Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page to help me raise money for the Kenyan Orphan Project (KOP).

KOP was set up in 2001 by three medical students at the University of Nottingham in response to the rising epidemic of HIV/AIDS and poverty in Kenya. Since then KOP has been working in western Kenya at a grass roots level, collaborating with local organisations and communities to make huge improvements in the areas of health, education, and social welfare. Its aim is to improve the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya, by fighting against poverty, disease, social exclusion, and injustice. Thanks to the success of the project there are now 12 British Universities supporting this charity and giving their time to build hospitals, treat the sick, educate the poor, and help banish poverty in this vibrant and exciting evolving country.

This summer I will be going to Kisumu in western Kenya with 32 other medics from Nottingham medical school. For us to succeed we each have to raise at least £800 for the charity and every single penny of this will go straight to the charity.

To raise this money, amongst other ideas, I will be running the Liverpool Half Marathon on the 27 March 2011. For those who know me you will realise this is something of a challenge for me, never having run in a marathon before. It’s for a good cause which makes it worthwhile training on cold, dark nights trying to get fit enough to make it through to the finish line. Let me do the hard work, all I ask it that you give as generously as you can.  

This is such a worthwhile cause and makes a real and sustainable difference to people’s lives. The people we are extending our hands in friendship to are not blessed with the lives we take for granted. They often do not have access to doctors, classrooms for their children, or care and shelter for children who have lost their parents. Kenya is growing and developing and will one day be able to provide this but for now it still needs our help. All the money we raise goes straight into helping these people directly and we are really looking forward to going over to Kenya and continuing the support we have provided over the last 10 years.

I realise that this is a difficult time of the year for most people and that times are tough, but please be generous and donate what you can so that we can continue to make a difference!

For extra information, please go to:

www.kopafrica.org

www.runliverpool.org.uk/Half_Marathon.php

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Once again, a huge thank you for your kindness in supporting such an amazing cause!