WHEN a devastating earthquake hit Nepal in April last year, there was a massive outpouring of support for the region.

But some remote villages are still in ruins after the quake, and have had little support since.

Cabarita resident Steve Bellamy, who founded The Pencil Tree charity, will hold a fundraiser tomorrow to support remote children's homes run by charity Hands with Hands.

While The Pencil Tree frequently ran lunches and dinners to raise funds for the charity, Mr Bellamy said this would be its biggest fundraiser so far.

The afternoon will feature entertainment from Mullumbimby comedian Mandy Nolan, musician Stephen Lovelight and more.

There will be eight items up for auction, including a stunning surfboard painted by the renowned Jim Davidson, a guitar signed by Pete Murray, Ash Grunwald, Felicity Urquhart and Round Mountain Girls, and a handful of lucky door prizes.

Local businesses and residents have so far been quick to get behind the cause.

"We've had an amazing response," Mr Bellamy said. "It's fantastic. I'm blown away."

Mr Bellamy said while people were keen to help out directly after the earthquake, it was important to remind the world many of the Nepalese were still struggling.

"They need all the help they can get, so absolutely anything at all we can raise this weekend will make a tremendous difference," he said.

"It really is a matter of life and death for some people."

The Nepalese people he'd been in touch with since returning from a recent trip were very positive about the fundraising efforts.

"Everybody's really excited," he said.

He said Hands with Hands founder Kira Kay had been helping with the rebuild effort throughout Nepal.

He said blockades on the Indian border had stopped much of the aid resources from reaching the Nepalese.

"The earthquake was bad but the blockade made things a lot worse," he said.

"The blockade was 10 times more damaging than the actual earthquake."

He said the lack of resources was also discouraging tourists, who were desperately needed to boost the economy.

"So many thousands of people are still living under temporary tin sheds or tarpaulins," he said.

"They rely on tourism."

Mr Bellamy said The Pencil Tree ran trips to Nepal and planned to hold another next year.

Fundraiser

• What: The Pencil Tree Nepal Earthquake Appeal
• Where: The Lake Cabarita, 2-8 Willow Ave
• When: 1.30-5.30pm Saturday, April 23
• Visit facebook.com/ thepenciltree for details.