Fwd: CHARITY BASH AT THE B-BAR

-----Original Message-----
From: dwdebs <dwdebs@aol.com>
To: neilshaw.gambia <neilshaw.gambia@blogger.com>
Sent: Mon, 7 Nov 2011 23:51
Subject: CHARITY BASH AT THE B-BAR

Join us on 24th November for our Charity Bash at the B-Bar on Plymouth's historic Barbican.  This fundraising evening starts at 7.30pm and will be an opportunity for anyone who follows the work of Gambian Projects to find out what we have been doing this year and to help raise some funds for our next projects.  We have the fantastic band Paisley Strays entertaining us, delicious food available to order from the Thai Noodle Bar, a raffle with lots of great prizes and an auction too.  There will also be a chance to buy Christmas pressies and stocking fillers and a chance to make a difference by sponsoring a Gambian child to go to school. Tickets are just £5 available from me on 07596 249987.  Please get in touch if you would like to help in any way.  I look forward to hearing from you, Debbie x

A Message from Deborah Williams - can you help?

I'm helping Gambian Projects at Gambia Link to raise money whenever I shop online - could you do the same?

It's very simple - just visit http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/gambianprojectsatgambialink/ to register and shop with over 2000 well known retailers like Amazon, Argos, M&S, eBay and many more. Whenever I buy something, the retailer makes a donation to Gambian Projects at Gambia Link. They've helped other causes raise over £2,000,000 so it really does work.

I'd be really grateful if you could use easyfundraising too. It won't cost you a penny extra to shop through easyfundraising and you can even save money with special offers and voucher codes.

Plus, if you register before 31st October 2011 you'll automatically receive one entry into a FREE PRIZE DRAW to win an £400 to spend with Homebase.

So please make a difference to Gambian Projects at Gambia Link and take a look at easyfundraising today - http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/gambianprojectsatgambialink/

Thanks

CHARITY BASH AT THE B BAR, THE BARBICAN

 

Kind hosts, Dan and Colin of the B-Bar on the Barbican, Plymouth have donated the use of their lovely venue for a charity bash on 24th November commencing at 7.30pm.  The Paisley Strays will be entertaining us with their 60's style music and the evening will be compered by vivacious Mama Tokus.  We'd like to say a huge thank you to the band and to Mama for giving their time and energy for our cause.  The B-Bar is a great venue and has the wonderful Thai Noodle Bar with a delicious menu to choose from.  We will be holding a raffle and auction to raise funds for Gambian Projects, which is now a registered charity, having merged with Gambia Link earlier in the year.  Tickets are just £5 available from Debbie Williams, Barry Ewart, the B-Bar or the guys in the band. 

 

I'm also celebrating (if that is the right word to use!) my 50th birthday that week so please come along and join us and help us raise some funds to continue our work.  On the night I will be giving an insight into what we have done so far this year and there will be a chance to sponsor individual children for just £2 per month.

 

I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and thoughtfulness of people I meet, thank you to everyone who helps in any way, even a small contribution whether it is time, energy or money makes a huge difference in The Gambia.  For further details visit our website at www.gambianprojects.com or visit our facebook page "Gambian Projects".  My number is 07596 249987 and email is dwdebs@aol.com

A Message from Deborah Williams - can you help?

I'm helping Gambian Projects at Gambia Link to raise money whenever I shop online - could you do the same?

It's very simple - just visit http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/gambianprojectsatgambialink/ to register and shop with over 2000 well known retailers like Amazon, Argos, M&S, eBay and many more. Whenever I buy something, the retailer makes a donation to Gambian Projects at Gambia Link. They've helped other causes raise over £2,000,000 so it really does work.

I'd be really grateful if you could use easyfundraising too. It won't cost you a penny extra to shop through easyfundraising and you can even save money with special offers and voucher codes.

Plus, if you register before 31st October 2011 you'll automatically receive one entry into a FREE PRIZE DRAW to win an £400 to spend with Homebase.

So please make a difference to Gambian Projects at Gambia Link and take a look at easyfundraising today - http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/gambianprojectsatgambialink/

Thanks

Home Improvements

 

Started in June and finished in July and despite the frequent heavy downpours of rain and the problems with getting out of the village on flooded, muddy roads to get hold of building materials, we managed to construct and furnish a comfortable house to accommodate volunteers and visitors.  This useful and practical addition to our projects was made possible by a generous donation of £5000 from The White Family of Exeter who donated the money in memory of their son Nick.  Our first volunteer teacher, Holley Najera is pictured here inside the new hut.  The second part of the building project to complete an extension to the school is nearly finished and will provide an extra room for educational activities or accommodation if needed.  Also pictured is one of our pupils, Sally Njie, who enjoyed helping to whitewash the walls.

Fwd: Guest Blogger Holley Najera

-----Original Message-----
From: dwdebs <dwdebs@aol.com>
To: neiljshaw <neiljshaw@blogger.com>
Sent: Wed, Jul 27, 2011 12:12 pm
Subject: Guest Blogger Holley Najera

I'd like to introduce Holley Najera from Buckinghamshire, UK, who is volunteering with us for 2 months.  She'd like to offer an insight into her experiences over her first two weeks in The Gambia.

"I'm here alive and kicking, currently not in the mud hut obviously because there is no electricity there. I have been here literally just over two weeks and I can safely say that I've had more experiences within that time then I have had in my entire life. When I booked my ticket with 'Gambia Experience' let me say now I was not expecting to have so many! I've really seen it all first hand, from the poverty, love and friendliness of the village in which I'm staying to the grandness and luxuries of the 5* resorts. Coming off the plane and being greeted by Debbie and 3 vip kids from the school made me lose all of the inhibitions which I gained over the 5 hour flight. Jumping in what I'd describe as a 'safari barbie' white jeep and on the road, we then headed to Madiana. Heading to the village where I'd be living for the next 2 months, I felt like I was with the queen, little herds of kids ran from all directions of the car shouting 'Debbie Debbie' made me think how hard life must be for a famous actor attentding a premiere. Arriving at a mud hut in the middle of the african 'bush' with no expectations, mainly because of the little time I had to think about what I was going to do between finishing my PGCE and jumping on a plane to Africa which looking back now I think is the best way and potentially only way because honestly I may not have done it otherwise.
The change from using a hair dryer, ghds, make up and fake tan on a daily basis with either my phone in one hand or lappy to no electricity and having packed no make up, showering under a mango tree and the local toy being a long drop you'd imagine to be quite hard but for me it was almost natural but then again my pals always said I was a dirt queen, the proof is in the pudding that's all I'm saying. I could write an essay and have as my diary is full to the brim but my highlights have to be firstly a boy's life being saved. in fact probably a highlight of my lifetime, and going into the underground abode of an African marabout (who is known to mutate into a snake)  whilst a wedding was happening - need I say more that was a trip in itself without any substance involved."

 

Holley just finished her PGCE at Plymouth's Marjohn and decided to get a bit of life experience before she commences her career.  She has thrown herself into local life 100% and the children appreciate her lively, positive, approach.  She is facing up to unexpected situations and experiences with braveness and tolerance and will teach the children here a lot while picking up useful life-skills herself; all in all her stay here will be life-changing and we are really grateful to her for choosing to come out to The Gambia to share her skills with us.  We hope you have a great stay, Holley,  and take back lots of wonderful memories and experiences to recount to others back in the comfort of the UK.

 

Until next time

 

Debbie, July 2011

GAMBIAN PROJECTS FUN DAY

The wonderful Barry Ewart has put together a great fundraising event for Gambian Projects at the Queens Arms, Tamerton Foliot on Sunday 17th July from 2pm to 6pm. At the same time we are having an end of term party for our Gambian children and hope to link up by phone so sponsors can chat to their sponsored children and hear them sing a couple of songs.  On Tuesday we welcome our volunteer, Holly Navara, a qualified teacher who is coming out to help us for a few months, can't wait to show her the Gambia!

Until next time, peace and love to all!

Debbie

WHERE DID MAY GO?

I asked the guy at the internet the date today and got a real shock, I have lost a fortnight!  Living in the African bush, cut off from tv and being bombarded by constant bad news of war and worldwide atrocities has its advantages but to think I have lost a fortnight I never knew had passed was an eye-opener, I think I need a calendar!  I have to admit, I have been a little busy, since the container arrived and I set up the new playscheme, I have been inundated with children, babies to teenagers, coming to try out the new equipment. 

 

I have two 11 year old girls staying with me at present while Modou is up country in his home village of Kerewan Samba Sira.  I am teaching them to read, as despite having been at their school for four years they haven't been taught how to read, another shocker eh!  My attempts to improve literacy are working I have to say, these kids are bright and have so much enthusiasm for learning, it is a real pleasure to be helping them achieve their aims.  They are already reading simple, short books to the younger kids, already passing on their recent knowledge to help the little ones.  It's the only way it will work, if they also help themselves and I have to say, I am impressed with their tenacity and patience.  Wish I had a little more of it, by 9pm when they are still in full-swing, I am shattered and tend to dive under my mosquito net by then.  So where did my missing fortnight go?  I think I must have slept a lot of it away!  Till next time, Debbie x

=

Visit to Monkey Park

Last Saturday I took a small group of children, Malang, Sally, Efo, Kuta and Maryama for a day out. As my car has been off the road, we travelled by local transport and went to Bijilo Forest Park (Monkey Park) where the children got up close and personal with two types of monkeys, saw lots of gorgeous birds, watched an artist at work and enjoyed climbing the trees in the forest.  We then went to the beach for a swim followed by a meal at a local restaurant called Milly's where you can eat for just under £1!  We then visited the Senegambia Craft Market where the children watched the artists and carvers at work. We finished off our jam-packed day with a visit to Tanji fishing village to buy fish for dinner.  A great day was had by all and it cost less than a tenner for all of us, including transportation, meal, drinks and snacks.  The Smiling Coast of The Gambia awaits!!

Heading Home

 

My last blog had me feeling the strong pull of Africa and trying hard not to go online and book a flight back to The Gambia. When my Dad gave me his blessing and told me from his hospital bed to "get back to your husband and the children and get on with your work" I didn't have to fight the urge any longer and when a single flight came up with Thomas Cook for just £89, I booked it.  A couple of clicks, an e-ticket and I'm winging my way back to the sun and smiles on 4^th April. It is personally very hard to leave my Dad so poorly but I know he wants me to get on with what I do best. I've worked hard over the past few months; teaching English at a local language school, doing Body Shop parties and holding fundraising events to raise enough money to send a container of useful items back to The Gambia.  Every day I've collected donated items from many individuals and organisations who have been amazingly supportive towards our aims. I've met many kind and helpful people and several times I have shed a tear or two when someone has done something extraordinarily kind, surprised me or given up something of great sentimental value to them in order to pass it on to someone less fortunate in The Gambia. My 9 year old nephew, Owen and nieces, Paris and Vienna, have helped me pack boxes and load the storage units, giving up hours of their time each week, cheerfully talking about how all the wonderful items, toys, clothes, books and games will help the chidren in The Gambia.  I will miss them and the rest of my family terribly, my lifelong and new friends more than I can describe, but I have to say that that is the only real downside of living in a different culture. Whilst definitely dreading leaving my family and friends,  I am looking forward to saying goodbye to sleeping on a sofa and being back in my own bed with my mosquito net around me, even though I have to shake the sheets every night before getting into bed to check for creepy crawlies!

 

The photos show my shower and my mud hut.  The extra plastic sheeting on the grass roof was kindly donated by Edina Worthington of Adfab Advertising and Print who kindly gave us lots of heavy duty advertising banners which certainly help keep us drier in the rainy season, which is fast approaching!

 

I'll be happy taking a bucket shower under my mango tree and cooking rice in a big pot over a wood fire knowing that soon the container from England will arrive containing a gas oven donated by a world famous celebrity who wishes to remain anonymous but who has heard about our work and wants to make it easier for us to provide school lunch for our kids.  Along with all the cooking pots, utensils, plates and cutlery we have had donated, the oven will be a really useful addition to our makeshift kitchen.  I'm taking back recipes for mango chutneys and jams, orange, lime and lemon marmalades etc.  I will teach the women in the village how to make these items (when I have mastered them myself; I can't say I'm known for my culinary skills, having done Latin at school while all my friends did Needlework and Cookery, hence they can cook and sew and I can't!!)  Abundant fruit will then be able to be kept for longer and won't go to waste.  I'll update you with our progress with this project. Maybe someone in the village will be the next inventor of the fruit version of something like the highly successful Reggae Reggae sauce!!

 

We've set up a committee who will continue to work hard while I am in The Gambia; organising child sponsorship, fundraising events and keeping the fire burning so to speak.  We have published our constitution and I'd like to share our four main aims with you:

 

v     The support of educational projects in The Gambia to encourage improved literacy and numeracy among people of all ages

v     The support of children and their families in The Gambia to help alleviate poverty and give practical support to families in need

v     The support of health projects in The Gambia to improve health care, particularly in rural areas

v     The development of links between Gambian and UK schools to support educational opportunities in both locations

 

So, together we've set the wheels in motion.  It has been a stressful, demanding few months.  I am returning to a country where life is hard, much harder than here but to a place where I experience a happiness that I have never felt before.  The sense of personal fulfilment I get from teaching and nurturing these amazing Gambian children far surpasses any salary and working conditions I have ever experienced here in England. I live a very simple life, I go hungry, I get bitten by nasty insects, I sometimes feel very alone and I often cry but I feel lucky.  I guess it is because what I am trying to do to help them is totally and visibly appreciated by all of them. Quite simply, I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to actually be able to do something which makes a difference to so many lives.  Thank you for reading my blog, I hope that it will give some of you the inspiration to do something life-changing to help others or even to look at improving your own life and happiness.  With love and best wishes until next time.

Debbie Williams, March 2011

Oh my goodness!

 

Why do so many things seem to go wrong at once?  Today, the little white van that Trevor Anderson lends me to rattle about in, collecting all the donations for the container, conked out (again!!). Rescued from a particularly inconvenient place where it seems to like stopping, it was towed off for a well-earned rest and I returned home to console myself with a packet of Starburst.  An almighty crunch later (Starburst are not by nature crunchy!!), I spat out a mouthful of multi-coloured chews containing my gold crown and quite a significant part of a tooth. Having given away all my worldly goods, even my sole claim to having once been financially stable enough to invest in a gold crown has now disappeared!  Now looking like something fallen from a broomstick at Halloween, I think I may instil fear into the children at Combe Pafford school where I am due to talk tomorrow morning! Children, I apologise in advance, I do not normally ressemble a character from a Roald Dahl book and I promise I will try not to cackle. 

 

In the afternoon I am judging a primary school Ready, Steady, Cook competition and the dark side of my nature is toying with the idea of pretending to lose the tooth in the middle of the food-tasting, highly dramatic but maybe a bit mean!!  Now if they were secondary pupils ………..!!

 

I have to let you know that I am missing The Gambia, the people, the children and the sun so so much.  It is great to be here in Plymouth among family and friends and to be able to raid a fridge, eat fastfood and have a choice of snacks and drinks etc, but I so miss my simple, down-to-earth life in Africa.  I feel a bit like an alien here (actually probably look a bit like one now with the missing tooth!) and no longer feel that England is my home, a strange situation to be in.  I am hoping my Dad (who has been in Derriford for many weeks) will make a speedy recovery so I can get back to where I should be, doing what I should be doing, instead of comfort eating children's sweets to cheer myself up. 

 

Special thanks to my dear friend Catherine this week for giving me a bottle of Kalms and several doses of Bachs Rescue Remedy.  When close friends are taking steps like that, maybe it's time to go online and look at flights back to The Gambia!!  Okay, I admit it, life here is stressful, I am stressed and I want to go home!!!!!!

 

GAMBIAN PROJECTS FUNDRAISING EVENING

OUR FUNDRAISING EVENT AT THE B BAR ON PLYMOUTH'S BARBICAN RAISED A
WHOPPING £1449, SO WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY TO BEING ABLE TO SEND OUR
CONTAINER OUT TO THE GAMBIA. THE EVENING WAS THE RESULT OF A LOT OF
HARD WORK BY MANY INDIVIDUALS. BARRY EWART SET UP THE EVENT, SO
SPECIAL THANKS TO HIM FOR ALL HIS EFFORTS. DAN, COLIN AND KATIE AT THE
B-BAR (WWW.B-BAR.CO.UK) WERE BRILLIANT HOSTS AND WE WERE ENTERTAINED BY
THE TALENTED WILL MCNICOL, BENNY (GUITAR) CARR AND THE HOT RATS AND
ELVIS PRESLEY (ALIAS DUNCAN HIGHET). CATHERINE AND TIM HAMLYN AND TINA
BRECKONS WORKED HARD ALL EVENING SQUEEZING MONEY OUT OF EVERY WALLET
AND PURSE, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED AND SUPPORTED THIS
IMPORTANT FUNDRAISING EVENT. CHECK OUT WWW.GAMBIANPROJECTS.COM FOR A
FULL LIST OF THE COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO GENEROUSLY DONATED
FABULOUS RAFFLE AND AUCTION PRIZES TO HELP US RAISE THIS SIGNIFICANT
SUM. RACHEL TAYLOR WORKED VERY HARD RUNNING ABOUT COLLECTING PRIZES
AND DONATIONS, REALLY PROUD OF YOU!!

A SPECIAL MENTION MUST GO TO SIOBHAN LAVERY AND HER DAUGHTER SHANNON
WHO TREKKED FROM KINGSKERSWELL TO PAIGNTON AND BACK RAISING £340, WELL
DONE LADIES!!

I WAS INVITED ONTO BBC RADIO DEVON EARLY ON SUNDAY MORNING TO REVIEW
THE NEWSPAPERS AND CHAT ABOUT GAMBIAN PROJECTS, THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE
EXPERIENCE, MANY THANKS TO BELINDA AND DAN FOR THEIR KIND HOSPITALITY.
YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE PROGRAMME ON BBC IPLAYER, HOPE YOU ENJOY IT.

UNTIL NEXT TIME

DEBBIE

FUNDRAISE COUNTDOWN!

WE'RE NOW ON THE COUNTDOWN TO OUR FUNDRAISING EVENT NEXT WEEK AT THE
B-BAR ON THE BARBICAN. CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS OF THEIR
GREAT ENTERTAINMENT AND DELICIOUS THAI NOODLE BAR WWW.B-BAR.CO.UK.
HUGE THANKS TO DAN THOMPSON AND COLIN FOSTER FOR HOSTING THE EVENT ON
24TH FEB AT 8PM AND ALSO TO THE LOVELY MAMA TOKUS WHO WILL BE COMPERING
IN HER USUAL WITTY, WHACKY WAY

A SPECIAL THANKS GOES TO BARRY EWART WHO CAME UP WITH THE IDEA, PRINTED
THE TICKETS AND IS GENERALLY A JOLLY NICE CHAP!

WE'VE RECENTLY SET UP A COMMITTEE TO HELP ME WITH MY WORK IN THE GAMBIA
AND I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT WE NOW HAVE THE FOLLOWING LOVELY PEOPLE
ON BOARD:

CATHERINE HAMLYN, CHAIR
TIM HAMLYN, VICE CHAIR
TINA BRECKONS, TREASURER
SIAN LANE, SECRETARY
LUCY BLAKE, PRESS AND PUBLICITY OFFICER
JAYNE MADDOCKS, SPONSORSHIP OFFICER
JOHN SCOTT, SPORTS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
DEBBIE WILLIAMS, PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICER

SARAH PRESTIGE AND BARRY EWART HAVE ALSO JOINED US AND HAVE ALREADY
BEEN MAKING VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR PROGRESS WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY
NOW BE STRONGER AND QUICKER WITH SUCH A WILLING AND ABLE TEAM. I'D
LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS AGREED TO GET
PERSONALLY INVOLVED WITH SUPPORTING GAMBIAN PROJECTS AND WOULD LIKE TO
SAY A SPECIAL THANKS TO TREVOR ANDERSON WHOSE UNSTINTING SUPPORT HAS
BEEN INVALUABLE OVER THE YEARS.

SO, BACK TO THE FUN! OUR FUNDRAISER ON 24TH WILL HAVE THE TALENTED
WILL MCNICOL ENTERTAINING US ON HIS GUITAR, ALONG WITH BENNY (GUITAR)
CARR AND THE HOT RATS. WE HAVE LOTS OF SUPERB RAFFLE AND AUCTION
PRIZES SO HOPE TO RAISE LOTS OF MONEY TOWARDS SENDING OUR CONTAINER
OUT, FULL OF MUCH NEEDED RESOURCES.

ANYONE WANTING TO BUY RAFFLE TICKETS WHO CAN'T MAKE IT ON THE NIGHT IS
WELCOME TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME ON 07596 249987 TO BUY THEM. PRIZES
INCLUDE A BRITTANY FERRIES RETURN TICKET TO FRANCE OR SPAIN FOR FOUR
PEOPLE WITH A CAR AND ON BOARD CABINS BOTH WAYS, THANK YOU BRITTANY
FERRIES!! THANKS TOO TO THE ASTOR HOTEL, NU-YU, WISPY STYLER, THE
ASSOCIATES, ENVY HAIR SALON, AND GRACIOUS ME FOR HAIR-DO'S, MASSAGES,
FACIALS, NAILS AND TANNING. SOMEONE'S GOING TO BE VERY BEAUTIFUL AFTER
YOU'VE FINISHED WITH THEM! KEEP FIT ENTHUSIASTS CAN WIN GYM
MEMBERSHIPS AT MCCAULEY'S AND BODY LINE GYMS; WE HAVE FAMILY TICKETS
FOR CREALY ADVENTURE PARK AND THE EDEN PROJECT AND TICKETS FOR BOWLING
AND THE PAVILIONS AS WELL AS VOUCHERS FOR TATTOOS AND CAR VALETING. WE
HAVE HAD MANY SMALLER PRIZES DONATED BY LOVELY INDIVIDUALS ALL TRYING
TO HELP US ACHIEVE OUR AIMS; THANKS TO SHIRLEY, ALISON, DOT, SYLVIA AND
BARBARA, YOUR DONATIONS ARE ALL GRATEFULLY RECEIVED. I'D LIKE TO SAY A
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO YVETTE PRESTON AND ROSE CHALK OF BODY SHOP AT HOME
FOR THEIR SUPPORT TOO, WE HAVE £150 OF WONDERFUL PAMPERING PRODUCTS
FROM THIS AMAZING COMPANY. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING ANITA RODDICK
AND SHE MADE A GREAT IMPRESSION ON ME (AS SHE DID ON ANYONE SHE MET
PERSONALLY). I WAS SO SAD WHEN SHE DIED BUT HER LEGACY LIVES ON IN
THE BODY SHOP AND ITS ETHICAL APPROACH TO BEAUTY, FAIR TRADE AND HUMAN
RIGHTS.

ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HAVING FREE BODY SHOP
PRODUCTS OR GETTNG A JOB WITH BODY SHOP AT HOME IS WELCOME TO GIVE ME A
RING ON 07596 249987. THERE ARE SOME AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
FOR ANYONE WANTING A JOB WITH HOURS TO SUIT THEM AND A GOOD INCOME.

SO, TIME FOR BED AND A LITTLE REST BEFORE I START ANOTHER BUSY DAY
TOMORROW. THE VAN IS FULL OF DONATED ITEMS AND I AM OFF TO THE STORE
IN THE MORNING TO UNLOAD BEFORE CROSSING THE TAMAR TO BURRATON SCHOOL
IN SALTASH TO COLLECT MORE ITEMS, KEEP THEM COMING, I'VE STILL GOT A
LITTLE ENERGY LEFT!!

GAMBIAN PROJECTS FUNDRAISING NIGHT

Wow!

My faith in human nature is soaring after the events of the past couple
of weeks. To help raise money to send out a container of useful items
to The Gambia, our fundraising night at the B Bar on 24th Feb includes
a raffle and auction. I've been emailing and knocking on various doors
to request prize donations and have been overwhelmed as only one place
said no (will not mention them!!), every single one of the following
wonderful organisations have donated an amazing prize to help us in our
quest. I have to say a special thank you to Rachel Taylor, an
energetic whirlwind who has zipped around Plymouth collecting prizes
too, totally amazing! Thank you to the following and apologies to
anyone not listed yet, there will be a roll of honour on the night!!
Brittany Ferries have offered a return ferry crossing from Plymouth to
Roscoff or Santander for four passengers and a car including a four
berth cabin each way, The Body Shop at Home have donated £150 of fab
products, The Barbican Kitchen a voucher to dine! Anyone needing to
beautify themselves can buy raffle tickets for fabulous hair-do's, nail
treatments, facials and massages or sun tanning, care of The
Associates, Gracious Me, Nu Yu and Wispy Styler. The Eden Project and
Crealy Adventure Park have given family tickets and Superbowl and the
Pavilions have also made us proud! With gym memberships for McCauleys
and Body Lines up for grabs along with a £100 tatoo and car valeting,
we have loads of great prizes to offer our winners. So, where can you
buy your tickets? Get in touch with Debbie on 07596 249987 or
Catherine on 700579 and be in with a chance of winning one of the great
prizes mentioned or keep updated on here for additional prizes not yet
mentioned!! Tickets for the event still available (only a few left!)
at just £5. Thanks to the B Bar, Katie Thompson, Will McNicol and Benny
Carr and the Hot Rats for all their kindness too, it's going to be a
great night!

On 24th February, we are holding a fundraising evening at the B Bar on
Plymouth Barbican from 8pm. Kind hosts Dan Thompson and Colin Foster
have loaned us the venue for the night and we have the talented Will
McNicol on guitar and lively band Benny "Guitar" Carr and the Hot Rats
and funky Mama Tokus MCing for the night. With a raffle and charity
auction and tickets at only £5 we're in for a great night. We are
raising funds to send a container of donated items over to the Gambia
to help improve the lives of many more of the children there. We need
your support so if you would like to buy a ticket or raffle tickets or
donate a raffle or auction prize then get in touch with Debbie today on
07596 249987. All donations will be acknowledged and we will promote
any businesses or services that help us in our efforts.

Gambian Projects Fundraising Night