The Big Tidy Up!!

It was 9.45am on the 20th February. Myself, Raheema, and a few council members were loitering nervously around the St Philip's Church hall, looking at exhibitions, sampling council freebies, and stamping to keep warm.

"How many people are you expecting, Michael?" asked Mo, the City Warden, as he looked at his watch. "A few more than this.." Michael replied...

Half a hour later, it was a different story! Welcome to the Big Multi Faith Tidy Up!

Big well done everybody!!!

SIXTY of you braved the cold and the early morning start to clean up Leicester on Saturday! A fantastic effort by everyone! Over 25 big bin liners of rubbish were collected in total Photos are up on our FACEBOOK GROUP (Click and join the facebook group!) and we're even in the 'Leicester Mercury'! Even better, due to your hard work, we raised… (including a matching donation by former Prime Minister Tony Blair)

£932.06!!

That will provide over 180 bed nets to protect African families from mosquitoes, and malaria. To put that in perspective, each person that attended has helped protect SIX LIVES for FIVE YEARS in sub-Saharan Africa. I spoke to Alexis this week, at the charity Malaria No More UK that organises our bed net distribution campaigns in Africa. She said;

 “Thanks so much for all your effort on Saturday! We’re delighted that young people in Leicester have chosen to help tackle malaria, a disease which kills up to a million people every year. I’m just back from Ghana, where it was truly heart warming to see how grateful everyone was for the nets and to hear about the positive impact they’ve had, especially in saving the lives of pregnant women and young children who are most vulnerable to the disease. Thank you everyone!”

Mervin (one of the volunteers, with me above) told me; "“I came today because I like helping other people, working as a volunteer and supporting the malaria campaign”. Mervin who himself has suffered from malaria in the past added, “I had malaria and by God’s grace, I came out of it. I have seen many people who are suffering from the malaria disease, so I think this is really worthwhile. As a Christian, I have to help other people that is my thing. I have to love others, as I love myself.”

Awesome effort everyone.

Whats next?

Join us for an evening where we are launching a very exciting initiative, the “March Micro Malaria Movement”; I’m saying no more just yet… We are also going to have a guest speaker and stories from Big Tidy, as well as some simply superb games. And food, lots of it. & an update from the UN Special Envoy on Malaria. that’s:

Shape the Movement

Next Wednesday March 3^rd
6pm – 8pm
St Philip’s Centre (2A Stoughton Drive North, LE5 5UB) (Map http://bit.ly/9d0zTP)

Bring your friends, all welcome!
Get in touch michael.tweed@faithsactfellows.org

Cya soon!

MT