Putting some fizz into fundraising (From Gazette & Herald)

Putting some fizz into fundraising

9:50am Thursday 8th March 2007

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WHAT is the link between an exclusive Champagne tasting evening in Malton and some of the world's most deprived areas?

The answer is a little-known charity with big ideas, driven along by a Ryedale woman who is its only UK-based representative.

Mo Hayward, of Huttons Ambo, is program manager for World Response, a USbased charity dedicated to improving access to medicine and healthcare in some of the poorest countries in the world.

She is responsible for the Medicine Box programme which is a way of extending a lifeline to remote rural clinics which do not have the resources for even the most basic essential medicines.

Mo, originally from Holland and a former business development manager at Newsquest (York), publishers of the Gazette & Herald, is launching her fundraising programme at the Talbot Hotel in Malton on Friday, March 23 with a Champagne tasting evening hosted by The Classic Champagne Company of Rawcliffe, near York.

Guests will taste five Champagnes from the Aube region of France and be given detailed information about grape varieties, production methods and serving suggestions.

Tickets are £15 and include a finger buffet and live music by international accordionist George Syrett.

Money raised will go towards the Medicine Box programme. Each medicine box consists of a range of medicines in sufficient quantities for 1,000 people, to treat the most common conditions for two months. There are also children's medicine boxes for youngsters up to the age of 12.

Requests for assistance from small hospitals or health care facilities in countries such as Zambia, Swaziland, Malawi, Kenya and Nepal are evaluated by World Response and its partner agencies in the country concerned by means of a questionnaire.

More than a billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water and more than 50 per cent of the people living in 46 of the world's poorest countries have no access to any health care at all.

Mo said: "We desperately need the money as there are 30 clinics on the waiting list at the moment. We need to cover the cost before we can send the medicine boxes - an adult box costs £225 and the children's one £152.

"So we will have to raise about £8,000 every two months to keep them supplied on a regular basis.

"I know that Ryedale has played host to a number of fundraising events for charity, during the last 10 years that I have lived here.

"There is a generosity of spirit here, and always a willingness to help, which makes it the perfect location to introduce the work of a little-known charity, even though its work has made a huge difference to thousands of people.

"Hopefully the novelty of raising funds through a Champagne tasting will appeal, as I know those living and working in the area enjoy a good night out!

"It is important to let people know about the work of World Response, so where better to start than at home!"

Tickets for the Champagne tasting cost £15 and can be bought at Savills Cook Shop in Saville Street, Malton or SOTA Hairdressing & Beauty in Wheelgate, Malton.

For more information contact Mo Hayward on 08708 505517 or email mo@worldresponse.org

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