Medway Rotarian David Hatcher returns from Shelterbox mission to Brazil

David Hatcher reported that he has now successfully completed his 5th mission for ShelterBox – once again returning to Brazil for flooding and landslides but this time in the centre of Brazil in the States of Minas Gerais (on its own bigger in area than France), and also the border of Rio de Janeiro State.

He was due to train a new Brazilian resident Response Team Member from Ipanema, who unfortunately had to work at the last minute as she is a freelance journalist, so he never did get to meet his ‘girl from Ipanema’. However, he did manage to re-home 62 families in the towns of Guidoval, Alem Paraiba and Sapucaia – all formerly beautiful towns nestling in valleys that in the case of the last two became the victim of 183mm of rain in just one night!

The result was massive flooding and two nights before David’s arrival the start of landslides that crushed 8 homes at 0300hrs in the morning and killed 22 people in their beds.

David is keen to spread the word about the work ShelterBox is doing around the world and will happily visit any group who would like to hear first hand the difference we can make by supporting ShelterBox in providing homes for those much less fortunate than we are blessed to be.

Santa Charity Fun Run – Santa Saunta Saturday 19th November

We couldn’t have asked for better weather than the blue sky and sunshine which helped set the backdrop for a successful event in the romantic and historical surroundings of Rochester Caste Gardens. With well over 200 participants we are set to raise a good contribution towards Demelza Rotary Children’s Hospice Holidays, whilst also making a serious contribution to other local deserving charities.

We would like to thank all involved with the organisation and running of the event and everybody who took part in the Santa Fun Run.

We look forward to learning how much we have managed to raise.

Be sure to visit our site again to find out.

Walk for Water 2011

Medway Rotary Club’s first ‘Walk for Water’ (W4W) took place on Sunday 5 June 2011. Earlier in the year the club had taken on a commitment to raise funds to support the installation of irrigation in a primary school and three community gardens in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, in an area of that country where HIV/AIDS is prevalent and, as a result, there are many orphaned children. An apt and very descriptive slogan for W4W was created –‘Walk for water so that they don’t have to’, and that may have been one of the factors that persuaded Archbishop Desmond Tutu to become patron of W4W.

On the day some 60 walkers, Rotarians, non-Rotarians, families, friends and several dogs, turned out, some to tackle the more challenging 10km, but most the 8km route, both starting and finishing at the Robin Hood Pub at Bluebell Hill. Most importantly, all were sponsored and they raised in total about £2,400. But the final total will be higher than that, by about 20%, when Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs allows, and refunds, Gift Aid on behalf of those who were tax-payers.

On the same day in KwaZulu Natal, another W4W took place under the direction of Durban Rotary Club – Medway’s partners in the project. The final outcome of everyone’s efforts, physical and fund-raising, and with the help of The Rotary Foundation, is that sufficient funds (about £23,000) are now available to complete the irrigation project and work will begin in January 2012.

W4W 2011 was a great success in funding much needed work in KwaZulu Natal, but there is still a great need to help people in the developing world to have access to fresh water – and there are 900 million of them. So, please make a note in your diary to help by taking part in:

W4W 2012 on Sunday 27 May 2012

Pig Race

A Pig Race evening was held at Featherby Junior School on Saturday 15th October .Over £1000 was raised for the Cambria Trust.

Three New members

The Rotary Club has recently inducted three new members, Desmond Simpeh, Laura Mooney and Paul Wintle.

Club Handover

On 28th June was the Club Handover. Ken Townsend handed over to Mike Williams, President for the year 2011/12. Geoff Waters is the President Elect.

Paul Harris fellowships were awarded to Bob Curtis, Stan Cokayne, Jim Foad and Keith Powell.

The Club also celebrated its 30th Anniversary and six founder members were present on the evening.Andrew Harwood, Stan Cokayne and Chris Stedman are still members. Former founder members Peter Harris, Charles Sait and Terry Morris also attended.

Medway Rotarian helps bring Christmas early to the Phillipines

Overjoyed youngsters in the Philippines have likened ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) members David Hatcher (UK) and Arnold Kelly (NZ) to Santa Claus after receiving emergency humanitarian aid from them.

ShelterBox has been working in the Philippines since mid-October, after super-typhoon Megi struck the country. On Tuesday, December 7, ShelterBox tents were distributed in the San Lorenzo and San Rodrigo hamlets set in the hills to the south of Ilagan where families continue to be hit by frequent rain and flooding.

Medway Rotarian and SRT member David Hatcher said: ‘Many of the families we helped yesterday are trying to rebuild homes shattered by the super-typhoon while others are struggling to find the means to give shelter to their children.

‘The people who live in these tiny hamlets off the beaten track were amazed at the gift of ShelterBox tents, blankets, cooking utensils, water carriers and other basic but essential kit that we were able to deliver to them. It seems the whole of the Philippines is looking forward to and preparing for Christmas which they take as a very uplifting season’

He continued: ‘Although it was raining hard and the wind was blowing it gave us even more inspiration, to ensure we could provide shelter, warmth and dignity to those who had so little.

The children were overjoyed and kept calling us Santa Claus. I felt if only we could transfer the depth of emotion it created to those around the world who have so much, then we’d be able to do even more for such impoverished but deserving and happy people whose lives have been struck by tragedy.’

Santa Fun Run 2010

This year's Rotary club of Medway Santa Fun Run will be held on Saturday 27 November when hundreds of adults and children, many dressed in Santa outfits, will run, walk or crawl a one mile course starting at Rochester castle.

Medway's mayor, Cllr David Brake, who is himself a Rotarian, joined organisers this week for a practice jog. Entry is just £10 per person and cash raised will be split between Demelza children's hospice and Rotary charities.

Said Mayor Brake, "Last year's launch of this annual event was very popular and this year will build on that success. I am confident that the Fun Run will become a very important part of Medway's calendar."

Geoff Waters, the Medway Rotary Fun Run organiser said "The first 600 entrants will get a Santa Suit to run in so we urge individuals and teams from offices, shops and works across Medway to register now for the run.

Medway Rotarian Joins Relief Effort in Haiti

Medway Rotarian David Hatcher flew out to Haiti on 11th March to join the ShelterBox operation. A former Chief Superintendent of Kent Police and the British Transport Police, David is never far away from an opportunity to roll up his sleeves.

David made it through a rigorous selection process to become one a member of the ShelterBox Response Team back in September last year. He is ready to be deployed to disasters anywhere in the world and he leapt at the chance to assist in Haiti.

David said "so far I have been to the urban area of Port au Prince (Gressier) where we helped the locals in the countryside (38 families in a rural community) put up secondhand tents a local Rotarian's wife had acquired." Next he left the capital and "…went into the mountains to an area called Boutiler where we supplied tents to families living on the hillside, demonstrating how to erect them and helping them with site preparation etc…"

Summing up the situation, he said "there is still an estimated 1.5 million people living on the streets in parks etc. There are even shanty shacks on the 4 foot wide central reservations in down town Port au Prince - crazy living conditions. 5 storey buildings have just pancaked and there are doubtless still many bodies to be unearthed when they get round to clearing the sites."

When the devastating earthquake hit just west of Port-au-Prince on 12th January, the ShelterBox team began preparing to deploy aid to Haiti. As a non-political organisation, ShelterBox and Rotary International are granted access to areas devastated by natural disasters when aid is most needed - immediately. There is no waiting for international governments to agree to send aid. With ShelterBox, aid is already boxed up and ready to go.

ShelterBox was founded by Rotarian Tom Henderson in 2000 when he saw the devastation caused by a natural disaster on the news one evening. He created a single box of essential items that would provide for a family as local, national and international organisations started rebuilding the area hit. His aim was to provide shelter, warmth and dignity to these victims.

Today, ShelterBox has been adopted by Rotary International and its 33,000 member clubs. Rotary Clubs, private companies and even individual sponsors fund ShelterBoxes that have supported nearly a million people worldwide in over 60 countries.

Walk for Water

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