Waltham Forest THUSO in South Africa
Waltham Forest Thuso in South Africa
Thuso’s annual fundraising garden party is scheduled for Sunday 2nd July. Expect the usual combination of delicious food, great entertainment and an update on Thuso’s work here and in South Africa. As well as our plant and jewellery sale and raffle.
Hope to see you at 37 Grosvenor Park Road, E17 9PD from 1-5pm. Rumour has it that the sun will be shining!
Eighteen cyclists participated in the third Thuso sponsored bike ride on Sunday 11 September. The 40 mile sponsored cycleride, went out into Epping Forest from Walthamstow to North Weald in Essex, via High Beech, and returned via Theydon Bois.
The fabulous weather and lovely Essex countryside helped the cyclists on their way. Although, as event co-ordinator Gerard Omasta Milsom reported, they faced a number of challenges in the form of ‘rather a lot of hills and several punctures’.
Cllr Saima Mahmud, representing the London Borough of Waltham Forest, sent the cyclists on their way. Meanwhile, chair of Thuso, Mmapula Tladi-Small, spoke about the work of the charity before the ride began.
The sponsored bike ride was raising money for the charity’s appeal to provide solar lamps to children and families in rural Limpopo in South Africa. The solar lamps help children to study after dark and limit the use of dangerous kerosene lamps. Although the village does have electricity, the supply can be erratic due to power cuts and an overloaded network.
Gerard Omasta-Milsom said, ‘We have set ourselves a target of £2,000 this year, which we hope to achieve. Last year over £1,000 was raised by the cycleride. These funds will have a tremendous impact on the communities we support in South Africa.’ There is still time to donate to the appeal to help us meet our target.
To donate to the appeal visit our mydonate page at: https://mydonate.bt.com/events/thusobikeride2016
Friends and supporters of Thuso will be once again taking to their bikes to raise money for solar lamps. For the third consecutive year, our sponsored cycle ride will help us send solar lamps to children and their families at Lobethal primary school in rural Limpopo.
So far, more than 100 lamps have been sent out to the school and have been welcomed enthusiastically. The lamps enable children to study after dark and provide a safe form of lighting when electricity supplies fail during power cuts.
Up to 40% of South Africans still use highly-flammable and toxic kerosene for heating, lighting and cooking. But new generation solar lights are cheap, reliable and can provide clean and safe lighting and phone charging.
Last year 13 cyclists successfully completed the ride from Walthamstow to North Weald in Essex – including the two youngest members, who were both just 11 years old.
This year’s bike ride will set off from Walthamstow at 10am on Sunday 11th September and riders can choose to complete between 10 and 40 miles.
For more information or to join the ride contact Gerard on: gerardomastamilsom@yahoo.co.uk or 07931 337202
To donate to the appeal visit our mydonate page at: https://mydonate.bt.com/events/thusobikeride2016
This year’s garden party was a joyous occasion with steel band music and exuberant dancing. Friends and supporters shared food and conversation as they raised money for the charity’s work in South Africa.
Chair Mmapula Tladi-Small updated those present about the ongoing solar light project which sends lamps to children and their families at Lobethal Primary School, Limpopo. She also talked of the continuing sponsorship of students in Thuto Lesedi Secondary school in Gauteng province, as well as the food programme for students at the school.
If you were unable to attend the garden party and wish to make a donation, please use the donate button opposite.
This year’s annual fundraising garden party is also a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the formation of the charity. Please join us for food and entertainment on 3rd July, 1-5pm, at 37 Grosvenor Park Road, E17 9PD.
This is the main fundraising event of our calendar and is always a lively affair. Most importantly, one hundred per cent of all the money raised goes to fund our work with education projects in South Africa.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Thirteen cyclists completed a 40 mile fundraising bike ride for Waltham Forest Thuso in South Africa last Sunday, 20 September. The cyclists were waved off by the Mayor of Walthamstow, Cllr Saima Mahmud, and trustees of the charity. The group – which included eight adults and five under-18s – cycled from Walthamstow to North Weald in Essex, via High Beech.
The cyclists, led by Alick Bridger, were blessed with sunshine, which kept their spirits up during some challenging climbs. All were delighted to complete the route to raise funds to send solar lights to families in rural South Africa, on the charity’s second annual bike ride.
After last year’s successful bike ride, 50 solar lanterns were sent to children attending Lobethal primary school in Limpopo province. The lights allow children to study after dark and help their families to limit the use of dangerous kerosene lamps when the village’s electricity supply fails.
Anyone inspired by the efforts of our cyclists, especially the younger members of the team, can still make a donation to the appeal: £7.50 will pay for a study light, £15 for a family lantern and £35 for a solar lantern and mobile charger.
You can download a sponsorship form here or make a payment via Paypal by clicking on the donate button.
