Joyce before the start of her 40km ride to raise funds for GOES.

Many thanks to Thomas Cook!
TC have again granted us an extra 20kg of baggage allowance so we can start packing the baby clothes, the reading glasses (more needed!) the oddments of computer connections, the books, mobile 'phones (still more needed !), the medical supplies (we've got one blood pressure monitor; could use another), CDs of African music, pencils, crayons - oh, and as much spare money as you can afford! There are school fees waiting to be paid, medical expenses to be met, teachers wages to be paid, mosquito nets to be distributed ...
Laura and Lynne have both offered suitcases which we can load with the above goodies and then leave out in one of the villages for people to use as storage cupboards.

100% means every penny!

There has been a lot of publicity recently about charitable funds being used to provide people who should have known better with luxuries such as first class flights and the like.
Every penny that is given to GOES is used to benefit needy people in The Gambia. Every pair of reading glasses we receive goes first to a clinic then to someone with fading eyesight. We promise you that any donation given to GOES is used exactly as we promise. We pay our own way. We pay for our flights, accommodation and food. We travel about by local taxi. In addition we tithe our income to the charity.
Thanks for your time - just wanted to make things clear!
Best wishes,
Tom.

Here's a way you can help GOES (or most other charities of your choice) and it won't cost you a penny!

Just register with www.easyfundraising.org.uk and use it as your search engine when you shop on line. You nominate GOES (or any other charity of your choice) at that stage.

GOES will receive 0.5p for each search you do. Doesn't sound much? Well, so far we have received £48 this year! Believe me, every penny counts!

Goodbye, with many thanks!

Sadly we have to say goodbye to two of our loyal supporters. Both have contributed generously over a period of years and thanks to their efforts a young woman and a young man have gained a good education - a priceless gift.
Sincere thanks to both of you - you know who you are!

Well done Joyce!

Joyce has just completed a 25 mile sponsored cycle ride for GOES. Not bad for 70+ ! Very proud of her - well done!

Chance conversations

It's always worthwhile mentioning The Gambia when chatting to people. Today, for instance, I mentioned our work with GOES and found that the lady attending to my poorly toes is a member of a charity which funds medical work all over the world - including The Gambia. I looked at their wbsite, FMS - Festival Medical Services - so I've registered with them. Who knows what comes from a few words?
Joyce is riding her bike in a fund-raising cycle ride: about 20 miles on Sunday. She hopes to feed the GOES bank account before we go out again in December.
The first batch of Poems and Prose from VRWG sold well and we're hoping to have the next edition on sale in time for Christmas - wonderful presents!
The collection of old reading glasses is growing well, we could do with a few more old mobile 'phones, hint, hint!