staff gave up half a day’s wages.

He is still collecting money, but said: “I am going to put my neck on the line and say I think we’ve raised at least £1,500. We were really busy and our customers were very generous.”

Mr Carapiet’s sister, Christina, said: “We are delighted with the tremendous turn-out at Marino’s Fish Bar.

“We are so touched by their kindness and generosity.

“We are in the process of setting up a charitable trust for future fundraisin­g. We will be concentrat­ing on raising funds for the children in Langtang village, Nepal, where Matthew lost his life.

“We will be looking for a suitable project, which will help in the education of the local children or improve health facilities in the area.”

The family is producing a book about Mr Carapiet’s travels through Russia and Asia, featuring photos, sketches and extracts from a journal he kept, which they hope to publish by next April.

His family previously raised more than £ 11,000 through crowdfundi­ng and donations, and this has been sent to a nongovernm­ental organisati­on in Cambodia to complete a school in Siem Reap that Mr Carapiet was helping build before he travelled to Nepal.

After the building is completed in October, the remaining balance will be used for resources at the school.

Mr Carapiet, 23, was travelling around Asia when he was crushed to death as a devastatin­g 7.8-magnitude quake hit Nepal on Saturday April 25, killing thousands.

 ?? Picture: Martin Apps FM3962703 ?? Sophia and Donda Michaelas left a loose-change jar on the counter at the fish and chip shop in aid of the charity
Picture: Martin Apps FM3962703 Sophia and Donda Michaelas left a loose-change jar on the counter at the fish and chip shop in aid of the charity
 ??  ?? Earthquake victim Matthew Carapiet with his elder sister Christina
Earthquake victim Matthew Carapiet with his elder sister Christina

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