THE Petersfield father of tsunami victim Charlotte Jones is preparing for his first fundraising event of the year as he bids to raise more money for the charity set up in memory of his daughter. Char's Fund is supporting young girls in Thailand by providing educational bursaries. And Alan Jones will be putting on his running shoes once again to enter the Reading half-marathon at the end of next month in an effort to boost funds. Charlotte ran the race with her father in 2004. Last year, he was accompanied by his wife Liz, who had never run before, and six of Charlotte's friends. "Our small charity spends no money on marketing and all funds raised go directly to a poor school in Phuket in order to support the educational needs of tsunami-affected families, mostly girls who tend to leave school early in Thailand," said Alan. "We would be grateful for sponsorship and anyone who would like to donate to the fund or sponsor me in the half-marathon should contact me by e-mail or telephone." This week, Alan spoke to the Inner Wheel Club of Petersfield on the work of Char's Fund, at its annual overseas tea in the Festival Hall. "I was grateful for the invitation to speak," Alan told The Herald this week, "and also for the generous cheque for £500 which I received for Char's Fund." During Easter, Alan and his family will visiting, for the first time, the children in Thailand supported by Char's Fund. They will also return to Ko Racha Yai where Charlotte, 23, died when the gigantic wave hit the tiny island where she was spending Christmas during her gap-year travels. Alan has also reported that plans to form a link between The Petersfield School and Muang Phuket School, where the Thai girls are receiving support for their education, are being discussed. "I have spoken to John Callaghan, head of year nine, who said that some commemorative ideas have already been put to the student's council." In the second Char's Fund newsletter published this month, Alan reported that the fund stood at £35,750, of which some £2,700 had already gone directly to the school in Thailand. He said the fund had received individual letters from each of the children thanking them for the scholarship money: "We have replied to each child in English to let them know more about Char, where she came from, and what she was doing in Thailand." Anyone who would like to sponsor Alan can contact him at [email protected]">[email protected], or by calling 01730 265718.