Story
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Elahe Ghazinoori's Story </span></span></strong></span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"></span></span></strong></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">I have been involved with the <strong>Santa Maria Foundation</strong><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> for a few months now. </span>As a mother of two young girls, I feel that every girl should be furnished with love, security, education and direction in life so that they can grow up to be independent, confidant women. So, when I found out about the Foundation, I wanted to help and support the Foundation in the wonderful things they are doing for these beautiful children. Every child deserves to have an opportunity for a brighter future.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;">So how did I get to know about the Santa Maria Foundation?</span></span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">This charity was brought to my attention by my Colombian friend, Catalina Vitolo, who is also the Founder of <strong>Maloca ,</strong> a place in Putney I go to for Zumba (a fitness program inspired by Latin dance). Great place! You should all try them out one day. As soon as I was told about the charity, I felt compelled to become more involved.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;"> </span><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;">So how am I getting involved? </span></span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">My dear sister suggested that it may be a good idea to raise money for the charity by doing something that is Zumba related as it was through Maloca and Zumba that I got to know about the charity. ‘ What a great idea, but what?’ I asked. She said ‘ It would be wonderful if you could challenge yourself and train to become a Zumba instructor.’ I said ‘I am a lawyer and not a dancer.’ ‘ isn’t that the point, to challenge yourself and get out of your comfort zone.’ She said. Hmmmmm... I thought. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">To cut a long story short, I have now booked myself on the Zumba Instructor program scheduled for <em><strong><span style="color: #0000ff;">12 April 2012</span></strong></em> in Leicester. The course is very intensive and it requires about 9 hours of Zumba dancing. I have just 6 weeks to prepare myself for this challenge. There will be a lot of Zumba dancing in my house hold for the next few weeks in preparation for 12 April.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband and my two daughters have been warned.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;"> </span><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;serif&amp;quot;;">So how are my family and friends getting involved? </span></span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">They are sponsoring me in this Zumba dance challenge. All the money raised through this sponsorship will go directly to the little girls. Who would’ve thought, a Zumba instructor? Of course, this is completely out of my remit, but it is for a charity so I am up for the challenge!</span></p>
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