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CALGARY The caretakers union at the Calgary Public School Board are seeking the publics help for a colleague who has lost his entire family in the Asian Tsunami.

Sugiharto Usman, a landed immigrant from the Sumatra region of Indonesia, lost both his parents, two grandparents, a brother, a sister, and several aunts, uncles and nieces in the December 26th earthquake and Tsunami.

Usman wants to return to Sumatra to see if any of his now orphaned nieces and nephews are still alive. His goal is to bring them back to Canada and raise them himself.

His union, CUPE Local 40, is trying to help. Local President Drake Hammill says the union will decide tomorrow if they will cover the cost of his flight. However, Hammill is appealing to the public to raise $6,000 to cover other expenses.

To do this, Sugi needs living expenses, travel expenses, and his wife and child here in Calgary will need to hire some childcare, said Hammill.

Hammill says that he was moved by Usmans plight.

The circumstances alone are enough to make anyone want to help, said Hammill. But I know Sugi, and hes the kind of guy you would do anything for and thats making us go the extra mile.

Members of the public who want to assist Usman are encouraged to send cheques to:
CUPE Local 40
#105 811 Manning Rd NE
Calgary Alberta
T2E 7L4