The crew of freezing trawler Therney RE donated ISK 1 million (USD 7,100, EUR 5,500) to the charity Maedrastyrksnefnd yesterday, which they had collected for a travel fund. The charity, which was originally founded to help single mothers, provides relief to families in need.
“We have collected money for this fund for some years, which we then planned to use for traveling when the ship would go the dockyard,” captain of Therney RE Kristinn Gestsson told Morgunbladid.
“Then this disaster strikes this fall and we decided to review our plans and thought that it might be a good idea to instead show solidarity with people who need this money more,” Gestsson explained.
The crew agreed unanimously to cancel their traveling plans for now and instead donate most of the fund to a good cause.
“It isn’t exciting to be traveling when others are suffering and we have followed Maedrastyrksnefnd through the years and noticed the unselfish work undertaken by the charity,” Gestsson added.
The captain hopes that others will take the example of his crew. “We encourage everyone to show solidarity and contribute, make small or large donations, everything counts.”
