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This was our fourteenth year and our twelfth year as a registered charity. Unfortunately, the cost of transport etc, for the camp last year meant we overspent by £1000.00. Then we had two big blows (1) we were told the cost of the parts required to repair the generator is £800.00. (2) The Fun Casino trailer and all the equipment were stolen in July 2003, so we had to cancel the first month’s casino bookings, therefore, losing the money from eight casino nights. The equipment has now been replaced and we are up and running. This year we raised £11,247 for our own funds and once again helped to raise an estimated £40,000 for other charities. Recycling brought us in over £4,000. again. BIG THANKS go to all the volunteers who helped with these two projects. This year Paul Whitehead took over P&PR and developed our web site. We also advertised for the first time. Donations this year doubled and we were able to get a new generator and water purification system. We managed to get the first stage of the new building (the wet weather shelter) completed in time, but owing to officialdom we were told at the last minute we could not have institutionalised children on site. This was due to the Health Department not having any guidelines for our type of activity. They have now said if we erect some wooden huts, similar to those used by commercial campsites n the country they can assess us as camping and can then give us authorisation This year we have installed water purification and with the new more powerful generator the kitchen and medical room have hot water on tap. Next stage are the wash places. It was decided that even though we cold not have the children from the orphanages we could have the handicapped from the hospital’s at Siret and Sasca, also we could have the poor children. So we approached the “Save the Children Romania” who sent us children with special needs and they came with some parents and carers. Also we approached the Mayor from a village about one and a half-hours journey away who donated the cost of transporting them, and the priest from Suceava to choose poor children. We had twenty three English and ten Romanians on the team. For the majority of the team it was their first time on camp, so it was decided to arrange for them to visit the orphanage at Gura Humorului and the hospital at Sasca as they are not far from each other. We held our usual Fun Day on the camping filed. Unfortunately, after the camp, Aspasia (the little old lady who lived next door to the camp) tried to paint the outside of her house, fell, and passed away three days later. As one of her favourite events was to sit with other parents and watch the fun at the fun day, we have decided to call it “Aspasia’s Day” in memory of her. We are also looking into the possibility of creating a memorial garden between the site and her home. We held a Fun Casino Evening on the 24th April 2004 for our own funds at the Lightning Club Warton. This as a bumper night raising £2123.00 for our funds, exceeding last years, which raised £1540.00. Our thanks to Jean Morton and her helpers, Brenda Fitzsimmons and Barclays bank, all our table sponsors, the casino team and those who supported the event. It was successful financially and also enjoyed by all. This year unfortunately the Royal Mail team were needed by their usual charity to take building materials out, to only had room for the generator. Thanks to Chris and team. Fortunately, two of their last years team managed to get the loan from Royal Mail and Parcel Force of a smaller wagon and we were saved again (“Thanks Tony and Steve”) the majority of the materials required have been taken to our campsite. Heather and Lore had again organised an “Anglesey for Romania walk” sponsored Coastal Path Walk over the Spring Bank Holiday, 29th May to 9th June 2004. Once again raising over £1000.00 Once again an even larger one than last year. A BIG THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! TO ALL This coming year we must make a very determined attempt to raise enough to finish the second and final stage of the building
David Kennington MBE |