Jaws

"If you watch the movie Jaws backwards, it's a movie about a shark that keeps throwing up people until they have to open a beach."

Walk for Kabubbu

In October, 2008, I had the opportunity to volunteer with Quicken Trust in the village of Kabubbu. After my ten day trip, I left Kabubbu taken aback by the beauty of Uganda, as well as both the sheer generosity and the vibrant personalities of the people with whom I spoke.

Throughout my discussions with various community members in Kabubbu, one of the things that hit me the most was the distance the children walked to school every day. For many, the journey took several hours each way - either by foot or by bicycle. Despite this, I did not hear a single complaint about the journey, but instead heard many express their thankfulness for the opportunity to receive an education.

This summer I will be returning to the village of Kabubbu to work as a volunteer for three weeks. My conversations with the school children of the community sparked my idea to participate in a sponsored walk to raise money for Quicken Trust prior to my trip. I am aiming to raise at least £400 (roughly $710) and would greatly appreciate your contribution to my target.

On May 26th, 2009, I will be walking from my house to the area surrounding my school –a distance of roughly 7.8 miles - to raise money for Quicken Trust's work in Kabubbu, Uganda.

Before my last trip, I raised an estimated $525. This money purchased a set of bunk beds, 2 mattresses, 2 blankets, and 4 mosquito nets – as well as enabling a family to buy sugar, salt, soap, and paraffin each week. One of the projects on which I worked during my trip was the building of a foster home to house children who live with guardians unable to properly care for them, or simply live too far to attend Kabubbu Primary School. This is just one of many projects Quicken Trust is responsible for – in the past eight years a primary school, a secondary school, and a health clinic have all been built to serve the community.

I would like to request your help in reaching my fundraising goal by sponsoring me in this event. If you do not wish to make a cash donation, you can sponsor me online by visiting http://www.justgiving.com/melissabale . As the website is based in the UK, donations will need to be made in pounds sterling. However, if you use a currency converter to find out how much you want to donate in pounds, you will be charged the equivalent amount in Canadian dollars (you may want to check whether your bank/credit card company charges extra fees for international transactions before making a donation).

For more information on Quicken Trust and their work in Uganda, please visit www.quickentrust.com

Thank you so much for your support!

#44

"It may look dark tonight, but if I hold on to hope tomorrow will be brighter"

Discuss.

Did You Know?

Are we really moving forward? Are we happier, or just greedier?

Hogmanay

For the Scottish blood in me...

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o' lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my jo,

For auld lang syne,

We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp !
And surely I’ll be mine !
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pu’d the gowans fine ;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot,
Sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !
And gie's a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,
For auld lang syne.

CHORUS

The Dropkick Murphys version of the song Auld Lang Syne

Or listen to a more traditional version:

Old Words for a New Year

"If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would quite literally astound ourselves."

-Thomas Edison

...and the dreamer began to climb