St Margarets charity for Romanian Orphans set to hit £25k target
St Margarets charity for Romanian Orphans set to hit £25k target
9:00am Sunday 13th September 2009
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A charity has been raising thousands of pounds for a cause more than 1,000 miles away. Here, JOANNA KILVINGTON finds out why.
It was set up to change the materialistic ways of youngsters in west London.
But one charity has gone much further than this initial mantra – as it looked set to hit its target of raising £25,000 for Romanian orphans this weekend.
The St Margarets branch for the Foundation for the Relief of Disabled Orphans (Frodo) is hoping to raise as much of the final £8,000 needed at today's London Duathlon in Richmond Park, where a team of supporters will be taking part.
Support: The charity’s team
The branch has already raised £17,000 in the past year through an impressive effort by children, teenagers, mums, dads and businesses in the area.
They are now on their final leg to raising the £25,000 target, which will pay to send a team of doctors from the UK to Romania to treat disabled children.
Branch member Claire Wilson said: “A year ago, a group of mothers from St Margarets decided their teenage children needed to widen their sphere and grasp of life above and beyond Richmond and its shopping.
“I was just telling some friends about the work of the charity and we thought let’s just do something and make something happen instead of just sending money across.
“We wanted to get our teenagers involved on the basis that we’re bringing them up in quite a privileged area.”
The branch launched last year with a stall at Moor Mead Fair and has held various fundraising events throughout the year.
A successful wardrobe sale last November saw the branch raise an impressive £7,000, with the group of youngsters throwing themselves into the event.
Orleans School pupil Alice Hollyer, 15, said: “It was really interesting, especially when all the clothes were being collected.
“At first I thought this could go really wrong but it went really well and it was a fun event. I’m definitely hoping to help with the charity at school.”
Reaching out: A Romanian child being helped by the charity. Picture: Frodo
Her sister Anna and friend Ellie Wilson, both nine, have also done their bit by selling a heap of their beloved toys to raise money.
The group has helped raise further funds by baking and selling cakes and running a creche at last year’s duathlon.
The charity is now thinking up ways to reach out to more young people by approaching schools with fundraising ideas in the hope it can become a community supported charity.
Mrs Wilson said: “The wardrobe sale was lovely – people were just very generous. There was a really nice spirit and support locally.”
“They’ve [the youngsters] been very good with it but there’s more to do.
“We need to get integrated with the schools but need to find the perfect idea. I think teenagers are tired of mufti days.
“We want to bring the kids to them. Romania’s not that far away but it’s become old news. Everyone seems to think it’s been sorted.
“Our children need to appreciate what they have.”
Over a two-week mission up to 60 children can be diagnosed and treated by the team of qualified doctors, often for disabilities that could be easily treated in the UK.
Working with partners they can identify children whose lives can be transformed if they receive treatment for their disablilties and the charity aims to bring about institutional change by working with local medical teams and care providers to improve standards.
Mrs Wilson said: “It’s not a question that the Government doesn’t care but the children get overlooked.
“Things are changing but just not quickly enough-they take time.
“It makes a huge difference. For everyone that’s taken part it means something.
“The last year has seen great support and encouragement from the community and I think it shows what is possible when people come together to make a genuine difference to other communities, Romania is only two-and-a-half hours from ours but has vastly different needs.”
Operation: A team of medics treat a young patient. Picture: Frodo
A team of 20 people will be taking part in this Sunday’s duathlon to raise money for Frodo.
St Margarets ward Councillor Ben Khosa, who will be cycling the final 20km, said: “I’m a keen cycler and I was looking for something I could do that was worth while and saw an advert for the charity.
“The idea of sending out doctors to help children was quite appealing.
“I’ll be happy to help out the charity in the future, I think it’s an excellent idea.”
To sponsor the team visit justgiving.com/feet-for-frodo/ or to find out more about Frodo go to frodokids.org.uk.
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