Fundraising

In order for me to be able to go away for the year with Project Trust, I had to raise the funds to see me through the year, accommodation, food, travel etc. The amount that I was asked to raise was £5,100! The prospect of all that money terrified me, how on earth was I going to do it in 8 months?
The answer was with a lot of help from my amazing friends and family, especially my Mum. She has been amazing helping me through all the fundraising events, and worked really hard baking, sewing and just generally being helpful and creative! I love her so much and I can never say thank you enough for everything she has done for me.

So here's a little (well, more like long) list of everything I have been up to in the past few months to raise enough money for my Swaziland trip!

• Two M&S Bag Packs (one on Christmas Eve as well, now that's dedication)
• Handmade Cards for all Occasions
• Handmade Crafts
• Coffee Morning
• Brownie/Guide Disco
• Darlington Building Society Donation
• Charitable Trust No. 1 Donation
• Hackers Barbers Darlington Donation
• Charitable Trust No. 2
• Elm Ridge Church
• ALE
• ATHA and CO Solicitors
• 8th Brownies Sponsored Swim
• Charitable Trust No. 3
• Hummersknott Academy Casual Clothes Day
• DMA Solicitors
• Charitable Trust No. 4
• 7th Brownies Sponsored Swim
• Charitable Trust No. 5
• Charitable Trust No. 6

And of course, many many personal donations made from friends and family on my virginmoneygiving page:

www.virginmoneygiving.com/KateDow

I would also like to say a special thank you to Atha and Co Solicitors for their very kind sponsorship of me and my gap year - they contributed towards my total greatly and I am forever grateful for the support.  

Coffee Morning

Mowden Bakery donated fruit and cheese scones for me to sell at my Coffee Morning, they were delicious!

The Beginning

Okay, so for those of you who haven't heard about me and my gap year yet, I am surprised. I don't mean this is a cocky way, not at all! It's just that all I've been talking about since November has been Project Trust... people must be sick of hearing about it. But they're just jealous ;) haha.

So my 'journey' began one afternoon at college when Project Trust came in on a lunchtime to do a presentation, I practically had to fight my way into the classroom because it was so full. Until this point I had no idea about where I was going to go after college; I knew about University because it's all everyone talked about, but I had no idea what I wanted to do, and I knew I didn't want to choose the wrong course and waste my money. Then the presentation began. Straight away I was transfixed by the photos, the stories, the people, the places! It looked AMAZING. Why had no one told me about this before?! This was what I wanted to do. Excitement and relief flooded over me and I all but ran home and thrust the leaflet under my Mum's nose, begging to be allowed to do it. Thankfully she and my Dad said yes.

The next stage was Selection Week. My selection week was in early November 2011, on the Isle of Coll in the Hebrides, Scotland. It was freezing. It was brilliant. It was one of the best weeks of my life. I won't divulge the details of the week as the schedule is a very well kept secret :P But I can tell you that I had my very first experience of sheep herding! After selection week I had the agonising wait to see if I recieved a letter offering me a place, it's the most nervous I've ever felt, ever! More nervous than opening exam results.

Thankfully I did get a place and I am heading for Big Bend, Swaziland this summer! I can't wait!

Lovely scenery of Coll

Writing our names and selection course in the sand during some free time to explore the island of Coll during our selection week!

Sunshine over the ferry port - the day we left Coll after selection week.



Me and some friends from selection freezing up on deck coming back from Coll!