Over the past six years, with your support, we have raised a considerable sum of money for local charities, as well as Bulock Village in the Gambia. In 2001, The Childrens Diabetic Unit at Bedford Hospital received £700 and the following year, The Child Development Centre in Kempston, whci looks after the educational and medical needs of children with special needs received £750.
In The Gambia we have contributed over £2,500 to supply; a solar panel and borehole pump for the medical centre, put a roof on the medical centre and contributed money to a major water supply scheme, which along with the money raised by the villagers themselves released a further £35,000 of EU money for a bank of solar panels and stand pipes all around the village. in 2004, the money raised extended this scheme by a further ten stand pipes.
The Keech Cottage Hospice, Luton was the chosen local charity in 2003, and received a donation of £780.
2004 was a great year so far, with a total of £2,850 raised. 50% of the money went to Happy Days Childrens Charity who provide daytrips and holidays for children with special needs. Although this is a national charity we requested that the money go towards benefitng children in Bedfordshire. The remaining money went to The Gambia to provide a solar powered electricity scheme for the Imams' (Village Cheif) house, medical centre and one of the housing compounds. This is the first time that the village of Bulock has had any form of electric lighting.
2005 saw support for the MacIntyre home and 2006 the Pasque Charuty was selected as a benefactor
2007 has proved to be our best year so far with nearly £4000 pounds raised.