Thank you to the Charlbury Beer Festival!
As a Charlbury resident I wanted to thank the Charlbury Beer Festival committee members for awarding Cecily's Fund (http://www.cecilysfund.org/) a £1,182 grant. Thank you also to all my fellow residents who attend the festival, making it a success and raising vital funds for community and international projects.
Cecily's Fund was founded in 1997 to continue the work of Cecily Eastwood, who tragically died aged 19 in a car accident whilst volunteering with AIDS orphans in Zambia. Cecily grew up in Stonesfield and her commitment to education and building self-reliance for orphans and vulnerable children remains deeply embedded throughout Cecily's Fund today. Basil and Alison Eastwood, Cecily's parents and Cecily's Fund's co-founders, moved to Charlbury last year.
The grant will fund the purchase of gardening and photography equipment for use by after-school "Sunshine Clubs". These clubs have been set up to benefit orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia to teach them new skills that will improve their life chances.
Cecily's Fund, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, is based in Witney and I have worked there for over 2 years. I visit Zambia twice a year and see first-hand what a difference a donation like this will make to the lives children Cecily's Fund supports.
Thank you once again!