02:16PM, Sunday 30 July 2023
A Boulters Lock woman whose family has been caught in the middle of the devastating wildfires in Rhodes has launched an emergency fundraising appeal.
Thousands of people had to be evacuated from the Greek island this week after raging fires in the mountainous region spread to the coast.
The natural disaster proved particularly painful for Maidenhead nurse Alexia Patounas as her extended family live in the mountainous village of Asklipio, which has suffered significant damage.
The 29-year-old has now launched a fundraising appeal to support victims of the blaze with donations already totalling more than £7,500 in just three days.
She told the Advertiser: “My family is from a little village called Asklipio which is in the south east of the island. My grandmother was born and raised there.
“We’ve visited every year since I was a baby and we’ve got loads of family on the island.
“Initially we were in contact with a few of the family members but then they lost power so we were out of contact.
“It’s devastating and we’re heartbroken for everyone. Because we have such a connection we felt pretty helpless.”
Alexia, who works as a nurse at Amersham Hospital, had been planning to travel to Rhodes next week to see her family but will now be turning the trip into a humanitarian mission.
Alongside her brother Will, also from Maidenhead, the healthcare worker is hoping to help clear Asklipio of the carpets of ash that have formed as well as pitching in at animal shelters which have been set up.
She added: “The goal is to raise as much money and awareness as we can and help as many people as we can for the time we’re out there. The locals have been watching their land burn and trying to fight off the fires for their villages.
“But they’ve also been accommodating the tourists, having tourists stay in their homes and helping tourists get onto the rescue boats.
“The Greeks still have a smile on their face in front of the tourists even though inside they’re completely broken.”
Visit www.gofundme.com and search Pray for Rhodes Fire to support the appeal.
You can follow Alexia’s humanitarian mission by following @PrayForRhodes on Instagram.
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