A RAMSBOTTOM man who visited the Philippines before disaster struck is helping to raise funds for the victims of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan.

Danny English, 34, is appealing for volunteers to join him in a 32-mile ultra-marathon between Knowsley Safari Park in Liverpool and Nuttall Park in Ramsbottom on Christmas Eve.

Danny, an outdoor educator, is raising funds for a charity called Project Pearls which focuses its outreach work in the slum communities in Tondo, Manila, particularly in Ulingan and Helping Land.

However, all the money he collects will now be used by the charity to help the relief effort in the wake of the typhoon.

Recalling his fortnight’s trip to the Philippines in April, Danny said: “During my visit I helped to put together a week-long summer camp-style prgramme for the children.

“We ran a variety of community building games and activities that focused on social and emotional learning, encouraged positive relationships and brought a week of fun and happiness to the children.

“During our stay it was clear that many of the children we worked with were extremely intelligent, very creative, caring and loving.

“To meet and work with such wonderfully talented children was both beautiful and heartbreaking.

“With little access to education, and already employed in laborious jobs digging around in charcoal pits looking