Belgium GAA and SUAS, Ladies fundraiser, Dendermonde 10km, 23rd of March, 2014

Hello there again.

How nice to see you all. 

What do the Sunderbands, Mukuru Kwa Reuben and Dendermonde have in common? It's a fiendishly hard question, but this year the answer is you, or more hopefully, us.
How come? Pray tell? How is this the answer? Well the answer lies in what we're going to do this year for our 1st fund-raiser.

Floodlight, 24/7 safe astroturf pitches ain't cheap. We have fantastic facilities with the VUB, but, astro doesn't grow on trees. So, along with our fees (to be paid at your soonest convenience, thanks Oliver) we also need to fundraise. So, Jane and Elaine, Camogie and Ladies Football officers (remember from below?) decided that this was what we should do.

A 10km race in the flattest part of Belgium, wonderful Flanders, in the village of Dendermonde. 50% of the funds that all of the runners raise will go to Belgium GAA, and 50% will go to SUAS.

A joint undertaking to raise funds for Belgium GAA, but also for SUAS Educational Development. It sounds like a bit of a mouthful, so please let me digress, and tell you about SUAS.

Morning assembly in Gatoto primary school, Nairobi, Kenya

Gatoto.

In their own words, Suas is a movement that supports quality education in disadvantaged communities in Ireland and in Developing Countries. (for the most part, or at the moment partnerships are maintained with schools in Kenya and India). They do this by working with and supporting partner organisations to develop, deliver, monitor and evaluate quality education programmes; engaging and preparing volunteers to support programme delivery; and building a wider movement of members who share our vision and aims. Two such volunteers, Ciara Farrell and yours truly spent summers in India and Kenya respectively, working with the most amazing people, who deal with seriously tough conditions.

In Ireland, SUAS run after school homework clubs, literacy clubs, bridge to college groups, global development education courses, and of course the volunteer program every summer, providing the experience of a lifetime, a really brilliant experience. Should you be interested at all about doing more for SUAS contact Dermot, he's a gem, and will tell you all you need to know. 

So, should you feel so inclined, please do support us and SUAS and their brilliant work, and your brilliant club. It's a total win-win situation. Except of course for the people running the 10km, or slightly freaked out about doing the race. If you'd like to sign up or sponsor us, please click the link here.

And to finish, I would like to extend all of our collective sympathy and thoughts to the O'Connor family at this difficult time. Our love and thoughts are with you all.