1988 - Marion founded The Loddon School in Basingstoke, a charity dedicated to children with the most severe autism – see www.loddonschool.co.uk

In 2012 Marion flew to Zambia to support a school where there are 150 children with many serious special needs. Most are orphaned by HIV/AIDS. The school lacks even the most basic resources. Children arrive hungry and there is no food at school! No art materials, no games, no music, no phone! Power is intermittent during the day.

So how can we help?

Marion took a team to train the teachers in special education, to paint classrooms, provide toys, equipment and set up a school library. Most important is the work with parents. An amazing experience and such lovely people. They are so grateful for the smallest gifts - even 150 toothbrushes!

We try to go 2 or 3 times a year to work with teachers and parents and lift the lives of the children. Peter is 12 years old. He can’t walk, sit or move but he was desperate for a pair of Nikes! ‘Granny Marion’ sent him a pair. His world was transformed. Alice, 15 years old, can’t use her arms and writes with her feet! She sat on a concrete floor. We bought her a rug. You should see her smile! Many stories like this!

The school bus is the only way for children to get to classes. Designed to take 15, it sometimes carries 49! We would like to replace this dilapidated old bus, to continue the training, support teacher Dorothy get qualified, take toys and so on.

Michael and I have everything we need in our home (including a few cameras!) but these special children in Zambia have lots of needs. We would be so grateful if you could make a donation to our funds.

Thank you so much for your support – Alice and Peter will be so happy!

Best wishes,

Marion and Michael

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