Newsletter_August 2007

Welcome to Char’s Fund fourth newsletter.

Char’s Fund raises money to support children aged between 12 and 17 (both boys and girls) on long term educational bursaries at Muang Phuket School and Phuket College in southern Thailand. Some £4635 of the £56,250 raised so far has gone directly to these young students in order for them to continue with their education. As funds have continued to grow and have become more secure, we have recently agreed with the school to bring three more students into the scheme. The new children now receiving scholarships are three
teenage boys - Thanakit Siripanyawong (15 yrs old), Narapong Noksanthia (15) and Tanapon Sittiponjran (16).

 

Onion Fest 2007
This year’s third Onion Fest - in memory of Char and put on entirely by her friends - was held on Saturday 28th July. One thing Charlotte was particularly brilliant at was getting everyone together to have a great time - be it travelling to
Europe for a 3 day festival, a night out clubbing in London or just down the local pub for a Friday night – and she was always right there in the middle of everything organising tickets and making sure a good time was had by all. Music festivals were one of her most favourite things and that is why Char’s friends originally thought it would be such an amazing way to remember her and in turn raise money for Char’s Fund. The idea was the brainchild of Char’s friend Fraser Brown who thought how fantastic it would be to bring together all the folk from her extended group of friends and hold a mini festival.

The name of the festival and also the idea to make it into a charity event came from Ian Brewer upon whose land the festival is held and the name ‘Onion Fest’ was inspired by Char’s best friend Becky Bate’s habit of calling her Little Onion (shallot!). Onion Fest 2007 year was bigger and better than the previous two years with two outside stages this year and twice the number of bands. Spread over a much larger area it was all so very professionally organised by Char’s friends.

This year’s festival had a Thai theme and the absolutely fabulous Onionettes performed an amazing Thai dance to add to their superbly athletic pole skills. After all the costs of running the festival have been deducted, over £5000 will be able to go into the Fund. Sincere thanks to all of Char’s friends for all their magnificent hard work yet again this year as well as the kind sponsors - Liddiard Scaffolding, Cheeky Rascals, Beaver Tool Hire and South Downs College. Special thanks too to Black Dave who designed the Onion Fest T-shirts, John Cosgrove for organising the bands and Pete Tarrant & Eve Griffiths for all their help with the Onionettes’ choreography. For pictures of the event, please see www.myspace.com/onionfestival

 

Other Fundraising activities since last time & a huge thank you!
Stage One Youth Theatre has contributed yet another £1000 to the Fund, bringing their total contribution now to £2000. The Petersfield School organised a dress down Friday before the end of the school year and raised £965 and Alan talked to Years 7 and 8 Assemblies before the sponsored non-uniform day. And Liz & South Downs
College helped raise £1000 through selling items made in class at the annual Stansted House Garden Show.

 

Forthcoming Events
The Windsor Half Marathon is on 30th September and is our next fundraising run. Four of us are due to complete the race and we would again be so very grateful for your sponsorship. But if folk would just rather make a regular donation through a direct debit as A Friend of Char’s Fund, do please let us know. And a ‘Miss Petersfield Beauty Pageant’ is now planned for spring 2008 in aid of Char’s Fund and organised by Angie at the Eden Bar (Char’s favourite place in Petersfield). It will not be too serious and should be a lot of fun – Char would certainly laugh loudly at the very notion…. Tickets are expected to be £10.

We are making a real difference to young lives in Thailand. Please continue to support us. Thank you

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