Orphanage fundraiser in Harrow is all cricket (From Harrow Times)

Orphanage fundraiser in Harrow is all cricket

8:00am Sunday 30th August 2009

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CRICKET pros will take on an Indian children's charity in Harrow this morning to provide education for orphans.

The Darjeeling Children's Trust will go wicket-to-wicket with West Harrow Cricket, in Headstone Manor, to help raise funds for new schools and employ a health visitor.

The money will also help pay for vital repairs to the boys' orphanage, which is at risk of sliding down a hill in north India, as well as pay for more books for the Trust's travelling library.

Funds will be raised through sales of tasty food, a raffle and donations.

The trust was founded in 2008 by a group of people who had worked as volunteer teachers in primary schools in Darjeeling, as well as others concerned by the children's difficult lives and meagre education resources.

The seven trustees all hold down full-time jobs and are spread across the UK in London and Bristol.

Trustee Katherine Carr said: "One of our trustees who lives near Harrow spoke to the cricket club about doing something and they were really keen to help. They have been brilliant and even gave us the use of the pavillion for free.

"Fundraising is the main aim of the day. We are a small trust and we make sure the money we raise goes to the children. We try to keep our admin costs as small as possible and spend nothing on advertising, so we rely on word-of-mouth and getting everyone involved to help raise our profile.

"This is one of the first events we have done of this kind, but we had a fundraiser in Bristol last week and raised £500. It would be great if we could do the same again.

"The money goes much further in India than it does here. For £220 a year we can sponsor one child and that pays for everything, including sending them to a quality English-speaking school for a year, uniform and lunches.

"Sixty pounds a month pays the salary of our librarian and, once or twice a year, one of the trustees will go to Darjeeling and literally spend just a few pounds to buy the essential stationery like pencils and pens."

The match starts at 11am and all are welcome. Entrance to the cricket club is next to 101, Headstone Lane, Harrow, HA3 6NS.

For more information about the Darjeeling Children's Trust visit www.darjeelingchildrenstrust.com

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