WHEN Kingscliff restaurateur Shankar Shrestha, who is from Kathmandu, discovered his cousin had perished in the Nepal earthquake, it steeled his determination to raise money for his stricken nation.

To help assuage their feelings of helplessness in the face of a natural disaster that has claimed thousands of lives, Shankar and his wife Karen used their popular Kathmandu Kitchen restaurant on Marine Pde to raise funds.

Last Thursday night the restaurant pledged one- third of all takings for the night to go to the relief efforts.

There was also a raffle and staff donated their tips on the night.

To date they have raised in excess of $2,500.

Mr Shrestha said his cousin had died in Durbar Square, just around the corner from the family home that they both grew up in.

"When you have something of this magnitude happen to your home town, your country, you have a feeling of helplessness," he said.

"Raising this money to go to Red Cross Nepal Region Earthquake Appeal is a small way to contribute to the rescue operation.

"People have been incredibly kind and generous.

"The night was a brilliant success, so many people came to dine in, lots of take away orders, and many people came in to either donate or to go into the raffle to raise funds for Nepal."

Sadly the restaurant was targeted by thieves just hours later (see page 6) but the fundraising money was not taken.

As of Monday, the Nepalese government said the death toll from the earthquake had reached 7040 and 14,123 people had been injured, but both figures are likely to rise in the weeks and months ahead.

You can help

To help go to nepalregionearthquake appeal.everydayhero.com /au/kathmandu-kitchen- kingscliff or buy a raffle ticket or make a donation at Kathmandu Kitchen.