TWIN sisters Joanna and Katherine Martin opted not to have presents for their eighth birthday so they could help people less fortunate than themselves.

The two Bermuda High School students from Hamilton Parish asked around 30 friends invited to their birthday party on October 30 to bring contributions to go to the Bermuda Red Cross's Hurricane Ivan Appeal. They raised $1,500.

The twins' mother Liz Martin said: "When I suggested it to them, they said, 'Does that mean we won't get any presents?' "I said, 'Yes, but the people you will be helping have nothing at all because the wind has blown everything down'. They said they wanted to do it." Two weeks ago, the girls presented the cheque to Bermuda Red Cross administrator Helen Wicks.

Ms Wicks praised the girls for their efforts.

"We are very pleased indeed that they chose to donate this money rather than receiving gifts from family and friends on their eighth birthday," she said.

"It is very noble of them and it's helped to make a marked difference in the lives of people less fortunate than themselves."

Mrs. Wicks said the Bermuda Red Cross had so far received $290,000 for its Hurricane Ivan Appeal, and she said collection would continue until at least next March.

A category five hurricane packing winds up to 160 miles per hour, Ivan ripped through parts of the Caribbean and Florida in September. More than 60 people were killed in the Caribbean and many of Grenada's 90,000 people were left homeless, as 90 per cent of the island's buildings were badly damaged.

In Cuba close to 1.5 million people had to be evacuated to safer areas.

The Bermuda Red Cross also continues to raise money for its Haiti Relief Fund. Haiti was ravaged by Tropical Storm Jeanne in September and the resulting landslides and flooding killed around 2,000 people and left 200,000 homeless in what is considered the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. So far, Bermuda residents have donated $35,500 to that fund.

Ann Spencer-Arscott, director of the Bermuda Red Cross, said: "At this time any money being sent to the Red Cross to assist in these areas is being used for the rehabilitation and restoration stages.

"The main thrust is the rebuilding of homes and businesses. It is important to get a roof over their heads, but also to create sustainability in their lives by helping to provide an income.

"In the case of Grenada, their livelihoods are gone for at least five to six years. They now have to find other means of earning an income.

"Many of the islands see the importance of preparedness and in the rebuilding stages are making sure higher standards are created and stricter codes are followed. This notwithstanding, the Red Cross Societies in each of the affected islands will be putting a larger emphasis on disaster preparedness in months leading up to hurricane season in 2005.

"Our sister islands are very proud people and have been demoralised through their experiences. These have been very tough times for everyone and it is going to take a long time to get them functioning.

"As you can see, a lot still needs to be done and it will be an ongoing process for many years. Our plan is to keep the appeal accounts open at least till March, 2005 and re-evaluate the situation again."

The donations of the Bermuda public would make a difference to storm victims' lives over the festive period, added Ms Spencer-Arscott.

"We believe that the appeal contributions will affect people in the affected islands this Christmas by helping to rebuild houses and businesses, roofs, walls, windows, provide supplies for people to do their own repairs, restore water systems and meet plumbing needs," she said.

"We will be receiving a full report in the early part of January 2005 and will be able to give a better synopsis to the Bermuda public on how their money has assisted."