BLACK and white is set to be the look around the Basingstoke area during a three-day fundraising extravaganza to help people at home and abroad.

A special event is being planned by the three Rotary clubs in the Basingstoke area to extend their support to the relief effort in Asia and to help local people.

Following a hugely successful campaign in response to the tsunami disaster on Boxing Day last year, where nine tons of aid was sent to the Maldives, the Basingstoke Rotary Appeal group has decided to hold a Black and White Weekend in June.

The aim is to raise cash for the hundreds of rebuilding projects taking place across Asia and also to support people or organisations in need closer to home.

Basingstoke Rotary Club, Basingstoke Deane Rotary Club and Basingstoke Loddon Rotary Club want to encourage people of the town and borough to join in and have fun while helping others.

Donna McElhinney, a member of the Basingstoke Rotary Appeal committee, said: "The Basingstoke community came together so quickly for the original request for help that we thought it would be nice to involve them again. We chose the black and white theme to keep it simple and something that everyone can easily get involved with."

The committee members have now sent out information to more than 350 groups, including schools, sports clubs, companies and social groups. Anyone who wants to participate in the charity weekend can organise an event and donate the proceeds, from ticket sales, entry fees or collections, to the fund.

The fun-packed weekend of fundraising, which is supported by Gazette Newspapers, will take place on June 24, 25 and 26. It is hoped that the fundraiser will become an annual event.

For more information, contact Donna McElhinney on 01256 354323 or e-mail rotaryappeal@yahoo.co.uk