Fundraising activities for the parish sponsorship of the Leprosy project at Ahotokurom were held in the run up to Christmas. Very many thanks to all those who contributed towards their success. After the 10am Mass on Sunday 23rd November a 'coffee morning with a difference' brought in nearly £190. The raffle held at the quiz night, also in November, raised £112. We have also received a cheque for £75 from the guides. The total raised to date, excluding the initial appeal, is around £500.
A second collection in aid of the project is planned for March. A Musical Evening in aid of the project will be held at St John’s Hall on Saturday 8th May, at which a raffle will be held and refreshments will be served. Watch the weekly newsletter for details of these and other future events.
There were around 20 children in the school and 33 on the waiting list, but the classroom was too small and the facilities very basic!
In March 2002 young Jamie Hills from Rainham, Kent, died suddenly from a brain haemorrhage. His family was determined to do something positive in his memory and collected donations to undertake projects in his name. Some of the funds raised enabled the refurbishment of an area in the school at Ahotokurom to create and fit out a new special unit and to create disabled access around the whole school.
A team of workers (many of them disabled themselves) worked throughout the summer break to create ‘Little Jamie's room’. It was all hands on deck as the children in Childcare (the children's home) helped with the painting and finishing touches! Nothing can really describe the joy on the children's faces as they danced their way into class for the first time at the opening ceremony!
Nothing either can compensate for the tragic loss of Jamie. But out of this pain has come new life and new hope, in Jamie's memory.
Adrian Steel
Ahotokurom committee member