Han loves to run! A regular at our local Parkrun (and Junior Parkrunner of the Year 2019), she recently said she wanted to run in The Northampton 10k on Sunday May 12th 2019, just 2 days after her 7th birthday! Her big bro Luke (age 11) quickly said he wanted to join her :-)

The school that Han and Luke attend, Millway Primary, supports a charity called the Northampton Trustee Fund (NTF), which was founded by an ex Millway pupil and now Northampton teacher, Andy Butler and his wife Anne in 2004.

Following a holiday to The Gambia, the couple met a local tourist guide who was keen to tell them all about his native village of Penyem and later in the year, Andy returned to The Gambia and visited the village. What struck Andy was the enthusiasm of the villagers to help themselves, but the lack of resources to do so. The Charity became registered and fundraising started towards a four wheel drive vehicle the village could use as a community vehicle/ambulance.

The main strand of the fundraising has been Education. Close to 100 children in the village are sponsored, not just to go to school, but uniforms are provided, as are social and health care. Huge amounts of educational materials have also been provided, which are now housed in a two classroom extension to the school - opened in 2012.

In 2011, a building was renovated to become the Penyem Health Centre. There is a full time doctor paid for by the Charity. Drugs and medicines have been funded and so the centre is now self sufficient.

The greatest challenge to NTF has been the provision of the most vital, natural resource – water. The village had a system that failed. In 2008, we achieved the completion of the renovation of the fresh water system, which allows all the villagers access to clean running water.

NTF could not achieve this success without the support of many partners. UK businesses, Northamptonshire schools, clubs and societies and individuals ..... they have all contributed towards the success of NTF.

Please visit www.northamptontrusteefund.co.uk for more info.

"THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HELPING US TO HELP THE CHILDREN OF PENYEM" .... Han xxx :-) .... and Luke ;-)