The parents of missing UL student Danielle Wright will hold a press conference at 2pm on Thursday, August 15, at Home Bank on Kaliste Saloom in Lafayette.Tim Miller with Texas Equusearch joins Ricky and Robin Wright, parents of missing UL student Danielle Wright, and key volunteers on Thursday, August 15, 2013, at 2 PM to give new information about search efforts for the S/V Nina and 7 missing crew at Home Bank, 503 Kaliste Saloom Road, in Lafayette, LA.

Due to recent fund raising efforts, search and rescue pilots are finally in the air looking for the 70’ historic schooner that’s been missing in the Tasman Sea for over 70 days. New drift models have narrowed the enormous area to about 300,000 sq. miles where the Nina is believed to have drifted.

Funds collected will only pay pilots, planes and fuel for a few days, therefore it is urgent that we raise awareness and promote additional donations for this search to continue. Without the help of friends, family and concerned citizens, there would be no search.

Last week an Arizona family that had been lost at sea for 91 days was finally rescued by a Venezuelan fishing boat. They had been caught in storms just like Nina, and lost their mast and ability to communicate. They survived by catching fish and rain water, just like the survivors on Nina are doing. The substantial difference in these two stories is the fact that Nina is drifting in an area where there are no boats passing or planes flying over, and Nina is caught in very strong currents that are holding her captive without a motor or sail/wind power to escape them. If we don’t come to their rescue, it could take several additional months before Nina to drift back to New Zealand or Australian shores. We are still hopeful that our US government will decide to initiate a new search with the permission of the New Zealand Coast Guard.

Donations are being accepted at:

All Home Bank locations ACCT#2059321602 (Make payable to Robin Wright)

Sunbelt Business Brokers, 2701 Johnston Street, Suite 300, Lafayette, LA

Community Foundation of Acadiana, 1035 Camellia Blvd, Lafayette, LA

Texas Equusearch online at www.texasequusearch.org, must add special instruction to the seller - Nina Search Fund

Additional information can be obtained on Face Book Bringing Home the Nina and Crew or call Robin Wright/Sunbelt Business Brokers 337-234-7008.

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