Charity High Tea for Flying Angel

Mission to Seafarers, a UK-based charity, has entered the second leg of its push to raise funds for its non-profit relief ship Flying Angel, which helps stranded mariners aboard cargo vessels, anchored off the UAE coastline.

After raising nearly Dh3 million in capital funds to build the steel vessel based in Fujairah, Mission to Seafarers invited more than 400 people to High Tea on Saturday to raise funds for the ship's ongoing operations and maintenance.

Visitors each paid Dh150 to take part in the event held in the tea garden area of the home of British Consul General John Hawkins who said the event was held to also “raise awareness'' of the worthy cause.

Rev. Stephen Miller, chaplain of the Dubai offices of the charity, thanked the gathering for the support.

“More than 3,000 seafarers have made thousands of calls to their families since the Angel was launched in February of last year,'' Miller said.

Mariners can make phone calls using a satellite phone aboard the Angel as part of the vessel's mission. Mariners can also read books, watch videos and receive counselling during their stays aboard the Angel.

The work by Mission to Seafarers isn't just helping mariners, he said.

Supporting the shipping industry is also of great significance to Dubai which receives the majority of its goods from abroad by ship.

“A staggering 99 per cent of all we depend on here in Dubai comes from the sea,'' Miller said.

David May, chairman of the Angel fundraising committee said he was glad to see the support shown Saturday noting that it no small feat to build the Angel.

“It was a heck of a challenge to start with nothing, get in on board and then get it up and operational,'' he said, “within one year.''

To learn more about the appeal, log on to www.angelappeal.com

Fast facts

In 2006, Mission to Seafarers undertook measures such as:

(Source: Mission to Seafarers)