In July 2018, I will be travelling back to Kenya to spend a month at the Live with Hope Centre in Kericho. I will be joining Bishop Brian McGee and a group of volunteers from Argyll and the Isles Diocese to live and work at the Live with Hope Centre.

In October, I am running a half marathon. The money raised will go directly towards the day to day running of the Live with Hope Centre and support this worthwhile cause.

The Live with Hope Centre is an HIV/AIDS clinic originally founded by two parishioners of St Mary's parish in the slum area of Motobo, Kericho. They had both experienced the loss of many of their loved ones to HIV/AIDS. Within a short time, the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception came to Kericho to support this cause. Sister Placida, a remarkable nun from Greenock, led the sisters to begin their missionary work.

Since 2000, the Live with Hope Centre has expanded. It has four main departments:

1. Voluntary Counselling and Testing - this involves the promotion of voluntary testing for the virus and counselling across the town and countryside.

2. Orphans and Vulnerable Children - the Live with Hope Centre cares for over 3000 children. They run support groups for children with the virus, visit struggling families and provide residential care for troubled youths. They also run several projects among street boys including transitional residential care.

3. Home Based Care and Haart Clinic. Social workers and nurses visit the sick at home. Food is distributed to those too weak to work. At the Clinic medical attention and medication is provided daily. There is also a weekly support group for adults.

4. This programme raises awareness of HIV/AIDS in the community.

Live with Hope is also building a Sports and Training Centre for unemployed youths, runs a project for disabled children and another project tackling drug and alcohol addiction and child prostitution. It has also been prominent in promoting peace within the area by an end to tribal violence.

Any donation is greatly appreciated to help raise as much as possible for this worthwhile cause.

Thanks :)

Angela