Running to Romania

Louise and Nathan are going to Romania in April to work with a charity, Reach Out and Touch Romania, and they’re doing some fund-raising to pay for their food and travel costs. Part of it is a sponsored 5k walk/run from West Cross to Brynmill (Nathan running, Louise walking!) at 3pm on Sunday March 18th.

If you’d like to run with them and raise money or their behalf, they’d be totally thrilled. On the other hand, you could just sponsor them! There’s a form on the noticeboard in Linden to sign up or just speak to one of them. Or email Linden and we'll pass on the message.

That's Louise in the photo with a man - not Nathan - on a horse.

The first humanitarian aid trip by the charity Reach Out and Touch Romania in 1992 followed on from an initial visit organised by Soar Baptist Church in Beaufort, South Wales in 1991.

Regular trips have since been made, centering on the villages of Virfurile and Halmagiu, in the west of the country. In the past many tonnes of food, medical supplies, toiletries, clothes, shoes and much more have been donated. At the present time, they are supporting the upkeep of a retirement home in Halmagiu and the setting up of a nursery school in Virfurile.

The next trip is planned for March 2007.

Retirement Home in Halmagiu
The home was opened recently to provide accommodation for the elderly who often have no pension to support them in retirement and would otherwise be forced to live on the streets.

Nursery Unit in Virfurile
The school is to be housed in an extension to the village Baptist Church and in order to complete the building work money is needed to purchase windows and doors, and to have the building wired and plastered. It then needs to be carpeted and furnished before being equipped with toys and educational items.
When completed, the nursery will be a safe haven for young children who otherwise would have to accompany their parents to work, often involving long, hot days in the fields.

The 'F' Word

Chris and Alun are continuing - still - with the theme of 'one another' on Sunday, this week, looking at the 'F' word. (No, I don't know what that means either.)

All through next week, half-term, the Community Cafe is running at Red again.

The cafe will be open from 11 am to 3.00 pm each day for coffee and cake, soup and snacks, pasta and potatoes. With special Smiley Meals for children, and a wide range of Fairtrade goods, it's the place to eat this half-term!

With chips and tomato sauce, please