ROTARIANS in Belgium have given a Derby Telegraph appeal to raise money for life-saving water purification kits a £13,000 boost.

Clubs in the western region of the country have raised the cash for Aquabox by holding film galas, musical recitals and selling Christmas baskets and wine.

The money will help the charity, run by the Rotary Club of Wirksworth, to send more Aquaboxes to Haiti.

It has already shipped more than 1,400 of the boxes, capable of removing deadly waterborne diseases including typhoid, dysentery and cholera, to the country devastated by an earthquake on January 12. It is now working to get a fourth batch ready.

Dilip Mirchandani, world community service chair for Rotary District 1620 in Belgium, said: "Our motivation was the desire of the clubs of our district to do something for the victims of the Haiti disaster.

"In view of the immediate danger of serious epidemics and diseases due to the consumption of contaminated water, Aquabox was the logical choice."

Meanwhile, Rotarians in Derby are preparing to walk five miles around Markeaton Park to raise cash for the Give Water, Give Life appeal.

Derby Rotary Club has agreed to donate half of the profits from its "Thanks for Life" sponsored walk to Aquabox.

On Sunday, president Tony Annis will be leading the walk which will take place between 9.30am and 1pm and is expected to raise £10,000.

The walk is being held as part of Rotary International's Thanks for Life Day, which sees branches across the country hold fund-raising events.

It is hoped more than 500 people will be taking part in the Derby event, which will also raise cash to help eradicate polio across the world.

Anyone interested in taking part is asked to call John Worthy on Derby 553548 or Peter Branson on Derby 515801 for a sponsorship form.

Aquaboxes which have already arrived in Haiti are playing a major role in the aid effort.