THE plight of the Sri Lankan foster daughter of a Redditch couple left homeless by the tsunami disaster is at the heart of a new appeal to raise cash for aid.

Shiromi Gamage, 27, lived in Redditch for nine months in 1990 when she had plastic surgery on burns to her hands at a now closed Tardebigge hospital.

She was fostered by Jim and Jill Blundell, of Rowan Road, Batchley, after an appeal in the Advertiser and they have been in contact ever since.

Last month, the Advertiser told of Shiromi's narrow escape when her seaside village, Elanoda Watta, near Mirissa, on the southern tip of Sri Lanka, was swept away as the wave hit on Boxing Day.

Now the Blundell's daughter, Nicola Latham, is spearheading a fund-raising initiative and a group of friends have agreed to do a sponsored parachute jump in aid of Shiromi and her small community, who are still living in hills behind the devastation that was once their village.

The jump is being led by Mrs Latham's friend, Lucy Hicks, of Brockhill, who decided to combine a lifelong ambition to do a parachute jump with fund-raising for Shiromi's cause, and roped in another 10 friends.

Mrs Latham said: "It was just heartbreaking to hear of the tsunami and so hard for us to deal with knowing Shiromi lived where she did.

"To me she's my sister, not my foster sister. We were close so when we found out she was alive, I was overwhelmed - a wonderful feeling."

Mrs Latham added: "I have seen a photograph of Shiromi's village following the wave and it was just rubble and bodies. I have spoken to Shiromi on the phone since and she says the village has lost many people. Her little girl lost lots of friends she said.

"Shiromi is a remarkably strong character but she, her family and village still have hardly any aid and can't rebuild. We are determined to at least raise enough for a small fishing boat for the village and shelter for her."

Miss Hicks said: "We really need as much sponsorship as possible because the parachute jumps cost quite a bit, and we need to make money for Shiromi on top of that. It's something I have always wanted to do and I don't feel too nervous at the moment.

''It's been great that Nicola and I have managed to get so much support from our friends."

Mrs Latham and Miss Hicks have set a target of £3,000.

Anybody who would like to sponsor the Shiromi appeal can call Jim Blundell on 68386, Lucy Hicks on 07821 425556 or e-mail zippyhicks@tesco.net