Hello my name is Emily Wilton and I want to say thank you for visiting my fundraising page!

On February 10th 2009 I will be travelling, as a volunteer, to South India for 10 weeks to take part in a charity project with Raleigh (formerly Raleigh International), which was set up in 1978 by Prince Charles and Colonel Blashford-Snell. While in India I will be involved in a range of projects which will help improve conditions in some of the most disadvantaged villages and assisiting in conservation projects. Examples from previous projects include building schools, improving the supply of clean water and digging trenches to prevent elephants from wondering into villages. In addition to volunteers like me, the team will include disadvantaged volunteers both from the UK and India working together. After all the hard work, Raleigh set us an adventure challenge in the last 19 days which will involve an arduous trek, carrying all our supplies, up through the remote Western Ghats a forested mountain range which reaches over 2,600m.

Raleigh requires volunteers to make a contribution towards the cost of the projects. Raleigh has set my target at just under £3000. This excludes the flights and my essential kit which I have already paid for out of my own money. I now need to raise the remaining £3000. At the moment I have 6 jobs and am planning a series of fundraising events including a Christmas tea party (Indian tea of course!), a 27mile sponsored winter bike ride and a themed curry night in Petham Village Hall on 31st January. Nevertheless the target is somewhat daunting especially since the downturn in the economy means that businesses no longer have the budgets for charitable giving that they had in the past.

If you would like to know more about Raleigh please look at their website www.raleighinternational.org. 

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Raleigh International gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Thank You!

Emily x