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October 2011

  Website Report from Region 2
  Derek & Lynda Donaldson


The past year has been a particularly exciting time for us here in the North West. With great trepidation we took part in the Container Challenge.  As if filling one massive container wasn’t enough we somehow became involved in filling two, one based in Wigton in Cumbria and for use in the homeless village, the other at Inskip in Lancashire, a refrigerated container for use at the farm at Aparsel.  Both containers were generously donated by our friends and supporters Alan and Adeline Fearon and we are deeply grateful to them.

It was a daunting task but the items from the Wish List kept coming in from friends far and wide.  It was amazing to watch as the storerooms filled up before we were ready to load.  Numerous trips by car and van were made to the containers but soon we managed to fill them up.  

A number of fundraising events were held to help pay to transport the containers to Romania and
it was a great thrill to see them leave and then hear of their safe arrival only a few days later.  (See photo gallery below) The container at the farm is now being put to great use and the other container is awaiting conversion into a home.  We need to raise more funds to complete the task so if you can help please do get in touch.


Many people helped by donating goods and money to the cause and we are so grateful to all of you.  Many had never heard of The Smiles Foundation before so this was a great way to spread the message.  We would also however like to express our sincere thanks to Richard Corrie at BBC Radio Cumbria for allowing us to tell all of his listeners on his Sunday Morning Breakfast Show all about the challenge, on more than one occasion!

Those of you with small children in your family will no doubt have heard of Peppa Pig.  Well since the end of January, Lynda has been dressing up in a Peppa Pig lookalike costume and has attended children’s parties, a nursery graduation, opened a rooftop garden, took part at a charity event in Ponden Home store and attended other events raising funds for Smiles.  Peppa also took part in a sponsored scooter ride around a local park.  

To date £1277 has been raised by way of donations (we do not make a charge) from families using Peppa.
Smiles literature is handed out at all these events again getting word out to others who may
never have heard of us previously.  You will see from the photo’s that the costume is quite big and is very, very hot inside!  
Lynda states that it is better than a good workout at the gym and is desperate to get Derek to join her in another costume!  mmm!

Mission trips are a great way to see everything that is going on in Romania for yourselves and a number of people have visited from our region this past year.  The most recent by a group from Kendal.  Please read
Vic Brown
s report to see just what they experienced.


Speaking of mission trips, as a Region we are hoping to visit as a group together from 5th - 12th May 2012.  We have reserved a number of places at the mission centre for that week and it would be great to have you join us. Please do get in touch either with ourselves or the office in Leeds if you would like more information about joining us in May.

You will have read in previous reports from Ireland about their fantastic fundraising event held just a short while ago when they climbed Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak.  It sounds like it was a fantastic trip and an amazing experience for all who took part.  One friend from Cumbria, Karl Galdins was part of that trip and we are so pleased that he was able to be part of such a great team.

Another of our supporters here in Cumbria, Ian Caddle was due to travel with the group to take part in the climb.  Unfortunately only a few weeks before departure Ian discovered that he had a benign brain tumour which obviously needed to be removed as quickly as possible.  Ian was therefore in hospital as the team were out in Africa and he missed the chance to take part.  We are thrilled to say however that Ian is now well on the road to recovery, although not quite ready to challenge Kili just yet!  We know that a great many friends both here in the UK and over in Romania prayed diligently for Ian as he underwent his operation and started his recovery.  On behalf of Ian, can I thank you all for all the care, support and encouragement he received as a result.

As you can imagine Ian was extremely disappointed to miss out on the trip, and miss out on raising funds for The Smiles Foundation.  However he has many good friends and a number of them are to hold a
fundraising cycle challenge around the Lake District passes on Friday 23rd September.  Ian’s nickname is Stan and they have called it the Stan the Man Challenge.  It looks absolutely gruelling.  Many thanks to everyone taking part.  If you would like to sponsor those undertaking the challenge please go to http://www.justgiving.com/stanthemanchallenge

We have been able to attend a number of different groups and events over the year, including the Fylde Convention in August, telling others about our involvement with Smiles.  We are so grateful to all of those involved and for the donations they have generously given.  No matter how great or how small this is, can we reassure you that every single penny goes to help those who need it most in Romania.  If you are reading this and would like someone from Smiles to come and speak to your group then please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Derek & Lynda Donaldson
Development Associate for Region 2 - North West

derekandlynda@thesmilesfoundation.org

Region 2: Cumbria, Lancashire, Gtr. Manchester, Merseyside & Cheshire


Container Photo Gallery

Departure day at Wigton 8th July Gently does it!


A tight squeeze! Its a delicate operation!
Getting there! Bye, bye England, see you in Romania!
Arrival at Cihei 13th July How did they get it in there?!


Watch that fence... Watch my head..


Just need the volunteers to unload it now!

Previous DA Reports
September 2011 - Scotland
August 2011 - Ireland

July 2011 - South East of England
June 2011 - Wales
May 2011 - South East England, Region 4
April 2011 - North East, Region 1
March 2011 - North Midlands, Region 3
February 2011 - The South West

January 2011

December 2010 ;
Scotland, November 2010 ; Wales, October 2010
Northern Ireland, September 2010 ; North East, August 2010
South East, July 2010 ; Southern Counties, June 2010
North West, May 2010; North Midlands, March 2010
Scotland, February 2010 ; South East Counties, January 2010

Southern Counties, December 09 ; North East, November 09
South West, October 09 ; Northern Ireland, September 09

 

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    Page last updated on 01/10/2011 10:56:41 AM
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