Exemplar Health Care Nurses raise over £3300 for victims of Typhoon Odette

Marjorie Horner and Annie Cabalona are Registered Nurses at our Ravensdale care home in Whinmoor, Leeds. Earlier this month, they held a fundraising event to raise money for the victims of Typhoon Odette.

Typhoon Odette was a catastrophic tropical cyclone that struck the Philippines in December 2021. It destroyed the homes and livelihoods of the two main islands of Visayas and Mindano, leaving an estimated 2.4 million people in need of assistance.

Originally from the Philippines, Leeds-based Nurses, Marjorie and Annie, organised a fundraising event, raising a much-needed £3340 for the cause.

Marjorie has worked as a Nurse in the UK for over 30 years. She’s worked at Ravensdale, which supports adults living with complex needs, since August 2021. Annie joined the home recently.

Outside of work, Marjorie is a keen fundraiser and, along with Annie, is part of the ‘Transformational Leadership for Women in Business’ group.

The group supports a number of causes, most recently an outreach project by the Overcomers Mission UK called ‘A call for help for the Typhoon Odette victims in the Philippines.’

Last weekend, Marjorie and her team organised a local fundraising and networking event, which brought together local communities and businesses to raise money for two local communities that were severely impacted by the typhoon.

The day time session brought together local businesses, including Ravensdale care home, to share motivational talks and have exhibition stands showcasing what they do.

Speaking about the fundraising, she says:

"The sheer scale of the typhoon has shocked people across the world. As a Filipino community in Leeds, we instantly rallied to help those in need. We were thrilled to see so many local businesses supporting the event, as well as Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Ashgar Khan and MP Richard Burgon."

Sarah Ibrahim, Marjorie and Annie’s Manager at Ravensdale, supported her colleagues and the cause. She hosted a stand to showcase the brilliant work that the care home in Leeds does.

On the day, Sarah loved speaking to local people about the career opportunities available at the home including Health Care Assistants and Registered Nurses.

"Everyone at Ravensdale was keen and proud to support Marjorie with her local fundraising event. Ravensdale employs a number of Filipino Nurses, so this cause is close to the hearts of many of our colleagues. We’re really proud of Marjorie and Annie who not only makes a difference in the work they do at Ravensdale, but also in the wider community."

The business networking event was followed by a variety show, hosted at St Mary’s Church in Whitkirk, featuring British and Filipino talents from the local community.

The acts included singers, dancers and children showcasing their sporting talents, as well as a fashion show showcasing the products and services of each business supporting the event.

The event raised £3340 which will be sent to two Christian Churches in Surigao City and Talisay City, which were two areas badly affected by the typhoon.