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Strathaven Friends of HHI’s third Cafe Bridge Day in aid of Health Help International was again a great success, drawing bridge players from around Scotland and including a party of fourteen from London. Not just raising funds for Health Help International it spreads word about the Charity far and wide and hopefully gains a few more supporters.

The first Cafe Bridge Day was held about ten years ago but they are gaining in popularity among the bridge fraternity and this year the enthusiasts have a choice of forty towns and villages throughout the UK in which to take part in one.

The players move around between selected cafes and restaurants and play a few hands in each enjoying their local produce and having lunch in one of them half way round.

This year Strathaven offered seven venues all with easy walking distance between them and with fine weather on the day the visitors to the town had the opportunity of calling in at some of the other bakers and interesting gift shops which Strathaven has to offer.

SFHHI receives many complimentary comments from the bridge players about the way in which its event is organised and also about Strathaven itself.

The raffle was again very successful adding £374 to the amount raised from the bridge.

Following the bridge a musical evening was presented for the bridge players who wished to attend and for the local supporters of SFHHI. Strathaven is fortunate in having lots of talented musicians and singers in the community and this year’s programme included five solo performers and musical groups who provided a wide ranging musical treat to an appreciative audience.

The Avendale Church, whose members support HHI in many ways, generously allowed SFHHI the use of the church both as a base for the Cafe Bridge and for the concert.

The monies raised from the two events came to an excellent total of £2,200. 

SFHHI committee member Kath Russell was able to join Jute Williams on her annual visit to Zambia in October this year. They spent two hard working and very successful weeks based at the HHZ HQ building in Monze despite problems throughout due to the every-day shut-down of the electricity supply and the challenge of driving to outlying locations on very poor and often non-existent roads.

They were able to visit the many projects and activities supported by HHI including the ongoing provision of food to many of those suffering from the continuing serious drought in Zambia. There are many moving and memorableitems inthe reports which Jute sent back each day. Have a look at these and the accompanying photographs in the latest News section of the HHI website at www.hhi.org.uk

A highlight of the visit was the ceremonial opening of the new dormitory at the Choongo school. The target of raising £25,000 to celebrate HHI’s 25^th anniversary was set early this year. Amazingly this been  successfully achieved and by sending out funds at various stages building works were able to be started in April and the building successfully completed by the end of September. Attended by various dignitaries including the local Chief Choongo and the area member of Parliament and with singing and traditional Tonga dancing provided by the schools’ students  the opening ceremony was carried out by Kath. She cut the ceremonial ribbon and unveiled the commemorative plaque which had been provided by SFHHI.

Nik and Maria Reed of the BPCF film company visited India in 2022 with Health Help International Chairman Edmund Plummer and also Zambia in 2023 with Jute Williams to film the work of the Charity in both these countries.

Have a look at the excellent films produced by BPCF illustrating the wide-range of the activities and projects supported by HHI in India and Zambia. There are nineteen in all. They can be viewed on the HHI website at www.HHI.org.uk 

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This will be held in the Strathaven Golf Clubhouse on Tuesday afternoon 12^th November. As last year’s this is a fun bridge (not board bridge) event and caters for bridge players who find our Cafe Bridge Days too challenging. It starts with a light lunch served at 12.00 noon  and will finish about 4.00 pm. To reserve tickets (£15 per person) or take a table of four please phone or text Iain on 07771720388. All monies raised are on behalf of HHI. Raffle prizes will be gratefully accepted.

This year’s RS50,  held on Sunday 18^th August, was the 22^nd since the first one in 2002

Another record number of cyclists had entered and though there was the usual fairly large number who did not turn up over 700 took part in the two events, the 50 and the 15 miles routes. There was an encouraging increase in the number of families and young cyclists taking part in the 15 miles event.

The weather was good and almost everyone completed their routes. There were as usual many favourable comments from the cyclists about the organisation of the event and especially about the usual excellent refreshments at the various locations.

A record sum of £17,000 was raised and once again Health Help International received a very generous donation of £6000 which is being used to provide the beds and bedding in the new Choongo dormitory. This brings the total amount received by HHI from the RS50 events since 2002 to just over £66,000 

Alex and Maria of the BPCF Company which produced the excellent films of HHIs work in India and Zambia attended the event and filmed throughout the day from both ground level and using their drone for aerial footage. We look forward to seeing the completed film of the 2024 RS50 towards the end of the year.