Walk for Sean 2021-a Fantastic Success!

A huge thank you to all those who both took part in the WFS 2021 and contributed in any way. At the time of writing we have raised £3500 and know there is still a little more to come.

Through your time, effort and financial support we can now commit to the refurbishment of the toilet blocks at Brewerville School. This small but significant step is vital in helping children to be educated in a healthy and positive setting, ever more important in today’s uncertain world.

This lovely video, received just before the Walk for Sean expresses in a joyous way, the gratitude of the school for the contribution that the Fund makes to the continuing education of children.

The photos below capture both the magic of the day and why we are all doing it!

All ages (and their pets) came together under an autumn sun to walk, talk and raise monies for the children of Liberia.

And just in case you missed out on the fun, this film from Mark Chatterton capture the day perfectly, including some wonderful dancing in this film!

Finally, if you would still like to help us, there are 3 ways:

1) Kerrie Young is in the early days of a mammoth sponsored walk of over 4000 miles for SDCF. She was there on Sunday and did another 5 and may still be going in a year or two but she would appreciate any contributions to support her endeavour. https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/KerryYoung11

2) The limited Edition WFS 2021 shirts are still available for £10+pp, just contacting us by email from this website

3) You can still start your own WFS 2021 or just donate at any time between now and the end of the year.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who helped make Walk for Sean 2021 a great success!

£8000!

From the rainy day pictured above back in late September, to a rainy day in September;what has changed?

The simple answer is that thanks to your efforts, over £8000 has been raised in our unique and virtual WFS 2020!

There are more details on our Events page our forthcoming Christmas newsletter gives more detail of the work being undertaken in Liberia to help educate young children and keep them safe and healthy.

Thank you to every single person, who waked, ran, bounced, cycled and sponsored to help us raise this tremendous amount of money!

"The Worst Witch" helps WFS 2020

Our thanks to our Patron Raquel Cassidy whose Instagram initiative aimed at fans of the Worst Witch TV series is helping raise money for WFS 2020.

Fans who choose to donate £10 via the website (along with the donation message “Into the Cauldron” have the opportunity to win a personalised video message from Raquel, as well as homework, of course from HB (Miss Hardbroom for the unitiated).

hardbroom.jpg


This popular BBC show has been watched by millions and the prize is already proving popular.

One lucky winner will be plucked from the Cauldron after the 7th December.

Thank you to Raquel and of course all those taking part!

Great Support for "Walk for Sean 2020"

We have been overwhelmed by the great support of all those who have taken part so far and supported with donations…….THANKYOU!

There are still 2 weeks to go and we hope to raise a few more £s as various supporters continue to walk, row, run and jump all around the world.

One such outstanding effort was undertaken by Jane Moloney in the west of Ireland, who has walked many, many miles and raised £1000+.

There is no better way to sum it up than in Jane’s own words in the short film below:


Update from Liberia

We recently had an update from Fr Riccardo s.d,b who runs the Salesian ministy in Tappita, a place very close to Sean’s heart. In common with the whole of Liberia, this year has been challenging. The statement below is the last public pronouncement from George Weah, President of Liberia. This was given to the UN in September.

“Your Excellencies, Africa has been hit hard by the pandemic, although the continent has not seen the number of deaths and affected persons as has been the case in many advanced countries. We can only attribute this to the MERCY OF OUR ALMIGHTY GOD, who has made sure that predictions of massive numbers of deaths on the continent of Africa did not materialize.

In Liberia, we were able to build on our previous experience six (6) years ago with the Ebola Viral Epidemic, and I am proud to say that the Government and its development partners have mounted a robust National Covid Response that seems to have contained COVID-19 for the time being. 

As a result, only about One Thousand Three Hundred and Twenty-one (1,320) Liberians have been affected by COVID-19 to date, of which approximately One Thousand Two Hundred and Thirteen (1,213) of these have fully recovered, with some 82 Liberians falling to the epidemic. 

I therefore want to extend special thanks to our bilateral and multilateral partners for the strong support Liberia received to deal with the COVID-19 emergency and help sustain the Liberian economy.  The Government has now developed a Post-Covid Economic Recovery Plan that prioritizes short term actions and investments in key sectors such as agriculture and tourism, as a means of reducing the impact of COVID-19 but also providing the basis for economic recovery”.

We support 120 children via sponsorship in Tappita and here are 2 recent pictures of those starting and those finishing school.

sdcf Tappita 2020 (yr12).jpg
sdcf Tappita School 2020.jpg

It goes without saying that your continued support of our events and your sponsorship is invaluable to these young people. Fr Riccardo summarises this as below:

The School Year 2019-2020 has been a very though and unpredictable one. And, given the harsh socio-economic reality due to the COVID – 19, something similar (if not worse) could be foreseen for the coming year 2020-2021. 

The school is in a financially depressed state. The parents and students are in a disadvantaged position given the struggle they are undergoing, and even worse if we were to raise the school fees (which no matter how irrelevant it could be) has to take place. 

The teachers are also victims to the fact of low wages that could barely sustain their individual families. They too need a better remuneration, more consistent with their dignity, service and commitment. In conscience and out of respect of their dignity we have to increase it!

Our greatest hope is in scholarships from our trusted friends.

Last year, through yours and other friends’ support, we were able to give 120 students scholarship. These students economic situation has deteriorated and they will be looking up to us for assistance this coming academic year 2020/2021. It is our ardent hope that our friends could extend a helping hand to these children through the school to secure for them a better future. Whatever assistance for scholarship will be highly appreciated.