Andy Vlachos passed away unexpectedly at the beginning of September. He was an extraordinary man with a huge heart. He was working in a gift shop in Votsalakia on the Greek island of Samos when he first became aware of the ongoing refugee crisis on the island. He would frequently offer lifts to families who were trudging across the island after a perilous sea crossing, trying to make their way to Athens and then on to the next stage of their journey through Europe and he was touched to hear their stories. Before long he was volunteering in the camps and on the beaches, pulling the living and the dead from the sea. Over the next year and a half, he was personally responsible for saving hundreds of lives. He was one of the most generous men I ever met - the kind of person who would give you his own meal if you were hungry . In his memory, we his friends, with the kind support and encouragement of his family, would like to mark his incredible life by raising as much as we can for the charity he worked for, United Rescue Aid. All donations made here will go to them to continue the work that meant so much to Andy.

Please remember that, under Just Giving rules, we have only a month to reach our target so if you do want to give, don't delay.

United Rescue Aid is a non-profit organisation that raises funds and provides volunteers to work with the the current refugee crisis all over the world. The charity is registered in Sweden - Org. number: 802499-3753