Charity

Dale Midwinter needs your support!

Hello!

I am running the Virgin London Marathon on 22nd April 2012 for Mencap.

Please help me raise lots of money for children and adults with a learning disability so they can have a better quality of life.

You can visit my Fundraising Page on http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DaleMidwinter

Together we can make a Difference!

Thanks, Dale

Almost Athletes present Sue Ryder with £750 cheque

We managed to raise £750 for the Sue Ryder charity appeal at this year's Linda Franks race and tea and cake stall.

The money raised so far will go towards the much needed re-flooring and decorating of one of the rooms on the Kings Wing of the hospice. We will also be donating additional funds from the refreshments and raffle at our Devil's Chimney Chase race.

Almost Athletes to support Sue Ryder in 2011

http://www.suerydercare.org/

Leckhampton Court Hospice in Cheltenham provides free specialist support for people living with life-threatening illnesses in Gloucestershire. The services are available through in-patient beds, a day hospice or in people's own homes.

As the sole provider of hospice beds in the county, we care for people as in-patients, offering round the clock support to manage both physical and emotional needs. Our day hospice and hospice at home services help people live life to the full for as long as possible.

We need to raise over £1million a year, in voluntary donations, to fund these services and support the people of Gloucestershire. So why not considering running for us in a local event such as the Tewkesbury, Stroud, Bristol or Cardiff Half Marathon. Alternatively Sue Ryder has places in various national and international runs including the Reading Half Marathon, Great North Run, London 10k, Virgin London Marathon and the New York Marathon if you are looking for a place.

Take a look at how your sponsorship could help the hospice;

• £15 provides a half hour physiotherapy session for someone with multiple sclerosis to help increase their mobility
• £50 pays for a programme of bereavement sessions to help people cope with loss
• £300 covers the daily cost of caring for a patient
• £750 Pays for equipment to help someone with cancer manage their pain
• £5,500 covers the daily cost of running our hospice

To help you collect money for an event, click for Sue Ryder Sponsorship Form.

For more information about the work of the hospice or running for the hospice contact Lucy Barbour on 01242 246297 or lucy.barbour@sueryder.org

We would like to thank Almost Athletes for their fantastic support towards the work of the hospice, from all the team at Sue Ryder - Leckhampton Court Hospice.

Almost Athletes support H.A.R.P. (Help A Rwandan Person)

http://www.harpcharity.co.uk/index.html

In July 2007 Helen Perry and Paddy Walsh went to Rwanda as volunteer lecturers at KHI (Kigali Health Institute). Over a decade after the Genocide took place, the suffering was still plain to see. During the Genocide, many young girls and women became victims of HIV and AIDS which has meant thousands of children have been orphaned.

Helen and Paddy met a family of four orphans - a girl, who at 14 was the head of the family, and three boys, one of whom was HIV positive and the youngest of which was just 5 years old. They lived in a tiny hut and survived off handouts and begging. Through donations from their friends in the UK and local community assistance, Paddy and Helen  managed to get a new house built for the family, as well as providing them with a few animals and a small plot of land to help them become self-sufficient.

After helping this family, it was clear that more needed to be done. Another lecturer, Amans, helped Helen and Paddy set up a triage service to assess and prioritise cases. They continued to raise funds from friends and family via email so that they could carry on with their community work, and even since returning from Rwanda they have continued to fund raise. They are aiming to become formally registered as a charity this year, which requires £5,000 commission to pass through the books in a 12 months period. Therefore, the money they make this year is crucial.

The charity currently relies on the direct debits which have been set up by friends and family and also receives ad hoc donations.

Achievements to date include:

• Building and furnishing of a house, as well as continued support for the aforementioned orphan family
• Health insurance and school uniforms for 32 other children
• Plot of land for another family
• Temporary accommodation for a widow and 3 children who were made homeless as a result of a genocide within the family
• Support for a widow who broke her leg whilst cultivating. Money was spent on food and medical expenses for the orphans she cares for
• Medical insurance and food for an orphanage
• Opening of an old peoples' home, providing accommodation and 3 meals a day
• Purchase of a camera for a student who supports his family with money made through photography
• Micro loan for a local woman to start a cake and wine business
• Assisting a student with university living expenses
• Health, literacy and numeracy training for adults in the community
• The employment of one member of staff to help the elderly

HARP is very grateful to the Almost Athletes for the contributions which the club has made to them from proceeds from the Linda Franks Run and the Devil's Chimney Chase.

The latest donation of £250 from the Linda Franks Run 2010 was wonderful and will help with the purchase of a permanent home for the elderly. This will not only provide accommodation for more elderly people, but will be more efficient and create employment  opportunities.