Adele Eastman's Fundraising Page
Adele Eastman is raising money for Tom ap Rhys Pryce Memorial Trust
Story
Dear all,
I made it - in 4 hours and 41 minutes!
A huge thank you to everyone who has kindly sponsored me, and to those of you who came to support me on the day. You have all given me so much encouragement, for which I am incredibly grateful.
I am over the moon at having not just reached but surpassed my target -thanks to your generosity.
Adele
The photo of Tom and me on this page was taken on New Year's Eve of 2006, during the happiest time of our lives. We were engaged and in Italy planning our wedding which was due to take place in September of the same year. However, 12 days later, Tom was robbed and stabbed to death a few hundred yards from our home in Kensal Green. Tom's killers, 17 and 18 at the time, took his life for his mobile telephone and Oyster Card.
Nothing could have prepared me for the sense of loss and devastation which has followed. However, an extremely positive focus in my life is the charity which was set up in lasting memory of Tom soon after his death by his parents (John and Estella), Andrew Hughes of Linklaters LLP (the law firm at which Tom worked), and myself (www.tomaprhyspryce.com). We are determined to ensure that Tom's death has not been in vain, and that as much good as possible comes out of this horrific tragedy.
The objectives of Tom's Trust are to provide educational and vocational training opportunities for disadvantaged children and youths who might not otherwise have access to them, and to help tackle and prevent the root causes of violent gang culture and violent street crime.
Tom's Trust is already funding a number of worthwhile projects. However, with an increasing disparity in wealth and opportunity in this country, 27 youths murdered in London alone in 2007, and several more already this year, and with many of the organisations who are trying to tackle these problems struggling for funding, there is an acute and urgent need to provide more help.
I am running the marathon for Tom; and also for the children and youths who benefit from his Trust - for whom, in many cases, it takes great strength and courage to face each day, as a result of living in poverty and/or suffering from abuse, neglect, or violence. Many are left feeling disaffected, angry and without any sense of hope.
I believe we each have a responsibility to do whatever we can (no matter how great or small) to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves, and to tackle and overcome the escalating serious youth violence in this country. I very much hope that through Tom's Trust, we can encourage and support many children and youths to reach out for a better life for themselves.
Thank you for visiting my fund-raising page. I am deeply grateful for any donation that you may be able to give to Tom's Trust, as I know Tom would be too.
Adele
P.S. Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Tom's Trust 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.