A DERBY Telegraph campaign launched to help a struggling charity continue its life-saving work has raised £2,000 in the first two weeks.

Generous Telegraph readers have dug deep to support Aquabox, which sends water purification kits to victims of natural disasters, war and poverty.

Despite the recession, and with Christmas looming, people have still donated cash to the Give Water, Give Life campaign.

Charity trustee David Haspel said: "It's a good start but we still have a long way to go. I imagine donations will dry up over Christmas, with people having other commitments, but it would be nice if we could hit the New Year running and have more donations in January.

"I would like to thank people who have donated so far and urge more to come forward so that we can continue our life-saving work."

Aquabox is a project of Rotary International, but is run and managed by Wirksworth Rotary Club.

Since its formation in 1992, Aquabox – based in Wirksworth – has sent more than 80,000 Aquaboxes to people in 55 countries.

The water purification devices are packed inside a blue plastic box, which also includes essential welfare items such as tools, cooking equipment and hygiene items.

But the charity's donations are at their lowest in seven years and a recent disaster in Indonesia has almost wiped out their stock.

The financial problems come at a time when Aquabox wants to introduce a range of more efficient water purifications kits, which are capable of cleaning thousands more litres of dirty water.

It currently sends out two types of purification boxes, which use carbon filters and chlorine tablets.

Now, a new method for purifying water has been devised, using micropore technology filters.

The charity wants to raise £138,000 in total.

It needs £100,000 to buy the AquaFilters for 5,000 AquaFilter family kits which use the new technology, as well as £30,000 to pay for 100 larger AquaFilter community units, which provide water to small communities, cottage hospitals and schools. Also, it needs £8,000 to pay for storage.

The AquaFilters help remove deadly waterborne diseases, including typhoid, dysentery and cholera.

That is why the Telegraph launched the Give Water, Give Life campaign at the end of November, which aims to help raise cash for the filters by April. The most recent figures available, up to December 11, show that more than £2,000 has already been donated.

Mr Haspel said: "We really do need people to help out in any way they can. If people could hold coffee mornings, sponsored swims or anything like that it would all make a difference."

If you want to donate, or are planning an event to raise money and would like to be featured in the paper, please contact Claire Duffin on Derby 253053 or e-mail cduffin@derbytelegraph.co.uk.

Alternatively, people can send money to the NatWest bank, account number 53575113, sort code 60-14-15, or call 01629 825178 or by post to Aquabox, PO Box 5398, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 4ZP.

To find out more about Aquabox's work, visit www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk or www.aquabox.org.