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"Rock and Roll" Fundraiser for Haiti Orphanage

Wednesday 9 June 2010, 19:04
By Sue Gudgeon

A child rescued from the rubbleTHE HAITI EARTHQUAKE

Charlton Horethorne residents, Sue and Keith Gudgeon, were, like the rest of the world, moved by the devastation caused by the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti. However, rather than just write a cheque they have taken their support further by starting the Maison Fortune Appeal.

Maison Fortune is an orphanage in Hinche in the Central Plateau region of Haiti which was started in 2000 by a remarkable Haitian man, Jean-Louis. The Orphanage has grown from very small numbers to its pre-earthquake total of over 150 resident children for whom food, nurture and education are provided and it provides these through to adulthood as it does not put any of its children up for adoption. Maison Fortune also caters for the educational and meal requirements for a large number of non-resident local youngsters.

SurvivorsSince January, the impact on Maison Fortune has been substantial with over 100 additional orphaned youngsters being given permanent homes and homeless families from Port-au-Prince being provided with meals and education. This, together with price rises and shortages resulting from the earthquake, has put an enormous strain on the Orphanage's finances.

The innocent sufferMaison Fortune relies totally on charitable donations which are managed through a charitable Foundation in Virginia, USA, and there is very little fund-raising carried out outside the United States of America.

Maison Fortune Appeal has been started with the enthusiastic agreement of the American Foundation and a group of residents in Charlton Horethorne have joined Sue and Keith in this endeavour.

A NIGHT OF ROCK AND ROLL

The first fund-raising event is at 7.15 p.m. on Saturday 26th June in Charlton Horethorne Village Hall and is a "Rock and Roll" Evening with local band "The Diamonds" who are actively supporting the Appeal. The Evening will include a two-course supper, a licensed bar and a short presentation on the Orphanage during the supper. Tickets are £8.00 for adults and £5.00 for under 16's and are available from The Village Store, Charlton Horethorne, or from 01963 220249.

Anyone interested in either becoming involved in the Appeal and its work or in giving a donation should contact either Sue and Keith Gudgeon on 01963 220249 or Melissa Oura (who is handling the Appeal's publicity) on 01963 220054. Any donations can be sent to Quarry Cottage, Charlton Horethorne, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 4NS with cheques made payable to Maison Fortune Appeal. Both the Orphanage and its supporting American Foundation have comprehensive websites.




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