UPDATE 8th Feb: Target reached faster than you can say "Indian whitewash!" Please do keep donating - the more, the better!

Stay tuned on this page for updates, tour diary will be up on Alternative Cricket and Cricket Without Boundaries in a couple of weeks!

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Hi! I'm Nishant, and thanks for taking the time to visit my page! 

As many of you know, I'm going to Kenya from 12th-26th February...

I will be working with Cricket Without Boundaries, an excellent charity that shares the same ethos as I do - that sport transcends barriers, and that cricket in particular has the power to bring people together.

Sorry to digress, but has anybody ever told you, you have the most piercing eyes...?

In their previous trips to Africa, CWB have trained over 1,000 coaches and 10,000 children.

On this trip, I will be spreading the message of HIV prevention, by bringing cricket to the villages of Kenya! I will be visiting schools and orphanages all over the country, training children and young adults. 

CWB has found that cricket helps HIV prevention messages come through a lot clearer. Instead of using scientific jargon, the children find simple analogies such as "Protect your wicket" and "Don't play risky shots" a lot easier to relate to. Wherever possible, I will endeavour to include the likes of Dravid, Kallis and Trott into my analogies.

I am a big believer in prevention being better than the cure, and I hope to learn plenty of logistical lessons from this trip, and see how I can apply them in future - hopefully, on an even larger scale.

Ladies and gentlemen, at this point, I could opt for cheap flattery and pander to you, but I shall refrain, even though you have been looking particularly radiant recently...

Although I have paid for flights by myself, the project's long-term success depends on donations.

In a tip of the hat to Sir Don Bradman - and Sachin too, while he's still stranded on 99... - I'm looking to raise at least £999.94 for Cricket Without Boundaries. Hopefully, we can raise much more.

£25 will buy a full Kwik Cricket set for a school.

£50 will buy a full set of branded shirts for a team (including HIV/AIDS messages).

£100 will buy a school a hard-ball kit bag, with balls, pads, gloves, bats - and most importantly, boxes. 

£500 will train 10 local coaches to keep spreading the word.

£1,000 will run a festival day, allowing hundreds to participate.

PERKS!

DONATE £100 or more, and I will personally sign a copy of our book, with a personal message of gratitude, and send it anywhere in the world.

DONATE £500 or more, and I will perform one of my legendary LIVE air guitar concerts for you, in person, to the songs of your choice. 

DONATE £1,000 or more, and, I will also throw in a personalized satirical article/letter for you, on any topic of your choice. 

Of course, I will keep you updated with a diary and photos of my time in Kenya, so you can see first-hand how your money is being put to good use :)) 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid - 25% - is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. If you pay tax in the UK at the higher rate, you can also reclaim tax relief on your gross donation at 20%.

It’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So...please dig deep into your handbags and man-purses, and donate now.

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ABOUT ME:

- Like many other people my age, I am 23 years old. 

- I'm a 4th year medical student (no, I don't just dress up as a doctor, although the scrubs are nice and airy in summer).

- I am editor of AlternativeCricket.com.