Englishman Tom, born in Hong Kong, just had his 25th birthday and lived with his young wife Ruthanna from Kentucky in the small US Virgin Island of St John. They are expecting their first baby in December. They worked as a waiter and nursery caregiver respectively and were just off island to see Tom's elderly grandma when hurricane Irma struck and destroyed the Island and their little home. Their home, livelihood, medical insurance, possessions and car are gone. The lush subtropical island has no trees now and the National Park has been devastated with no wild birds, donkeys, electricity, phones, internet, clean water or fuel. The hotel where they worked has mostly been destroyed & their jobs have been lost.There has been widespread looting and even robberies at gunpoint and the whereabouts of their small dogs Chuie and Dolche, who were in the care of their good friends, is unknown, as there has been no communication. Ruthanna cannot return to the island, being 7 months pregnant and the authorities are not allowing anyone to return at the moment due to dangerous conditions. Tom is trying to get back as soon as passage is allowed to find their dogs and help others as far as he is able. Any and all financial support will be thankfully received and faithfully applied, to help them build a new life elsewhere, and help them pay their impending medical expenses. Anything over and above the target raised will be distributed to worthy St John aid charities.

Many many thanks.

Katy Scott, mother, mother-in-law and granny-to be.