Stonehouse charity achieve their Malawi nurse goal

Nov 12 2009 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

STONEHOUSE Better World have exceeded their £5500 fund-raising target to train a nurse for three years after a spectacular charity dinner.

They held their third Annual Sportsperson’s Dinner on Saturday, October 24, at Dalziel Park Hotel to continue the support of the Mulanje Mission in Malawi.

The latest fund-raiser enjoyed an excellent turnout.

Stonehouse Better World have been raising cash to go towards their £5500 needed to train a nurse for three years in the hospital within the mission.

After the event, which included a prize raffle and an auction, they had raised a total of £5054.20. In addition to that there’s two previous fundraising amounts, £1225 from a race night in September and a further £1156 from the 2008 Christmas Appeal.

Training a nurse in the Mulanje Mission Hospital has two major positives for the community; it not only takes a family out of poverty and poor living conditions but also provides the community with a qualified nurse.

The night was started with an introduction from councillor Jackie Burns followed by a visual presentation of the group’s work.

The speakers Robbie Glen, former prison Governor at Castle Huntly and Cornton Vale, and Willie Hunter, a former Watsonians player, both gave an excellent talk.

Lesley Barrie, who organises many of the Stonehouse Better World events, said: “There was one special moment in the evening where a young lady won a raffle prize of £500 and handed it back to us for the cause.

“Jade Bodell, the 17-year-old from Cairnlodge, gave everyone attending a truly inspiring moment with her kind gesture.

“Within the cash we raised, we are also giving £500 to the Royal Sick Children’s Hospital and a further £500 is going to Strathcarron Hospice. Also, a special thanks goes to everyone who made the night so successful in helping to exceed our initial target.”

For further information on donating to the Mulanje Mission Hosptial in Malawi, call Lesley Barrie on 01698 793 889.