Welcome To My Page!

 On the 26th of February 2010 i am embarking, on what I believe is a fantastic opportunity as a volunteer coach with Cricket Without Boundaries (CWB) with seven other colleagues for 17 days. CWB are a charity who are dedicated to helping, educating and developing local communities in underprivileged African communities, through the spread and power of cricket. Its also about the personal empowerment for both children and adults, who CWB help to develop through teaching them personal skills ranging from basic teamwork skills to self discipline and leadership.

 I am going out as a coach, which will involve coaching people of all ages from children to adults, as well as tutoring adults how to coach cricket, linking the sport to HIV/Aids awareness in the coaching sessions, and bringing together local communities through our sessions and messages. The link between cricket and HIV/Aids isn't an obvious thing to realize, but CWB has found that sports coaches are in a unique position to impart the message of staying healthy and doing so within a safe, fun and trusting environment. This is due to people respecting the coaches, and do not perceive the coaches in the same negative way that some children see there teachers, health workers or doctors, and so are ideally placed to talk about how important it is to stay healthy in order to fulfill someone's true potential, both on the cricket pitch and in life in general. In sub-saharan Africa alone there are 22 million people living with HIV, and in 2007 there were over 2 million adult and child deaths from the disease, this is something that needs to be changed.   

 I have been set a target of £750 to raise. I am responsible for funding my flights and meals and anything i want to do while i'm out there, so the money you donate, if you chose to, isn't going to me, its going towards coaching equipment, clothing, and providing many other resources to the people we go out to coach, and help ensure other projects take place and a difference is made. This isn't about giving me a few weeks away in Africa as the money isn't going to me, its about going out to make a difference in peoples lives.

 Please visit the charities website and have a look for yourself at what work they have done, and what they aim to achieve in the future.

 www.cricketwithoutboundaries.com 

 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.