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Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.

I am going to Africa in October 2009 to help build a Primary School. I will be doing real building work and will be required to wear a hard hat and steel toecap boots. It is not a holiday. It is being organised through St. Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds. Your donations will go directly to St Gemma’s and will help them care for patients in Leeds and send me to Africa. So please sponsor me now! If you would like more information then please click on "read more" and scroll down to see the press release that a friend kindly wrote for me and my monthly updates.

Lots of love Sue xxx

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Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: St. Gemma's Hospice gets your money faster and, if you’re a taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Fundraising Update 6 (25/10/09)

Hi everyboby,

I have always wanted to visit Africa and help the people who have so little in any small way I could. It has always been my dream trip of a life time. Going to Tanzania from 9^th to 17^th October fulfilled my dream and I had a wonderful time. It was everything I hoped and more. Thank you to everyone who helped me raise the money to fund my trip and provide much needed funds for St Gemma’s hospice.

The people of Tanzania were very polite and friendly and unbelievably given their poverty always had a smile for us. They are so grateful to anyone who helps them in any small way. They are also very wiling to help themselves and each other in any way they can. They all joined in to help in building the school and made us feel so welcome. At times it was embarrassing how they treated us, almost like royalty.

I left Africa more an emotional wreck than a physical wreck even though the building work was gruelling at times. It put many things in a new perspective. I don’t think I’ll fret over what now seem like trivial matters so much. It is incredible how happy they can be without all the trappings of a western life that we take for granted. It is impossible not to fall in love with them and to want to help them more. I am already thinking of going back again.

I have added 6 photos to give you a feel for my trip.

Lots of love Sue xxx.

Fundraising Update 5 (02/08/09)

Hi everybody,

I have not done much fundraising in July as I have been sorting out my dad’s affairs and holidaying in Lanzarote with my Auntie. It feels like I spent the rest of July getting jabs for Africa! I am virtually there now with my fundraising so thank you to everybody who has helped me – I have been overwhelmed by the support I have received from everybody. It is now only just over 2 months before I leave for Africa. I have got my Visa so all I need now is a mosquito net and some max strength insect repellant! I will send my next update after I get back from Africa. Lots of love Sue xxx.

Fundraising Update 4 (02/07/09)

Hi everybody,
June has been a quiet month on the fundraising as my father Ralph died unexpectedly on 4^th June. Once again thank you to everybody who has made a donation or helped me in some other way over the past month.Thanks to my friends Julie Bell and Jane Midgley who both got me over £100 in sponsorship. Also a big thanks to my friend Ian who has raised over £300 that I will take with me to buy things for the children I meet in Africa. So I am nearly there and hope to hit my target in July. Any donations over my target will still help St Gemma’s. For those of you that don’t know JustGiving who run my fundraising website have had lots of technical problems recently so I apologise to anyone who has had any problems donating online. And finally I will not be alone in Africa as my neighbour Rachel and my friend Karen are both coming with me! Lots of love, Sue xxx.

Fundraising Update 3 (02/06/09)

Hi everybody,
Once again thank you to everybody who has made a donation or helped me in some other way over the past month. After 3 months my fundraising total now stands at £2545.87. What a busy month! I started May by collecting £509 over the Bank Holiday weekend at Wyevale Garden Centre where I used to work - thank you all at Wyevale. Thank you to my Dad, Paul and Jane who helped me. On the 16^th May my friend Julie and her neighbours at Shancara Court held a fundraising Street Party which was a great success. Thank you to all who attended and a great big thank you to everybody at Shancara Court. The Children did a sponsored walk which raised £180 and the whole event raised over £400 (still counting). Finally on Sunday 31^st I ran my first (and last!) Marathon in Edinburgh. I did it in 5 hours 17 minutes and 41 seconds – not bad for a 50 year old! Thank you to Jane who ran with me and helped by getting me some sponsors. Thank you to Nancy and her friends who raised over £100 for me as a result of her 40^th birthday party. Thank you to Mineral Cottage Care Home where I now work who donated £100. This coming weekend on Saturday 6^th June I have a stall at St Gemma’s indoor car boot sale – thanks to those who have given me things to sell. And finally thank you to Harry my hairdresser who is organizing a raffle for me. Lots of love, Sue xxx.

Fundraising Update 2 (02/05/09)

Hi everybody,
Once again thank you to everybody who has made a donation or helped me in some other way over the past month. My stall at the Easter Extravaganza made £237 – thanks to Julie, Mike, Karen and Tony for their help. Also in April my African Challenge was covered by the Yorkshire Evening Post and Morley Observer. After 2 months my fundraising total now stands at £1126.10. Bank Holiday weekend I am collecting at Wyevale Garden Centre where I used to work - thank you all at Wyevale. On the 16^th May my friend Julie has organized a fundraising street party – thank you Julie. On 31^st May I am running the Edinburgh Marathon. I also have a stall at St Gemma’s indoor car boot sale on 6^th June – any unwanted items appreciated – thanks to those who have already given me things to sell. Lots of love, Sue xxx.

Fundraising Update 1 (29/03/09)

Hi everybody,
Thank you to everybody who has made a donation or organized a fundraising event. I am really touched by all the support I am getting. After 1 month my fundraising total now stands at £426.10. I have a stall selling flower arrangements at St Gemma’s Hospice Easter Extravaganza on Saturday 4^th April for anyone who can make it. I also have a stall at St Gemma’s indoor car boot sale on 6^th June – any unwanted items appreciated. Lots of love, Sue xxx.

Press Release - "Going back to school at 50!"

6am wake up calls and a 45 minute walk in tropical heat before you even get to work isn’t everyone’s idea of fun – but Susan Wood of Tingley can’t wait – so much so she’s doing it for charity!

She’s joining a group of other like-minded fundraisers in October 2009 on a 10 day trip to Choba, in , where they will take part in a special challenge with the ultimate reward - their efforts will be spent helping to build a primary school for local AIDS children in a remote Tanzanian village. Any additional money they raise will be going towards helping closer to home – St Gemma’s Hospice.

Sue is taking part in this year’s CommunityChallenge, for Community Projects Africa (CPA), a small charity which funds and manages important educational and health projects in Africa.

She’ll be without the basic simple amenities most of us take for granted for a week – but says she can’t wait!

Sue, (50), says:

“I’ve been looking into doing something like this for quite a long time, and then found out about St Gemma’s Hospice doing this trip. I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to fulfil a lifelong ambition – and help 2 extremely worthwhile causes!

“St Gemma’s Hospice is close to my heart as I’ve had friends cared for there. The staff and level of care have always been amazing - this is my way of saying thank you for doing such a great job.

“Helping on a project like this will be an amazing experience - the children have nothing and can still smile – it will be wonderful to get away from material possessions for a while and enjoy the simple yet happy lifestyle they lead every day.”

It’s a packed schedule – breakfast is at 0630am and the walk from the camp to the building site takes 45 minutes. Sue will also get to meet some of the children at the existing Choba Nursery School, meeting the kids who’ll one day be taught in the classrooms she’s helping to build.

And she’s calling out for people to lend their support! She says;

“I need to raise £3,000 to go on this trip, and will be getting there by fundraising! I’ve got a stall at St Gemma’s Easter Extravaganza on 4^th April, one of my friends has organised a street party and I am planning a couple of other events to help raise the cash – but any donations would be greatly appreciated!”. Donations can be made at justgiving.com/susanwoodafrica

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Susan Wood's Africa Fundraising Page

Susan Wood's Africa Fundraising Page

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