Summer Newsletter 2003
Midsummer greetings to you!
Encompass would like to thank you and all the other supporters who have raised funds through gritted teeth, sheer determination, sweat, toil, sunburn and pain by taking part in the London to Brighton Bike Ride (all 58 miles of it) and the South Downs Walk (all 50 miles of it).
“We were in pretty rough shape by the end of it,” said James Temple Smithson who was one of the six out of the seven who finished the walk, “and, amazingly, not one of Adrian’s items of clothing ended up in a cow pat.”
A far more relaxed fundraiser was organised by Muna Sheriff – a charity funk event at the Hanbury Ballroom in Brighton raising just over £1,000. Supporters made a superb effort travelling to Brighton from afar on a Sunday night to listen to live performances from Boxer with their funky dance breaks and uplifting house, Eva’s soulful vocals and DJ Frank “Blunted Soul” and his gritty 60’s funk and hip hop. Everyone moved onto the dance floor and funk night revellers were also treated to Sailor Jerry rum cocktails thanks to Elwyn Gladstone. For a bit of drama, a ferocious and highly entertaining bidding war took place between supporters to win signed albums donated to Encompass by Kylie Minogue. Thanks to Tatum White, Kitty MacCorrie and Angela Von Twickel!
The two events raised over £7,000 towards Encompass and its aim to promote understanding between people from different cultures, faiths and backgrounds.
Meanwhile, the Encompass team have been concentrating intensely these last few months as the maiden Voyage of Understanding rapidly approaches.
The Encompass Voyagers made up of nine Indonesian Muslim boys will arrive in Waterford, Ireland with the Encompass youth leader Heroe Soeprapto this weekend on Sunday 20th July. Two days will be spent in the ‘acclimatization zone’ allowing the boys to rest and check out Ireland before joining the STAVROS S NIARCHOS on Tuesday 22nd July to meet and greet the rest of the voyagers and to receive a briefing from the Captain and his crew (which incidentally includes Claire Braden as the 2nd Chef and myself as the Chef’s Assistant – the potato peeler).
Wednesday 23rd July is the big day which includes a national press conference (watch the news that night and buy the papers the following day!) and the unfurling of the sails as the 65 strong crew set sail for their 10 day high sea adventure.
STAVROS S NIARCHOS returns to Portsmouth on Thursday 31st July with another press conference in tow. The Encompass voyagers will disembark on Friday 01st August to regain their land legs by being shown the sites of South East England and thanks to volunteers the boys will be given a tour of London on the following day. The whirlwind adventure comes to an end on Sunday 03rd August when the Encompass team bid their farewells to the voyagers who will head back to Indonesia with amazing experiences to share with their family, friends and communities.
That is the plan in a nutshell.
All the best
Jun Hirst
Director
Posted Tuesday July 1, 2003
