On Bank Holiday Monday 5th May 2008 I will be participating in The Bailey’s Nissan Whitstable 10K Road Race and wish to use this opportunity to raise money for some good causes. As many of you will know, last year I spent over 6 months in Borneo and spent the last 6 weeks travelling around South East Asia, visiting Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. During that time, I’ve been privileged to meet many new cultures and experience an amazing array of wildlife, flora, fauna and marine life. I’ve chosen to support the Cambodian Futures Foundation, as they are linked to and provide funding and aid to The New Cambodian Childrens Life Association (NCCLA) in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. I happened upon the charity whilst dining at Veiyo Tonle, a small non-profit restaurant on Sisowath Quay overlooking the Tonle Sap. The organisation now runs an orphanage for local children and has grown a lot since Neth and Thawee Lay set up the charity in 2004. Cambodia is a very poor country, still recovering from the bloodshed endured under the Khmer Rouge in the late sixties and early seventies, and whilst the government is starting to make an impression with the development of new infrastructure, poverty is still rife. Most children are out on the streets from the moment they can walk, to earn money for their families, selling postcards and guide books to the tourists, and this is where the majority of children are educated. Despite all this the people of Cambodia are a happy and hospitable race, where I was made to feel most welcome and hope to return to again. The NCCLA offers children of all ages a chance for a better life, paying for their education, food, shelter, and in some cases employment at Veiyo Tonle. You can find out more details about the NCCLA and Cambodian Futures Foundation on the following websites: http://www.ncclaorphanage.org/ http://www.cambodianfutures.org/ So please, whether its £1, £10 or £100, your donations will be gratefully received to help fund the ongoing expenses and expansion of the orphanage and raise awareness. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Cambodian Futures Foundation 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 extra cost to you.
Many thanks for your support. Simon Edgington
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