The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) raised $A20,000 in one day from the TV-driven sale of a book about a burns victim.

Six ADRA-Australia staff answered 930 phone calls after Channel Nine “Today Show” presenters Steve Liebman and Tracey Grimshaw mentioned a toll-free phone number for Let the Journey Begin.

The book tells the story of Safari, a young Kenyan who received disfiguring burns as a baby when his mother accidentally placed him too close to a fire. He is receiving corrective surgery from Dr. David Pennington, a Seventh-day Adventist who is head of plastic surgery at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney.

ADRA’s international program coordinator Michael Peach describes the response as “phenomenal.” “The phones were still ringing as we left at 6 p.m.”

Channel Nine’s reality program, “RPA,” videotaped at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, has followed Safari’s progress for several months. “Callers kept telling me they never miss the show,” reports Peach. “They love Safari. He’s given ADRA a very public face.”

All proceeds from the sale of the book, published by ADRA and Channel Nine, and printed by the Adventist Church’s Signs Publishing Company, will help refurbish a clinic in Safari’s hometown of Kafaala, Kenya. “Some callers ordered 10 copies when they learned where the money was going,” reports Peach.