Going the Extra (26) Mile(s) for TST

We, Joe Wyatt and Claire Wyatt, are very close siblings and have decided to take on a challenge.  On May the 31st 2015 we have signed up for the Edinburgh Marathon in aid of The Small Things.  The marathon is 26 miles!  To say this is a challenge is an understatement.  The founder of The Small Things and our cousin, Bekka Ross Russell, has really inspired us both to help support such a great charity.

Claire and Joe

Claire:  I am very passionate about The Small Things and I am so pleased that we are able to run in aid of this great charity. I have been out to the orphanage in 2012 and 2014 and have seen not only the children develop but also the charity itself. It is a very special organization and has opened my eyes in so many ways and I will always be thankful for the opportunities I have had to work in Tanzania. I am fortunate enough to be heading back out to Tanzania this June and July.

Nkoaranga kids and Claire

I am studying at Loughborough University and playing hockey regularly.  However, hockey is based on interval fitness with short bursts and rest!  Running has always been a hobby but distance has always been a hobby but distance has always been problematic.  I like to run short and fast so the marathon is a huge task that really requires me to change running habits.  Training got off to a slow start with injury creeping in.  One sprained ankle meant two weeks off training.  However, my training has reached up to 20 miles which I am very pleased about.  I have experienced running in the snow of England and in 30 degree heat in Bermuda (as seen in the pictures).

I cannot wait to finish the marathon alongside Joe.  Not just an achievement but an experience that I am able to do with my brother!   
 

Cold training conditions

Joe:  I am very excited but nervous for this challenge.  I have found it difficult training with a full time job.  Training takes three hours out of your day so when I finish work at 7:00pm all I want to do is go to bed but instead I have to run.  I am very happy that we can support The Small Things as it is a charity very important to our family.  Bekka, our cousin, has done a fantastic job and we are glad we can support her.  My training is going well and I have reached 20 miles.  I am looking forward to proving to people that we can do this!  

Hot training conditions

 If you would like to support Claire and Joe in this impressive challenge, you can sponsor them here.  Best of luck, Claire and Joe!

Thank you for Spreading the Love!

The Spread the Love auction has come to an end and we have raised a total of $10,000 thanks to all our generous supporters!

We have been amazed and humbled by the community involvement in this event, from receiving a plethora of varied and lovely donations to the generous bidding on these items, to say nothing of the number of Fund-a-Need items that were purchased.  

For those of you wondering what the most popular items were, we can tell you that the most bids were made on the Google New York headquarters tour and several of the Tanzanian items, including a soapstone sculpture, the hand-carved Noah’s Arc set and the hand-crafted Rosewood elephant serving spoons.

Some of the most bid on items

The items that raised the most money for us included the diamond and tanzanite pendant set in white gold, donated by Swala Gem Traders ($525), two of our beautiful Tanzanian quilts made in Tanzania by local women ($450 and $400) and a one week stay at a Vermont country home donated by Dorothy Goldberg and David Ross Russell ($450). 

One of our supporters, Paul Shaw, with the beautiful bowl for which he was the successful bidder

We have also had an amazing number of Fund-a-Need items purchased for our Happy Family Children’s Village.  A total of 68 items were sold with a total value of $3090.

To give you an indication of just how much we have needed your help with the Fund-a-Need items, one of our most lively Pilot House children, PrayGod (not known for his daintiness or vigilant nature), recently broke one of our new bunk beds which we had thought were indestructible.  Happily, someone very special has offered to fix this bed (and everything else Pray has broken) – stay tuned for an amazing story that will feature in our blog in the coming weeks!

PrayGod looking deceptively angelic and one of our new bunk beds

The Pilot House kids are so eager to move into the Happy Family Children’s Village (and particularly excited about their new beds).  We will be bringing you updates and photos of the move soon!  

Well, that’s all from us about this year’s Spread the Love auction.  Once again, a heartfelt thank you for all of your support and generosity, and we hope you enjoy your spoils!