WALKS, car washes and cake sales are just some of the ways people are raising cash for countries hit by the tsunami tragedy.

Enthusiasm for helping the victims has failed to dim since the disaster took place almost three weeks ago and the Evening Press and City of York Council's York Aid appeal has now topped £44,000, boosted by more than £4,000 of payroll donations from council staff.

Adams Hydraulics has donated £500 to the York Aid appeal and a further £1,000 has come from WS Electrical Ltd, while Langleys Solicitors has raised £3,000 at its offices at York and Lincoln for the tsunami relief efforts.

Pupils at St Aelred's RC Primary, in Fifth Avenue, accompanied by teachers, parents and grandparents, braved the rain and wind to complete a one-mile sponsored walk on Wednesday, raising £842 for Cafod's relief efforts.

Meanwhile, a container of essential items such as clothes, cooking utensils and medical supplies is on its way to Sri Lanka after Leeman Road resident Aaron Pattinson appealed to his neighbours to make donations.

The goods were collected on Wednesday in a truck supplied by TM Logisitics and driven to Luton for transfer by the RAF.

Aaron extended a big thank you to everyone who had donated and helped in the operation, including Walmgate Removals, Stadium Storage and Minster School.

A host of fundraising events are planned for this weekend.

Fulford School pupils Megan Davis and Lauren Helliwell, both 11, have organised a sale of cakes, toys and bric a brac at Bishopthorpe Village Hall, between 2pm and 4pm, tomorrow.

Ace Valeting will be holding a fundraising car wash at Brecks Saab, in Great North Way, Nether Poppleton, tomorrow, between 9am and 5pm. All money raised will be matched by the firm and donated to the appeal.

Updated: 11:10 Friday, January 14, 2005