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BARBARA'S OXFAM FAST 2004
AN
OPEN LETTER TO ALL MY SPONSORS
by Barbara Walmsley
(19 January 2005)
OXFAM
FAST.
Dear
Friends,
Sitting
outside Sainsbury’s for a weekend can be an interesting experience.
I’m not claiming you see all life, but you do see a pretty good
cross section of the public.
A
few years ago I was shouted at by a lady who told me she knew that
the Director of Oxfam came to work in a limousine.
I thought of David Bryer, the then Director, on his bike and tried
to persuade her to let the office write her a letter but she said she knew
it was true because a friend had told her.
Last
year I was accosted by a very drunk gentleman who said he had a rotweiller
at home who could tear me to pieces.
The security guard was a slight young boy who displayed
considerable skill in encouraging him to move on.
I’ve
given directions of how to get to the town centre and the loo,
looked after peoples’ shopping, luggage and bikes.
I’ve put friends in touch
with people who have been waiting for them and accepted bags of clothing
for our local Oxfam shop. I’ve
listened to various accounts of rather dismal diseases and heard a few
life stories from lonely souls with no one else to talk to.
This
year the street collection was even bigger.
Over £1,330 found its way into my ten collecting tins and I was
given an enormous bar of chocolate (and a ten pound note), a whisky bottle
drum full of pennies and five pences and a bunch of roses.
The
kindness I was shown was very humbling and as I stuck stickers on
children, cuddly toys and babies’ hats and as I sympathized with many
Asian people fasting for Ramadan I felt very privileged to have the
opportunity of collecting so much money from caring people who were aware
of their own good fortune and wanted to give something back.
The
coffee morning was a great success. Claire
Tomalin spoke wonderfully well and we made over £800.
And you, the faithful and very generous sponsors, continued to
tolerate this “ferocious fundraiser” (yes, I really have been called
that, can it be true?) and have contributed
so much that I am hopeful the final total may even be in excess of £13,000.
That
would be enough to buy ten water tanks that can be assembled in 45 minutes
and would provide safe water for 7,500 people every day so saving
countless lives.
Thank
you for your loyal and willing support.
We can only imagine how much our efforts are appreciated by those
who need it so badly.
With
all good wishes,
Barbara
Walmsley.
P.S.
At the time of writing I am still waiting for one last corporate donation.
The total will now exceed £13,407.
A huge thank you.
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Barbara Walmsley |
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