The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Bolton Wanderers continue to be with all those affected by the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
The shocking scale of the tragedy and the catastrophic loss of life has left us all deeply saddened.
In response to the crisis, at tonight's home fixture against MK Dons (Valentine’s Day), we will launch our ‘For The Love of Humanity’ appeal.
The club will facilitate a stadium-wide bucket collection on the evening of the fixture, offering fans the opportunity to make a donation to support those impacted by the earthquakes in both Turkey (now known as Türkiye) and Syria. There will also be buckets in place in the Bolton Stadium Hotel, in the Fan Zone and in the Club Shop.
All funds raised will be sent to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), a committee that brings together 15 leading UK aid charities at times of crisis overseas.
The UK Government has pledged to match pound-for-pound up to £5 million the amount raised by the public for the DEC’s Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal.
Sharon Brittan, Chairman of Bolton Wanderers said: “The earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria have brought a devastating loss of life on a huge scale which has brought a deep sense of sadness around the world.
“Yet, in the face of such a tragedy, we are reminded of the resilience and strength of the human spirit where people come together to offer help, support, comfort and hope to those who have lost so much.
“Here at Bolton Wanderers, we have launched our For The Love Of Humanity appeal to raise as much as possible, which will help those who need it most.
“On a night when we traditionally tell our loved ones how much they mean to us, let us also show our compassion for those who are suffering greatly as this tragedy continues to unfold.
“May the souls of those lost rest in perpetual peace and may their memory serve as a reminder of the power of unity and the unbreakable bonds that bind us all."
DEC charities and their local partners are among the first responders, working with locally-led relief efforts in Turkey and Syria.
Their immediate priorities are search and rescue, medical treatment for the injured, shelter for those who have lost their homes, heaters for spaces, winter kits with blankets and warm clothes, and ensuring people have food and clean water.
£30 could provide blankets for six people to keep them warm
£50 could provide emergency food for two families for 10 days
£100 could provide emergency shelter for four families
If you are in a position to make a donation and you would like to help the humanitarian aid efforts, you can also support the appeal here.