p|d readers donate nearly $2,500 to Canterbury Caledonia relief
pipes|drums Magazine readers have come to the rescue of the Canterbury Caledonia Pipe Band of Christchurch, New Zealand, by donating some $2,316 to help the band recover after the February 22nd earthquake that resulted in the demolition of the band’s historic hall and the loss of much of the band’s equipment.
pipes|drums announced on February 27th that it would coordinate the collection of donations, and dozens of readers stepped up to contribute anywhere from $1 to $250. Scott Currie Percussion and the nonprofit pipes|drums itself gave $250 to the rebuilding cause.
“We’re proud of the generosity of so many of our readers,” said pipes|drums editor Andrew Berthoff. “People may be accustomed to seeing donations of hundreds of millions of dollars to entire countries, but this amount is a lot for our relatively little pipe band world, and we hope that it helps the band get back on its feet and to full fighting form.”
The Grade 1 Canterbury Caledonia band said that it will likely have to cancel its plans to compete in Scotland in August due to the financial impact that the catastrophe has had on the band itself and its members personally.
Wellington, New Zealand-area pipe bands got together for a show that raised approximately $5,000 for general earthquake relief.
Brilliant.
On behalf of the Canterbury Caledonian Pipe Band can I just say how overwhelmed we all are with the generous support shown towards the Band during this time. We will acknowledge each of you in an appropriate manner. Donations like this via Pipes | Drums truly show the spirit of the Piping and Drumming fraternity. Thank you Andrew for the initiative for such an idea. As a group our bricks and mortar may be broken but be assured our people are in good heart and ready to face the future with great determination. Thank you once again. Richard Hawke – Pipe Major