By now you might be aware that for the past ten years, in my spare time, I have helped manage as Trustee and Chairman, Sense International - the only UK charity that seeks to provide a better future for probably the most disadvantaged children in the developing world: they are both deaf and blind. We are the only charity committed to this cause - if we didnt do this, then no one would ....
One of the most common causes for deaf blindness is premature birth, as links between the senses and brain are virtually the last development in the womb. Other causes include maternal rubella and "Ushers syndrome" born deaf due to a genetic disorder, but with a 40% probability of going blind at puberty - very scary .....
I don't think we can imagine what life would be like if we could not communicate or learn easily, but while still retaining all our human, emotional capabilities. To date, we have now set up over 30 programmes in India, where there are 400,000 deaf blind people as well as programmes for mothers in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Bangladesh, Peru, Brazil, Chile, Romania.
With my wife Ros and sister Angie, plus friends and colleagues, we will be trekking in the Himalayan foothills around Darjeeling, North India for six days, under canvas. A "hard" trek, we ascend various ridges and descend back to the valleys while directly in front of Everest, keeping at over 3000 metres. Back in Delhi we will visit one of our programmes and then also our new organisation in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Please sponsor Angie, Ros and I... thank you.
Jeremy
