Fighting against Earthquake and Rescuing the Earthquake-struck Region, the Help from a Foreign Friend Warmed Our Hearts

——A Story of an American in Jing’an District Fighting against Earthquake and Rescuing The Earthquake-struck Region

    We were deeply moved when we heard that an American living and working in Jing’an District went around aiding Sichuan earthquake-struck region and collected 1,500 tents to transport to earthquake-struck region in succession.  “5.12 Wenchuan Earthquake” has shaken not only Chinese people, but also people all over the world.  The foreign friend, who has taken a lot of time and energy to help Sichuan earthquake-struck region, is Ed Cunninghan, living in Shanghai Kerry Centre Hotel Apartment, with a Chinese name of Kang Aide, President of Asia Region of AEC (American Electric Control Company).

   

    After Ed heard about the news of earthquake, on the second morning after the earthquake occurred, he phoned Sichuan Provincial People’s Government initiatively to inquire whether he can help and hope to devote his effort to earthquake-struck people.  When Ed was informed that the earthquake-struck region was in urgent need of tents at that moment, he asked employees to stop to seek possible supply source of tents for the earthquake-struck region.  Meanwhile, Ed paid out of his own pocket to collect the first tents with the help of his family and friends in America, and transported to the earthquake-struck region within several days after the occurrence of earthquake.  In order to find more tents, Ed spared no effort to inquire here and there and found a large-scale tent manufacturer in Vietnam.  The Vietnam manufacturer answered Ed’s request to manufacture more tents to respond to this large earthquake disaster and agreed to speed up its manufacture.  So far, over 1,500 tents of all kinds have been collected and more will be collected to help homeless people in the earthquake.

    The series of Ed’s act made many people moved and got much support and help as well. Tim Leiweke, President of AEC, approved to provide money to purchase more tents to transport to the earthquake-struck region.  During the collection of tents, Ed’s Vietnam friends spent leisure time to help to coordinate tents purchasing and manufacture, thus accelerated the tents transport to the earthquake-struck region.  Shenzhen Airline Company provided transportation for free and was the first time to carry tents to Chengdu.  The partner of AEC in China, NBA, also took active part in the disaster relief.