Efforts to collect funds in Bermuda to aid victims of the tragic terrorist events of September 11, have reached nearly $500,000.

Geneva Humdy-Woodley, development director for the Bermuda American Relief Fund, (BARF)said she has been moved by the support shown for the relief fund, that has only been open since September 18.

"So far we have $465,000 in the fund," she said. "That was at last check, which was on September 26. There are six or seven organisations that are involved in raising funds and we are looking for a distribution date of Thanksgiving to send the funds to various relief efforts."