Hi everyone.  Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I’ve been given an entry to run the London Marathon this year, thanks Phil!  I’ve never run that distance before, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do but have always thought it was far out of my reach and have admired anyone completing such a challenge.  Now it’s my turn.  I have been training since Christmas and I’m looking forward to joining the thousands of other runners on the 21 April 2013.

 

The charity I will be raising money for is the Chauncy Maples Malawi Trust.  Some facts below:

 

What is Chauncy Maples?  It’s a boat built in 1899!  In fact it’s a boat designed by Henry Brunel (son of the great man himself) and Sir John Barry (designer of Tower Bridge London).  Ordered in 1898, built in Glasgow, and completed in 1899.  It was dismantled, moved to Lake Malawi but the map of the parts and assembly went missing, it took a further 2 years to put back together again.  She served as a missionary school, emergency refuge ship (the Arabs were attacking at the time) and a hospital.

 

Who is Chauncy Maples?  He was a Bishop, a remarkable Anglican missionary who was ordained in Oxford, UK. In 1876 he sailed for Zanzibar where he set up clinics and schools for released slaves. Ten years later he founded the Anglican Mission on Likoma Island on Lake Malawi.  Unfortunately he died on Lake Malawi, he drowned in a capsized boat taking him to fulfil his duties as the Bishop of Nyasaland.

 

So what’s the deal?  The deal is to get the boat afloat….again!  The boat is in need of renovation and is still nearly £1 million pounds short of target.  Hopefully the boat will be ready by February 2014.

 

Why?  Well this is the main reason of course.  The boat will become Lake Malawi’s new treatment clinic with an on-board nursing team to treat diseases such as HIV / AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis, and Measles.  It will also be used for Ante-Natal and Maternity care, Dental Health, Child Immunisation and Family Planning.

 

Where’s Malawi?  Africa.  A vast part of Malawi is covered by Lake Malawi, the people who live on the shores have no roads and can only be reached by travelling by dug-out canoe, or whatever other floating vessels can be found.  These people have little or no access to medical care.

 

Malawi is one of the 10 poorest countries in the world.  The people only have a life expectancy of 50 years and the current under 5 death rate is 30 times worse than in Europe or America.  78% of the 16.3 million population are in poverty.  There is only 1 doctor in Malawi for every 52,000 people.

 

How can I help?  Sponsor me now, or just make a donation.  They’re so nearly there, just a small amount will go so far in getting this project completed and afloat. 

 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure.  Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails.  Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer.  So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thank you once again.

Stef.