The idea and the funding

Having worked in HIV for some time I have been aware of a charity that facilitates short mentoring trips to various sites - Global Medic Force (previously ICEHA).  Their programmes appealed to me in many ways as they aim to educate and empower local staff to provide excellent HIV care.  Having been the beneficiary of so much good energy and support from the community of friends I have at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, and having seen how well fundraising efforts have gone there for UK based charities, particularly on World AIDS Day, I decided 2 years ago to see if I could raise some funds for a trip with GMF, to try and take some of this goodwill to those affected by HIV outside of the UK, complementing our UK based charitable giving.  This coincided with a mail out from GMF saying that for £9000 you could "sponsor" a clinic or programme.

For the first 12 months I fundraised online, via an email list which Vauxhall Taverners can join.  We raised a little over £5K which was a stunning start - thanks to all who donated.  Towards the end of this year we held a charity night - FUNdaMental - at the RVT on 30th January 2009.  With the very kind support of the GMF UK staff, especially Sarah Aggett and Rachel Mair, as well as Mike Kear, Diana Taylor, Jason Dickie, Paul Oxley, Zoe Lyons, Gill Manly, Jonathan Hellyer (as Trannie Lennox), Debbieanne O'Donovan, Thomas Ernst, Paul Cooper, David Venon, Justin Blair, Marjo Cooper, Karl Stevens, Robert Taylor, Howard Turner, Eddie K, Phil Marriott and Rob C, as well as all of the people who came and supported, or bid on or donated items for the auction, or worked at the Tavern on the night - too many to mention individually - we raised another £7K, thus smashing our target.

Now the time has come for me to go and make best use of some of these funds - and the tremendous energy by which I have been supported - and hopefully achieve some good HIV skills transfer out in rural Nepal.

Many thanks to everyone concerned in getting me there.