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NEW FUTURES NEPAL CHARITY GOLF  EVENT  2009 

New Futures Nepal and The Street Children of Nepal Trust, co-hosted our first ever Charity Golf Tournament at The Kendleshire Golf Club, near Bristol on the 1st October 2009. It was a complete success raising £5,670 for the charities. The weather superb, dry, sunny and warm.  15 corporate and private teams who took part.  It was a truly International tournament, with players from Trinidad, Zimbabwe, Sweden, Scotland, Wales, England and the USA (A team of farmers from Somerset, claimed they were from the ‘Udder side of Avonmouth’ a local yoke no doubt. (That is a terrible pun).

‘First class event, thank you for making the day such fun – make sure you book the weather again next year’ – Rob Ormond’

‘Many Thanks for a great day at the Kendleshire - Kind regards’ - Rosie Brown

The Day      

The day commenced with bacon rolls and coffee on arrival (yummy). The club professional Paul Barrington, gave a hilarious 40 minute demonstration of what you can do with a small ball and various golf clubs. There followed an 18 hole tournament,  In the evening there was a prize giving dinner for the 60 players and 16 guests and an auction of some really fantastic items donated by various businesses, such as a balloon flight.

‘Well done for a well organised golf day. I trust you made lots of money for the worthwhile cause,  thank you for the hard work’ - kind regards Derek Maltby
                                                                                                                                                 
Andrew Small and myself would like to thank the many people and organisations for supporting us and helping us to stage this event. Special thanks to Mike Carter and Dave Hawkes of the Street Children of Nepal Trust,  Pat Murphy of Kendleshire Golf Club who‘s team just made it happen, Altaroute Limited who made and donated the signage for the day. We would also like to thank the many businesses who donated items for the auction or sponsored the course holes. We would also like to thank the players and the teams for entering and supporting the event and making it so much fun.

‘Well done for a fantastic, professional and fun day. I hope you raised a significant amount of money for the worthwhile causes’.  Paul Kirk

Paul  Crook    Trustee    - October 2009
                                                                                                                        

 Nepali Fundraising Evening

Wow, what a night. Helen and I would like to thank all those who attended our fourth Nepali fundraising evening at the Kathmandu Nepalese Restaurant on Sunday 26^th April 2009, by kind courtesy of the owner Ashok Kumar and his family. (Stephen, apologies if the congregation was a little depleted. It felt that half of Zion was with us!).

This sum is being used to purchase and install a Solar Lighting system for the Hope Centre in Kathmandu. For some time there have been prolonged power cuts and power shortages in the country, currently 16 hours per day. We would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Nigel Drew for his advice and help on solar lighting systems. 

We are also very excited and wait with eager anticipation to learn of Nirmala and Anita’s School Leaving Certificate results in June. Nirmala and Anita are now young women and are the first two from either home to complete their school education. They both hope to start college in the autumn to train in their chosen vocations. They will be moving from the Hope Centre to a small rented apartment, just outside the Hope Centre to start integrating them fully to adult life. They will continue to receive some financial support and guidance from Tilak, Ram and the other adults at the Hope Centre and will be encouraged to remain in contact with the Hope Centre. 

 The other good news is that after applying to the British Medical Association (BMA) Helen has secured a grant to undertake some specific health work at the Hope Centre and Hornbeam house for 2 and a half weeks in April 2010. 

 The Royal Bank of Scotland Groups  - Chairman's Awards to Community Excellence  Individual Volunteer Award

 In 2007 our treasurer Paul Crook was nominated by Coutts & co for the annual Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Chairman's Award for Community Excellence. This award is open to staff in the group who do community or charity work in their spare time. Paul was required to submit a 1,000 word application setting out what New Futures Nepal is about and of his own involvement in the charity.

As a result of his application, New Futures Nepal was short listed and Paul was invited to attend a Gala Awards Dinner and Ceremony in Edinburgh in January. This was a considerable achievement in itself as there were thousands of entries from across the Group's businesses in the UK and overseas.

There was even better news to come. At the ceremony Paul received the prestigious runner up prize, comprising a generous cheque to the charity and valuable publicity for New Futures Nepal. 

Marathon Man 

In 2007 Trustee Charles Barton ran this year's London Marathon in aid of New Futures Nepal. Here's his account of a gruelling but exhilarating day.

21st April early ...today's the day...get up after a sleepless night and off to the start...tube train packed with more mad people like me ..a sardine tin of tense, pre-occupied competitors and their cheery supporters, in my case - wife Anne, children Claire and Tim, niece and nephew Jane and Kevin plus big sister (10 years on me at 70). They have my knee supports, meal bars, tablets, protective head gear against harmful sun rays and a big banner so I can't miss them on route...think nervously of all those who sponsored me...and the children and their carers in Kathmandu...too late now to admit my training was actually with a very small 'T' 

READY...An ambulance flashes by on an emergency call and we haven't even reached the start. How do I look ? ...thought my track suit bottoms might be too hot so borrowed a pair of Anne's three quarter length trousers...slightly big on the bum and tight in the front but worn the other way round, just perfect... 

GO....We're off..shuffle along..slow jog..sweat building already...manage a smile as Elvis passes...half a gorilla whizzes by on the inside...then Scoobydoo...an ostrich...some men in ballet skirts...Barely done the first mile and already runners are queuing for the loo...continuous throng of backs and behinds...see a runner with Anne printed on her teeshirt...good omen...use her as my pace maker...no, can't keep up...out of sight already... bodies prostrate themselves next to the ambulance...TEN MILES...shuffle along...keep going...just keep going...but the  music - rock, jazz, blues, Caribbean - great...FIFTEEN MILES...slow running now, but still going forward...TWENTY MILES..where's my support team? where's my banner, emergency food and knee supports? Will I see anyone I know ever again ?...THE HOME STRAIGHT ... a mile to go..keep going..don't give up now...I cross the line, the running chip is cut off my shoe, a medal hung round my neck...I collect my goody bag and I stagger off looking for someone to give me a hug ... I MADE IT!!!

 Would I do it again? Was it worth it? Absolutely. Like thousands of others I did it for a cause and one that is very close and personal to me, in knowing every child and carer. Thank you to everyone who helped me raise over £2000 for New Futures Nepal.  

 Fundraising Event: Three Peaks Challenge 2007

Helen and Paul Crook organised a sponsored three peaks challenge at the end of June 2007. They had a team of 10 walkers and a 2 or 3 strong support crew/drivers, all raising money for New Futures Nepal whilst having fun and achieving a recognised challenge at the same time. 

The aim of the team was to complete the challenge within 24hrs from 4pm 29th June to 4pm 30th June. The challenge was not only to scale Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon but to drive between the 3 peaks within the time limit of 24 hours.

 Did they achieve their aim, their challenge, indeed they did. Again trustees and supporters putting personal challenges in life to good use and in this case raising vital funds for New Futures Nepal.   Amazing and thankyou.