Licking Lassa Fever

Update July 2008

Members of Soroptimist International from Barry and Cardiff recently joined forces to make a money path in Cardiff Bay for the Licking Lassa Fever Project. The money will be used to help save the lives of people in rural villages in Sierra Leone. About 1 million people are affected by Lassa Fever every year. The Licking Lassa Fever project aims to transform their lives by providing environmental programmes and community education.

The money path was started by Jane Hutt AM (Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills), who is also a member of Barry Soroptimists. Ms Hutt said "I was delighted to support the Money Path organised by the Soroptimists to raise funds for 'Licking Lassa Fever' in Sierra Leone. As a Member of Barry Soroptimists as well as Education Minister for Wales, the work of Soroptimist International is effective as well as worldwide.

Win Griffiths, the Charity’s Patron, spoke of the strong links he formed with Sierra Leone whilst MP for Bridgend. He said he was really pleased that the South Wales region of Soroptimist International has made a project in Sierra Leone its priority over the next few years. He believes that the Licking Lassa Fever project is both achievable and sustainable and will make a huge difference to the lives of many Sierra Leoneans.

Also present was Ben Foday who lives in Cardiff, but is originally from Sierra Leone. He expressed his delight to be associated with this organisation. Whilst in Sierra Leone last March, he saw the need for the work this organisation is doing in trying to eradicate the disease. He met Kay at a Wales for Africa conference and was pleased to be able to lend his support for the work they are doing in his country. He was honoured to be able to assist the charity and appealed to the public to give as much as possible.

Ron Macaulay, also from Sierra Leone originally, provided inspirational drumming at the beginning and end of the opening speeches.

This is one of many events being run by Soroptimists throughout south Wales with Money Paths stretching across the area throughout June, July and August as Soroptimists from Brecon, Cwmbran, Newport, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest and Tenby run their own events locally.

The Money Paths at Cardiff Bay and Haverfordwest have raised £600. The Soroptimists from Barry and Cardiff would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their generous contribution. So far, they have raised £33,000 and are hopeful that they will reach their target of £180,000 with continued support from people across south Wales.

18^th July 2007

Licking Lassa Fever In Sierra Leone (308 KB Pdf)

SI Wales South Health, Education and Hygiene Trust
(otherwise known as Licking Lassa Fever)

18^th July 2007

After a long gestation period the Charity Commission registered our project on 22^nd May 2007 – Charity Number 1119339. Our sincere thanks to Giselle Davies for steering us through what, at times, seemed an impenetrable maze.

Our funds stand at about £7,000.00 – an estimate because we are in the process of opening our own bank account (SIWS Health Education & Hygiene Trust – we didn't fancy the acronym of SIWSHEHT...) and there are monies not yet banked from the regional AGM in June, much of which is in cash for the raffle, held in sealed GiftAided envelopes. We have GiftAid forms available (see Annex 1) and we would appreciate any personal donations being accompanied by one since this enables us to collect an additional 28% from the Chancellor.....until April 2008 when it will reduce to 20%.

Clubs from across SIWS have made contributions with SI Neath having involved their PCC and Mothers Union. It will make the project better known and make it more possible to reach our target if we can involve people and organisations outside SI – one member from SI Carmarthen is hoping to raise funds at her wedding!! Many thanks go to Karen for obtaining a donation from NFU Mutual. Members of UKPAC (thanks to Anne Dunne) and clubs outside our region have donated – SI Stafford, SI Jersey, SI Southampton and North Wales and Yorkshire regions; others have expressed an interest – SI Hereford, SI Kirkaldy and SI Tiverton.

There are a number of fundraising ideas in operation at present:

• Dee Jenkins and Nerys Lines are doing a sponsored paraglide as the Flying Rats from the Blorenge (Punch Bowl), over Abergavenny, as soon as the weather permits. If you wish to sponsor them please do let us know.
• Jewellery collections – Erene Grieve from SI Milford Haven is running this. We have envelopes for the collection of your old, unwanted jewellery from the finest jewels to ordinary fashion jewellery and watches, even broken and incomplete pieces. The pieces collected are then sent to Erene's contact and we receive the cash generated in return. So far clubs have raised several hundreds of pounds and Soroptimists from clubs across the UK are helping in this way. If you want to join in let Anne Dunne or Kay Richmond know.
• Notelets for sale featuring the photos attached (Annex 2) – taken by Kay during her work for Merlin in Sierra Leone – organised by Erene Grieve and SI Milford Haven. There are 6 in a pack for £3.00 – two varieties – two of each featuring the canoe and two of each with the food theme. Let Kay know if you want any; they will also be available at club meetings.
• Bookmarks for sale at £1.00 each – let Anne Dunne know if you want some.

We have a display table at the SIGBI conference in Harrogate – please do volunteer to help man it and/or visit us during conference – let Kay know if you can help.

Champions for our club are Cathy Groves and Anne Thomas – they will keep us all up to date with progress.

Annex 1

Gift Aid Declaration
Soroptimist International of Wales South Health Education and Hygiene Trust

Charity Number 1119339

My Full Name:

My Address (including postcode):

Date:

I want the Soroptimist International of Wales South Health Education and Hygiene Trust to treat the following as Gift Aid donations (delete as appropriate):

• The enclosed donation of £
• The donation of £        I made on dd/mm/yyy
• All donations I have made since 6^th April 2000, and all donations I make from the date of this declaration until further notice.

I know that I must pay an amount of income/capital gains tax at least equal to the tax the charity reclaims on my donations in the tax year.

Signed

Cheques to be made payable to 'SIWS Health, Education and Hygiene Trust', please.

Annex 2

Researchers wanted

Have you ever traced your family tree? Or researched the provenance of an antique? Or do you just love delving into the reference library or searching the Internet to find those interesting nuggets of information?

A short-list of Charitable Trusts that may provide funding for the Licking Lassa Fever Project has been drawn up and volunteers are needed to check them out in more detail – What are their specific criteria? How much can they offer? What is the application process? When are their application deadlines? And so on. If you can help, contact dcrawfordjenkins@aol.com to find out more.