Upcoming Fundraising Events 

Annual Curry Lunch - London Ladies Committee

This will be held at St Columba's Church of Scotland, Pont Street, London on a Wednesday in late October 2010. This acclaimed event includes time to meet old friends, buy Himalayan fabrics and jewellery before enjoying a splendid authentic curry lunch provided by a local Nepali restaurant.

Edinburgh Curry Celidh – Vanda Fraser

Our annual Curry Ceilidh for 2009 was held on 31st October and, as ever, was a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by all who were able to join in the party. Trying to better the £3,300 raised last year, the 2010 Curry Celidh is being planned for same time, same place and all who can possibly make it are invited to join us for another fun evening of Nepalese cuisine, raffles, singing and celidh. Do come along! Tickets go on sale later this year and contact should be made in the first instance with Vanda, the grand organiser of the event, at e-mail vandagfraser@lineone.net.

Cawdor Friends of Kalimpong – Nigel Graham

Our thirty-strong group from the World Church Team at Cawdor Parish Church, Nairn, continues its active support of our four-year old twin boys, Harshil and Harshit Kerat. Main Fundraising Events still to come this year include a Coffee Morning at Drynachean on 12th June and, on September 18th at Croy Hall, Cawdor, our Annual Ceilidh to which once again the Inverness Fiddlers will be donating their music-making. Tickets for both through Nigel Graham at 01667-453241.

Bike Nepal - February 2011

To date 3 Bengal Bike Rides have taken place. The first took place in Februaiy 2006 and was repeated in 2008 & 2010. Each have been immensely successful as fun - fund raisers and following on the enthusiastic up-take this year when 19 cyclists raised an estimated £70000, it has been decided to launch another Bike Ride next year n February 2011, Last Februarys cyclists reported upon a very splendid and rewarding experience but the route, National Highway 31, has become crowded to the point of being dangerous and a cycling group of 19 is a little too large to escort efficiently. As a result, for February 2011 two new routes are being investigated. These are Kathrnandu (Nepal) to Kalinipong (possibly via Darjeeling) and Gauhati (Assam) to Kalimpong. Both are roughly of the same distance as the Kolkata to Kalimpong route and both have their attractions.

It will be some time before Prakhash (our on the spot organiser) will be able to survey these routes. Thereafter a choice will be made. Kathrnandu to Kalirnpong has a ‘rommitic appeal’ and would be my preference but much will depend upon road conditions. A maximum of 15 cyclists will be imposed. In the meantime this message is to invite genuine expressions of interest and to share the event with your freinds and colleagues. Conditions for participation remain as before, namely 1. reasonable fitness, sufficient to cycle an average of 60 miles per day for 7 days, 2. Preparedness to pay all travel and living expenses - estimated at around £1200 and 3. An undertaking to raise a minimum of £1000 for the work of Dr Grahams Homes. Facilities en route are excellent and there is no better way than cycling to experience, firsthand, the culture, people and land of a different country.

Tina and Caroline – We’ll Shop ‘til We Drop:

Never ones to miss an opportunity, our shopaholics decided this year to cycle to the Kalimpong Bazaar – well, from Kolkata at least – to make their annual purchases for their renowned sales back in UK. The future of the Girls Hostel in Elliot Road, Kolkata, is assured for another year. Thanks to this initiative fifteen senior students at College in Kolkata have a safe and supervised home. Additionally, their efforts contributed to the splendid sum raised by the Bengal Bikers. Why not invite Tina and Caroline for a sales session at your next home event?

Arran Friends of Kalimpong – John G Webster:

Our Annual Coffee Morning held on Saturday 1st May 2010 in Lamlash Parish Church Hall was enjoyed by Arran Friends and visitors alike. From this event, and with the Soup and Sandwich Lunch being arranged for a date in September, we hope to have raised sufficient funds to support a child for a year.