Dear Friends and Supporters

         CARPATHIAN CHALLENGE - NE ROMANIA    

                       20th - 28th September 2008 -

                                120km in 6 days!!!! - AND I DID IT!!!!

I had a brilliant idea on how supporters could raise money for Link Romania's many projects and came up with the Carpathian Challenge.  This was a  trek through the mountains of NE Romania in September and did turn out to be exactly that   - a challenge.  And yes I had to go on it as well!!

Was it hard? Yes.  Did I suffer? Yes.  Did I lose the will to live? Almost. However it was an amazing experience even though I am now hobbling but  these are the projects that your money will help support

               Romania - Farm of Hope for orphaned boys

When orphaned children reach 18 the state is not responsible for them anymore and put them out on the street. They are found sleeping rough in railway stations, empty buildings, under the street and many suffer from mental illness and years of neglect.  The staff at the Farm of hope go out and rescue these boys and bring them back to the Farm.   When boys come in they are not capable of doing a job and have little social skills or trust. 

Farm of Hope exists to provide
• A family, friendship, trust, love and a place of belonging
• A safe warm place to stay with 3 meals a day
• Training in arable and animal farming
• Preparation to move on and become independent
• A supportive framework for them to go out and work in other trades whilst still retaining the support at the Farm

         How will the Carpathian Challenge Trek help?

A new construction has been started on the Farm of Hope to house more boys.  The Carpathian Challenge will help finance the finishing off of the inside of the house eg buying building materials, installing staircases, plasterboard etc and also help support various other internal projects in the new house to make it habitable and able to take in additional boys

In addition to the Farm of Hope the Trek will also raise funds for a Soup Kitchen in Moldova and a childrens playground in Albania

I would really appreciate it if you could sponsor me even if it is only to be secure in the knowledge that I really did suffer doing it! 

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Link Romania will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

When I get all the photos together I will be posting them on our website www.linkromania.co.uk so have a look in a week or so and then you will find evidence.

Many thanks for your support.

Lisa