Willies Orphan Fund came about as the result of one man’s reaction to the horrors of the 2004 Boxing Day Asian Tsunami and especially the effect it had on young people orphaned in Thailand.

Following the disaster a massive humanitarian effort swung into action across the entire region as the world realised how critical aid would be to recovery in the area.

It was the television pictures and first hand accounts that prompted businessman Willie Gregg, from Coleraine in Northern Ireland, to take direct action.

Willie says: “I was watching the events unfold on television. I saw places I knew from holidays being destroyed in front of my eyes. I saw the suffering of the kind, loving people of the area and I knew right away that I was going to help them.

“I had friends holidaying in the Phuket area at the time and I knew the hotel they were staying in was in one of the worst effected areas, near Patong Beach. It was a relief to find they were all well. I decided there and then to send them some money so that they could help those in need.”

In the immediate aftermath, Willie, a former fisherman himself, was pivotal in gathering support for fishermen in the area, helping to rebuild boats and buy nets. Help was also given to farmers and people in the area as they started to clear the land and rebuild homes. Through his contacts in Thailand Willie was able to make sure the money he raised was going directly to those who needed it most.