insideKENT Magazine Issue 63 - June 2017 | Page 179

CHARITY
CELEBRITIES URGE YOU TO GET BRUNCHING FOR CHARITY
Duchenne charity, Harrison’s Fund, is asking
everyone across the UK to show off their
brunch-tastic skills this June and take part in
the charity’s Harrison’s Brunch to raise vital
money for research into the life-limiting
disease.
This year’s campaign is being supported by
celebrity chef, author and father of three, Theo
Michaels and Good Morning Britain TV
presenter, Charlotte Hawkins.
Theo said: “It’s an honour to support Harrison’s
Brunch. As a dad of three young children, this
campaign really resonates with me and I can’t
even begin to imagine what the thousands of
parents of children with Duchenne are going
through every day. When I look at photos of
Harrison I’m always inspired by his character
and heartbroken to know how much he is
affected by this disease and how much worse
it will get in the future without any
breakthroughs. Which is where everyone can
help, even just a little.”
Harrison’s Fund is named after the ten year
old Harrison Smith from Surrey who was
diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular
Dystrophy, a rare genetic condition which
affects all the muscles in the body, causing
them to waste away. Harrison’s Fund’s goal is
to get as much money as possible into the
hands of the world’s best researchers, who are
working to find a cure for Duchenne. The
charity is currently funding 12 research projects
in the US and the UK.
Whether cooking, baking or frying, every
brunch held will make a huge difference to
thousands of children from across the UK
suffering from this disease.
www.harrisonsfund.com
Theo Michaels
GURKHA MEMORIAL FUND CHARITY DINNER EVENING
The Gurkha Memorial Fund held its first
memorial charity dinner evening for its future
projects and a celebration of Gurkha 200 years’
service to the Crown.
The dinner was a sell out and was held at the
Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone where many
dignitaries attended the event and enjoyed a
curry supper with entertainment including
dancing by the children of Folkestone Girls
Grammar and the Military Wives Choir.
Attendees included people from the Nepalese
community as well as serving officers.
The charity dinner was a huge success and
included a presentation of the current project
by raising funds for a computer technology
suite at the Kakarbhitta Higher Secondary
School. This will provide an essential
educational facility for the school which is
very much lacking at present. It will encourage
basic computer knowledge and skills for poor
children who have never had access or the
opportunity to use computers before. In
addition, other schools will be welcome to use
the facilities, and this will be rolled out further
in the future. The initial project will consist of
31 laptops set up with tables and chairs, along
with all the appropriate infrastructure, training,
skills, support and backup to enable the project
to succeed.
One of the outcomes will enable the children
to develop skills to progress to work, and then
communicate with schools here in Folkestone
to create pen friends in the hope that they will
meet up in the future, but certainly share
cultural experiences.
ROYAL AIR FORCES ASSOCIATION (RAFA) CHOSEN AS THIS YEAR’S CHARITY
FOR THE LEEDS CASTLE CLASSICAL CONCERT
Whether it’s an injured airman fighting to get back on their feet or the
widow of a WWII veteran needing a shoulder to lean on, the RAF
Association is there when a family needs support to stay strong and
connected despite the separation that comes with RAF service. Anthony Flaum. In the skies there will be a jaw-dropping display by
the Aero Legends in a 1940’s Spitfire and the evening will end in style
with a stunning fireworks finale, all against the incomparable backdrop
of Leeds Castle.
They will be bringing their half-scale Spitfire to the event, built by
members of the RAF Association’s Christchurch Branch in 2008. The
model is styled as a Supermarine Spitfire Mk1 from No.19 Squadron.
The Spitfire had been on tour since 2008 and has now been refurbished.
There will be a photo opportunity for 'little ones' to sit in the cockpit
and feel like a real WWII pilot. www.leedscastleconcert.co.uk
The event offers a fantastic line-up of performances, including the
world famous Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by John Rigby,
singing sensations the Patriot Girls, Soprano Katie Bird and Tenor
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