Support for earthquake victims

CAPTION: L-R Restaurant Owner Sabina Silveri, Mauro Silveri and Maria Angela Cervi

The coffee morning in That's Amore, Marina, raised 670.

Sabina Silveri, who owns the restaurant and organised the event, is from the affected region.

Her hometown is Preturo, a small village around five miles west of L'Aquila, the city closest to the epicentre of the initial earthquake which happened on Monday, April 6 at 3.32am local time.

She has spoken to those of her family, including her brother and cousins, who still live in the region and says they are safe and well.

Sabina, who returned from a trip to L'Aquila one month ago, said: "My close friends have helped and given cakes and support. Even the customers were bringing back the cups this morning.

"I would like to thank all of the people who made this morning a success."

Jay Brewerton, of Pulse Magazine, is one of the friends who helped Sabina.

She said: "This morning was a roaring success and it was great to see it so well supported by local business and local people."

Sabina, with her mother and father helping, served free coffees, and an open buffet included Ferratelle, a traditonally L'Aquilan waffle-cake.

Black and white pictures of L'Aquila prior to the quake leaned against the walls.

The money raised came entirely from voluntary donations, and will be given to Mediafriends Onlus (Emergenza Terremoto Abruzzo), a fundraising initiative to help victims of the disaster.

John Franks, of Sidley, who attended the event, said: "It's great to see so many local people concerned about the plight of the Italian people."

Richard Sanderson, a resident of Bexhill for 64 years, said: "I think it is a very good idea, they must be suffering over there. It is a worthwhile cause."

Sabina said: "People have come who I haven't seen for many years, and also Italians living here that I have never met."

Grandmother Raphaella Dennis, originally from Rome and now of Grand Avenue, Bexhill, attended with her daughter Andria Horne, after discovering the event through the That's Amore facebook group.

The fundraising coffee morning ran from 10am-12.30pm on Tuesday, April 14.