Fund Raising  |
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A few months ago, we received a note next to one of our collection boxes from John de Bruyne (who had been at college and university with King Birendra of Nepal) and was a good friend of Buirendra's. John donated Anstey Hall for a fund raising day worth 4,000 Pounds. We soon realised we needed to set up entertainments for the evening befitting the grandeur of the venue ...
Aston Martin, Porsche, Mercedes and many others donated prizes, auctioned by the talentented Magician, Professor Todd Landman following his 'sleight of mind' magic and with the Cambridge Classic String Quartet and Easy Livin' band on hand. With eighty guests, we were able to raise 5,506 Pounds. We'd like to thank all our guests, Tayabali Tomlin & White, Noel Young Wines, Intumescent Seals and Panther Taxis for their support - as well as our supporters who attended and many volunteers who helped on the night. The good news is that John de Bruyne has asked us back next September when we can expand into the grounds and increase the number of guests.Promises to be equally if not more memorable.
Steve Peacock completes a second half-marathon to raise funds for the Mountain Trust
Some years ago, we helped Steve and Jenny enjoy the delights of a holiday in Nepal and over a few rockshis in Kathmandu told them about the Trust's work. To our delight, in 2005 Steve asked if he could nominate the Trust for sponsorship funds he raised by running the Great North Half Marathon. He successfully completed the race (respect) and raised 623 Pounds for the Trust's work in Nepal. In 2007, Steve took part in the Brighton Half Marathon and doing so, injured his knee. He successfully finished the course though not without having to hop downhill for the last stages. Quite apart from the heroic personal efforts Steve put in, he raised 663 Pounds for the Trust and even persuaded his employers The Budget Group Ltd. to donate a further 100 Pounds to the Trust. Top man ! In 2010, Steve was chosen as part of a leadership team within the BGL Group and they were collectively asked by their bosses to organise the raising of 25,000 Pounds for charity - 50% for one of the BGL sponsored charities (the team chose WWF) and 50% for a charity of their choice. Once Steve described the Mountain Trust to the team, we were soon summoned and following a presentation in the Peterborough HQ, the team set to work on sponsored bicycle rides etc. Before we knew it, they had raised 13,000 Pounds - as well as visited Nepal and undertaken a major trek as well. 'Hats off, ladies and gentlemen'! Steve and the team are perfect examples of able and good-willed people willing to think afresh about methods of raising funds to help our disadvantaged cousins in South East Asia. Fundraising There are all sorts of ways to raise funds to help the Trust's work in Nepal. Visits to schools to tell the kids about their Nepali counterparts and publicising the work we do also helps. Whether you are a marathon runner or author, part of a business or are simply concerned to help, our initial advice is to ask yourself what skills, contacts or other resources you have which could help generate funds? There are no firm rules from person to person or country to country. Even so, if you look around at what others have done to successfully raise funds, you may find ideas that way. We are always ready to help give advice or other support should you wish. Donating You can donate to help the work of The Mountain Trust in various ways. In each case, please indicate whether we can claim Gift Aid tax relief from the UK Government. For us to reclaim some 22 pence in every pound you donate, we need to know that in the same tax year you have spent the amount of your donation or more in income tax or capital gains tax to the UK tax authorities. You must be resident as a UK tax payer although your donation by cheque or electronic transfer can be made in any currency including Sterling. We also need your permission by letter, email or verbally to reclain Gift Aid Tax Relief on your behalf. Agreeing to Gift Aid relief costs you nothing but can significantly increase the help we can give Nepal. For a Gift Aid Form, please Click Here. If you are a high tax payer in the UK, you should complete your self-assessment tax form each year and give details of the donations to the Mountain Trust and or any other Registered Charities you have made in order to receive an additional tax rebate from HMCR yourself. If you would like any further free advice, please contact us. Here are a few examples of the ways in which you can donate: 1. By making an online donation on our Donations Page. 2. By sending a cheque made payable to 'The Mountain Trust' to: Charles Malcolm-Brown. 3. By making an online transfer. Please note that because of money laundering and tighter security on international financial transfers, it is only now possible to send legitimate transfers of funds from Europe to Asia via either Frankfurt or London - and in each case, via a routing bank. In other words, it is no longer possible to send funds from a high street bank in the UK to one in Nepal. Instead, we have to transfer the funds from our local bank to Standard Chartered in London who transfer it to their branch in Kathmandu and from there to our account at Machhapuchhare Bank in Pokhara. 4. By making a donation in place of a gift to a friend or loved one. We hope to be launching a new website soon to enable you to to register as someone who'd prefer potential gifts to be turned into donations to one or more charities of your choice. Please contact us for more information in the meantime.
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