Influencer and online fitness guru Diren Kartal has raised more than £100,000 in just 3 days to help support the victims of earthquake-hit Turkey.
The rescue mission and relief effort are still well underway after two powerful earthquakes, and their aftershocks reduced Turkish towns and cities to rubble. Neighbouring Syria has also been devastatingly impacted.
Some 41,000 people have died so far, but with teams still searching the rubble for missing persons, that figure is only expected to rise.
Kartal, who has Turkish roots, has flown over to Kahramanmaraş to help with the aftermath and shine a brighter light on the heartbreaking situation.
He said: “While on the ground in the disaster zone, I was able to fully witness and understand the unprecedented devastation that has befallen the Kurdish, Turkish and Syrian people. I truly never expected to have seen one dead body in my life, let alone hundreds.
“But one of the sorrows that gripped my attention was the children. Many of them lost their parents, grandparents and other family members. And on top of that, they’ve lost teachers, football coaches, singing instructors, and many other role models and guiding figures in their lives. Because of this, they will inevitably have a much slower start to life than those of us living in first-world countries.”
So far, Kartal has raised an incredible £103,141. He says he will continue to build relationships with the local education authorities in the hope of using the money to build a school or a recreation centre.
“For now, the world is focused on saving lives,” he added. But once that turns towards rebuilding lives and focusing on the long-term impact of this earthquake, I will be ready with the strategy and plan.
“Once the money is donated we will post receipts/invoices etc for absolutely everything and I’m happy to be fully independently audited if anyone wishes.”
Kartal’s mission has been supported by several of his high-profile friends in the fitness community, including James Smith.
He shared the GoFundMe page on Instagram, adding: “People don’t appreciate the lives this will touch in Turkey. If any of you are able to, please donate to Diren Kartal’s incredible efforts.”
If you’d like to donate and receive updates directly from the ground in Turkey then visit the GoFundMe page.
