"It's a long way to walk," Mama Sue told retired Blackpool GP, Dr Steve Cushing, newly arrived in Watamu, when he told her he and his wife, Cherith, would take a walk down to the Happy House from their hotel.
"Sue," he reminded her " how do I raise my money for you?"
Steve, an intrepid trekker, took part in the world's most gruelling marathon, the Marathon de Sables,enduring extreme temperatures and conditions across the Sahara, to help our family, and now gives talks on his remarkable journey in return for donations to the Happy House.
Sue is delighted that Steve, who was her GP for many years and who is still a tremendous support to her, and Cherith are able to visit the Happy House and to meet the children for themselves.
A keen photographer, Steve plans to take pictures we will be able to use for displays back here in the UK.
Steve and Cherith have taken along lots of much needed items for the children - shoes, socks, Vaseline and toys for the babies. There were gifts, also, from Sheila and Michael Dickinson who were due to travel with them but, unfortunately, were forced to cancel at the last minute because of ill health and Steve and Cherith handed over a generous donation from friends Alistair and Charlotte.
Thank you, all, so much.
Prize appeal
We are appealing for prizes of bottles (anything from wines and spirits to ketchup and bubble bath) for our bottlebola, general prizes for the tombola, and raffle prizes for our Happy House Charity Night and Second Birthday Party at Blackpool's Hotel Sheraton on Friday, March 16, at 7pm. So if you do have anything left over from Christmas (a duplicate gift or something that isn't quite to your taste) now's the time to recycle for a good cause! Ideally we do need as much a possible before the day to give us plenty of time to get everything numbered and set up, so if you are in the Blackpool area please email elizabethgomm@childrenofwatamu.net or phone 07905 130 589.
*If you would like tickets for the evening and it's going to be such fun, tickets are £15 each from Elizabeth. Please send a cheque (made out to the Happy House) alsong with the number you need and a stamped addressed envelope to Elizabeth at 6, Burwood Drive, Blackpool, FY3 8NS, as soon as possible ... they're selling fast!
Sue and Dave will be here and can't wait to see you.
