Hound sports supporters across the country are all too familiar with natural disasters that can catastrophically affect entire communities, from devastating floods to disease outbreaks that cripple businesses and livelihoods, and we are well used to pulling together as a community to help others.

The recent massive earthquakes in Turkey and Syria are on an unimaginable scale. If they had happened here the impact would have been felt across most of the UK.

Reports now suggest that more than 41,000 people have been killed, and many thousands more injured. These figures continue to rise. There are 17 million people in the affected zone.

In response, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), has launched an appeal for support to provide shelter and other essential aid as well as supporting the wounded and traumatised.

We can all help people affected by the crisis by making a donation and helping to raise money for the DEC appeal. This will allow DEC charities and their local partners to scale up their response and reach more people.

£10 could provide blankets to keep two people warm

£25 could provide emergency food for a family for ten days

£50 could provide emergency shelter for two families

Many hound sports followers have already donated to collections organised at meets across the country but we can still do more. People need help now.

If you can, then please donate what you can sensibly afford to. If you cannot afford to then we’d be grateful if you could share our page.