NEWS
WALKING TO SUPPORT A HOSPITAL IN SIERRA LEONE
YEAR 7 BOYS LEARN ABOUT GIVING TO THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY
CHARITY WALKERS PHOTOGRAPHED AFTER THEIR 13KM TREK
The boys of 8PR and 7HC ( Mr Peter Riley ’ s and Mr Hamish Cox ’ s forms ) invited all boys and parents of these forms to participate in a 10km charity walk on Saturday 26 November 2022 , at Point Nepean National Park .
Through this activity , the boys learned about giving to the global community , and after trudging along the coast for what turned out to be 13km , we ended with a sense of accomplishment , sore feet and a couple of blisters .
The boys ’ parents had prepared a barbecue to celebrate the boys ’ achievement and to chat to the Charity ’ s Board Representative Alison Lemoh – an intensive care unit nurse and daughter of paediatrician Dr Nuli Lemoh , the founder
of Bo Children ’ s Hospital in Sierra Leone . Dr Lemoh ’ s vision was a hospital that provides essential paediatric care and health education for the local community . Sierra Leone has one of the highest infant , childhood and maternal mortality rates in the world , with almost one in 10 children dying before the age of five years and a greater than 50 per cent likelihood of dying before reaching 15 years of age . The average life expectancy is just under 56 years .
Bo Children ’ s Hospital helps to lower the exceptionally high child mortality rates by providing treatment , vaccinations and education targeting preventable illnesses , including malaria , communicable disease and malnutrition .
We were delighted that through sponsorship of our charity walk , we raised $ 2190 for the Bo Children ’ s Hospital .
In speaking about how this charity walk supports the hospital in providing essential healthcare , Year 8 student Tej Toor said ‘ this was a great honour ’. The Bo Children ’ s Hospital Foundation here in Australia is run by a group of dedicated , unpaid board members who volunteer their efforts to ensure every single cent donated goes straight to the hospital to purchase essential equipment , supplies and salaries for the medical staff ( https :// www . bochildrenshospital . org . au )
PETER RILEY – FORM TEACHER , 7PR
40 Great Scot Issue 168 – May 2023