I'm swimming to Bestival to raise money for The Football Club of Canacona.
The swim will take place on 8 September 2011. It is about 6 km (3.5 miles) across the Solent from Gosport to Ryde on the Isle of Wight. This stretch of cold, open sea is a notoriously busy shipping lane, which can be very choppy with strong tides and currents (not to mention the vicious, hungry sharks).
All of the money raised will go straight to The Football Club of Canacona (www.footballclubofcanacona.org). None of the money is spent on marketing or administration. It will go straight to the running of the club and so make a concrete difference to the lives of the young people there. It will provide them with a structure for opportunities and benefits that they would not have otherwise.
The club was set up in 2005 by my inspirational friend (see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0NEG3kqcAQ). It is a project based in the southern most taluka of Goa, India, which recognises the importance of sport in nurturing the lives of young people. It uses football as a tool to empower the young people of Canacona, many of whom are from a background of extreme poverty.
Previously in the Canacona Taluka there were very few opportunities for young people to participate in football. The project provides daily coaching sessions and runs teams of most age groups including girls that participate in the Goan Football Association Leagues. It prides itself on its policy of inclusiveness regardless of ability, background and circumstances: Just like Bestival, the Football Club of Canacona is a place where everyone can play…
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.
So please dig deep and donate now.
Many thanks, best wishes, blessings and love,
John
