RUGBY CLUB’S FUNDRAISER FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
by Colin Dickins
Never mind the Millennium Stadium pop concert in Cardiff, Harrow had its own fund raising event for the Tsunami Appeal on Saturday. It was held at Sudbury by West London Rugby Club and produced a splendid £1800.
Just
a couple of weeks ago, four of the West London ladies, Annette Adams, Michelle
Dickins, Tasha Zealey and Zoe Tighe were so moved by the tragedy in the Indian
Ocean that they decided they must do something at once.
They found that their favourite group, The Blue Diamonds was available,
booked the clubhouse and set about members, friends, other rugby clubs and local
businesses to buy tickets and provide gifts for raffle and auction.
Everyone responded magnificently. Clubs like Harlequins and London Irish donated signed kit, Dragons Health Club donated a month’s free membership and shops like Scan Scene and Diavolo in Pinner gave prizes. Pinner Tandoori offered a meal for two and Kleanway Services a full, top to bottom house-clean. Star gift of the evening was a rugby ball signed by the victorious England World Cup team that fetched £250 at auction.
Speed was of the essence at such a time and it was a hectic two weeks for the ladies, all working and one with two pairs of twins to care for. They worried alternately whether they would have to turn supporters away or not enough people would turn up at short notice. In the event, it was a packed, happy clubhouse for the best of purposes – and no one was turned away. Everyone paid their entrance fee, bought raffle tickets and bid extravagantly in the auction.
Another
lady member, a school head teacher, is currently in Thailand with a group of
colleagues and it is hoped that she will be able to identify a particular school
or community there which can benefit directly from all this caring hard work and
generosity.