After raising £7,000 last year for our work, the girls at St Christopher’s Prep School in Hampstead decided that they would like to run another fund raising activity in 2013.

The girls of Bronte house, decided that an Alice themed tea party would be just ideal, and with the addition of a second hand clothes exchange into the mix, it was the perfect recipe for what Head teacher Suzie West described as “a hectic, entertaining and profitable afternoon”. 

All the girls dressed up as a character from Alice in Wonderland, ate cakes, drank lemonade and enjoyed a screening of the film, whilst parents chatted and enjoyed a cake or two themselves!

Whether or not these girls believe in ‘six impossible things before breakfast’ we’re not sure, but they did raise an incredible £2,000 for our project in Bangladesh in one afternoon, which is a nigh impossible feat and one to be very proud of. 

We’d like to say a huge thank you to them and the staff and parents at St Christopher’s. 

If you think your school could raise money for our work, then please get in touch. 

This past week Children on the Edge held its first football camp for migrant Burmese children living in Thailand. Working with local partner organisation Social Action for Women (SAW), 64 children aged 8-18 took part in the two day event in Mae Sod. Six volunteers helped host the camp which was led by former Leeds United Youth Team player Chris Hasting, who now plies his trade in the Thai professional league for Lamphun Warriors FC. 

The two day camp aimed to provide migrant children, without parental care, to have a memorable experience during their holidays. “We decided to hold the camp during the Burmese New Year break,” explained SAW social worker Thwin Linn, “as most of the children who stay with us during this time have no home to return to.” 

The success of the camp could be seen on the beaming faces of the children throughout the day. In spite of temperatures that pushed up to 40C, their enthusiasm didn’t wane in the least. “The children arrived an hour early each morning just to be there. We gave them an hour for lunch, but they just wanted to go straight back out on the pitch and play. Their energy was incredible,” noted volunteer Lee Stevens, Athletic Director at Nakorn Payap International School in Chiang Mai. “The joy on their faces after each goal was fantastic.”

The camp was also sponsored in part by UK-based company Cherrytech Group who have had a presence in Thailand for over 15 years. Company President Stuart Knight says “We are aware that so many of these kids have had a difficult life, and we want to do our part to help give them a positive experience”.

It appears that the experience was one that will not be forgotten soon by the kids. “We usually play on a dirt field with many cows around,” remarked Than Lyun age 16. “We have never been able to play on a real field, with real shoes, and be trained by a professional … it’s been great.”  As about a third of the participating children owned only sandals, Children on the Edge was able to provide a pair of athletic shoes for many of the kids. 

As the camp came to a close, the focus was already being turned to the next time. “This event has definitely been the highlight of their break. They already want to know when we can do it again. These kids are crazy about football!” remarked SAW Child Crisis Centre manager Yiyi Win.  

Find out more about our work in Thailand, and consider donating to the project. 

At the moment our news stream is just full to brimming with the sporting endeavors of fabulous runners, and so grateful we are for them too!

If however, the thought of running leaves you cold, we want to encourage you that there are plenty of other ways to raise money for our projects, be yourself and have some enjoyment at the same time. 

Naomi Welch, Chief maker at Redeem Creations says “I just love Children on the Edge and the way this small, but groundbreaking charity is working across the world with the most vulnerable and marginalised children. I don't do marathons or jumping out of aircraft and I wouldn't be great at sponsored silence either, however, I can make pretty things”. 

She certainly can. In the last year Naomi has raffled off an Olympic themed cake, a beautiful handmade doll and is currently running a competition for an ‘Enchanted Wood’ themed satchel to raise money for our projects.

Naomi is also involved in an informal craft group in Petworth called Makespace which brings people together to create and have fun. At these gatherings Naomi has given out vintage fabric in exchange for donations to Children on the Edge, another member, Charlotte Loukes who runs The Cotton Wool Store in the town, has donated fabric to enable each person attending to create something (see bunnies in photo above) and in turn give a donation to our work.

Photographer Liz Andreozzi, who also attends the group, put together a birthday Easter Egg hunt for her boys and their friends, with a 50p donation per entry, also to raise money for our projects.

We’d like to say a big thank you to the Makespace ladies for thinking of us and raising valuable funds for our projects in simple ways. We’d also like to encourage readers that these small contributions and donations really do make a difference.

It’s great when people run marathons for us, but it’s also great when people are generous with the talents they have, both through special events and in everyday life.

We’ve had lots of amazing people raising money for us in different ways. From street dances, Bollywood nights and lunch parties to selling paintings, jewellery and cakes. We hope you feel inspired to do something to make a difference, in the way that suits you best. As always, let us know how you get on. We love to tell your stories!

If you enjoyed watching the London Marathon yesterday and feel inspired to complete the challenge yourself, then we may have an opportunity that’s just right for you. 

As you probably saw, a marathon runner can be any size, shape or age! With a year to go until the next race in London, there is plenty of time for even the most inexperienced runner to train up and complete it in 2014.  London Marathon is known for it’s carnival atmosphere and incredible public support but is notoriously difficult to get places for.

We have one place for a runner for the 2014 marathon and are looking for someone to run and raise funds for Children on the Edge.  As a charity, we only get one place every five years so are keen to find someone that can make the very best of it!

Children on the Edge will provide you with support, encouragement and fundraising tools from the start as well as a training t shirt and running vest.  On the day, you’ll benefit from your very own Children on the Edge cheering squad and after-race support. 

Get in touch with [email protected] if you’re interested in this taking up the place. 

Congratulations are in order for Greg and 
Izabela from Wiley in Chichester who have just completed the Paris Marathon raising over £824 for our work.

This heroic pair ran Brighton Marathon for us in 2012 and this year decided to give it a whirl across the channel! Isabella described how the race had an amazing yet very challenging route and how they were fortunate to enjoy some fantastic weather on the day.

To add to the challenge, Greg was still recovering from a chest infection and Izabela was also fighting off a virus. Izabela said ‘We struggled quite a bit, but dug deep and helped each other through it, even though we were running on empty at times.’

We’d like to say a huge thank you to these two for putting in such a huge effort to support our work and wish them every success for their future adventures!

If you’d like to have a go at raising money for our work, please do get in touch.

It’s only a few days to go until the Brighton Marathon 2013 and we have four heroic runners slogging it out on Sunday to raise money for our work. We’d like to say a huge thank you to them all, wish them luck and introduce them to our supporters!

Ben is an Engineer from Lockheed Martin. He ran the Chichester Half Marathon in 2012 and decided to take on the challenge of the full 26.2 km at Brighton, his estimated finishing time is 04:00:01-04:15:00.

When asked why he has chosen to run for Children on the Edge Ben said “ It's a variety of reasons - first and foremost I think it's a very important cause and the work the charity does is brilliant, so it is a pleasure to be able to do a little bit to help. There's also a family connection, Emily Dadson who works at the charity is my cousin so we've known about the charity for a long time now. Finally on a personal level it's a small thank you. I've wanted to do a marathon for a very long time, but always thought it was beyond me. Last year the Chichester half marathon convinced me otherwise - I loved every minute of that and it gave me the conviction to try the full distance, so I decided to raise some money for the charity in the process!”

You can sponsor Ben at http://www.justgiving.com/Ben-at-Brighton

Becky is in her fourth year as a medical student at Cardiff University, she’s a keen runner but although she’s done plenty of shorter races, this is her first full marathon.  Becky has recently spent a semester in China and managed to do some running there. Her estimated finishing time is  04:00:01-04:15:00.

Becky’s also been organising extra events in Cardiff to support her fundraising including a ‘Bop til you drop’ all day aerobics event and a ‘Take Me Out’ event which is well supported by Cardiff students and local businesses.

Becky says “I chose to run for Children on the Edge because as a student I used to feel that the tiny amount of money I can give to charity makes no difference, until I read one of the fact sheets from Children on the Edge. Just 50p can make such a difference, which even me and my friends can afford. So we're saving up our 50p’s and training like mad in the hope that in some small way we can make life better for some kids who have been unlucky where they were born.”

You can sponsor Becky at http://www.justgiving.com/Becky-Ryall

Chloe is a Primary school teacher from London. She heard about Children on the Edge via the Brighton Marathon website and felt she would like to support the work we do so agreed to run in aid of our projects. Her photo shows her out for a run in Central Park, New York, whilst on holiday over there! Her estimated finishing time is 04:15:00 - 04:30:00.

Chloe says “The reason I chose to run for Children on the Edge is that being a primary school teacher and working with children everyday means I really wanted to support a charity that helps children. I want to support a charity that helps to give children a childhood, providing children with access to education, play, food and shelter. I think the work Children on the Edge do and the projects you are running are definitely worth running a marathon for!”

You can sponsor Chloe at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ChloeAlder

Rob is a Second Lieutenant in the British Army who responded to our request for willing volunteers. He clearly doesn’t think that having recently finished Sandhurst Army Officer Training  was enough physical exercise! His estimated finishing time is 04:00:01-04:15:00

Rob likes a challenge and on his Virgin Money Giving page he writes “Running the Brighton Marathon 2013; I hope to help a little with the efforts made by Children on the Edge to improve young, vulnerable lives overseas. Just £5 will make a difference to young communities in lots of countries around the world:  Thailand, Moldova, Burma, to name a few. Plus, that's one hundredth of a contribution to my suffering. That's got to be worth doing?”

Rob’s parents also raised nearly £500 by hosting a curry evening at their local village hall which was very well attended.

You can sponsor Rob at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RobTugwell

Registration for this year’s Chichester Half Marathon opens this Friday (12th April) and after the success of last year’s event, we’re expecting a great response from both local runners and those further afield. 

The 'Chi Half' is a challenging and beautiful ‘multi-terrain’ half marathon, revived and revamped last October after a 25 year absence. Organised by Children on the Edge, in conjunction with Chichester District Council, the 2012 event hosted 500 runners, raised vital funds for our work and is back by popular demand on Sunday 13th October 2013.

Ben Wilkes, our Head of UK says “In an era where people are increasingly disconnected, it’s been a privilege to be part of bringing the community together at this fantastic event. The race is great way for the people of Chichester to raise money for vulnerable children across the globe. We have high hopes for this year!”

The route includes a mixture of road, cross country and cycle path terrain; it starts at Chichester College and takes in the historic sites of Chichester. Runners then work their way up to the pinnacle of the South Downs to be rewarded with spectacular views from the Trundle, before winding their way back down Centurion Way. 

Last year, runners of all abilities said that the views and multi terrain variety in the route made the race truly exhilarating. Runner Mark Ponsford said “This will become an iconic South Coast race, a must for any serious runner”.

We are confident that the ‘Chi half’ is set to become a firm fixture on the Sussex athletics calendar and expect to double the numbers of runners this year. Councillor Eileen Lintill, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Wellbeing and Community Services at Chichester District Council, says “The event is suitable for all ages and abilities, from the beginner to the more experienced runner, and this year we hope even more people will take up the challenge.”

The event will take place on Sunday 13 of October and registration is open as of Friday 12th April. You are advised to sign up early and discounts apply until 30th June 2013. ‘Early bird’ pries are £21 for EA affiliated club members and £24 for unattached and other runners. 

Sign from this Friday at www.chichesterhalfmarathon.co.uk.