A Wonderful Donation for the Appeal

Today, 4th June, I received a phone call to say I have two cheques to come for the amazing sum of £1,000 each. These generous donations have been given by Emily and David Tomalin of Cookham and it is part of money inherited from Emily's grandparents Kath and Emile Delavenay who, all their lives, were concerned about social justice.

This has come at a time when the need for shack and mud hut repair is so necessary.

From January this year and several times last year, unexpected and unseasonal storms and floods totally devastated many shacks and badly damaged others.

It is the beginning of winter now and for our children and their carers the state of the shacks combined with the lack of even the basic facilities for life is making day to day existence abysmal. Imagine living without electricity, running water, warmth, sufficient food, lack of adequate bedding etc and you can get a feeling what their lives are like.

Most of the funding from the appeal has gone to Africa for food with just a small amount for shack repair but now, with this wonderful donation, we can make an enormous difference, by making the shacks safe and waterproof.

It is unexpected donations like this that fill me with wonderment. When I feel helpless and don't know where to turn next and then this happens I feel overawed and full of gratitude.

My heartfelt thanks go to Emily and David, what a difference there donation will shortly be making to the homes of our children.

My thanks also go to all who responded to the appeal and everyone else who sponsor the children, donate or fund raise for One Life.

What a privilege to see, that with your help, One Life is able to help these children who live so many thousands of miles away but who I feel so very close to, so once again, thank you all so very much.