Charity/voluntary

DAREDEVILS are sought to dangle off the side of a 90 foot tall hospital building in aid of a local charity.
Fundraisers will be strapped into a harness to abseil down the outside of Northwick Park Hospital, in Watford Road, Harrow, on Saturday February 13 to help St Luke's Hospice, in Kenton Grange, Kenton.
The independent charity provides care to people with terminal illnesses from Harrow and Brent.
Jean Phillips, a school secretary, has already signed up for the occasion after taking the challenge last year.
She has suffered from Parkinson's Disease for the last four years and has the support of pupils at St Helen's School in Northwood, where she works.
Mrs Phillips said: "I may shake a little more than most at the top of the wall, but feel really safe and delighted that I can do my bit for such a worthy cause."
The charity only receives a third of funding from the government, making events such as this crucial. Last year's abseil raised £8,000.
Amongst those who are going to make a difference this year are a group of district nurses from Willesden.
Marisa Bailey, 39, who will be making the descent in her uniform, said: "I am so excited to abseil for St Luke's - we work so closely with palliative patients that this is my own way of giving something back to the amazing work done at St Luke's Hospice."
n If you are brave enough to accept the challenge then please call Jemini on 020 83828018 or email jvshah@stlukes-hospice.org

STAFF and students at Kenton's Harrow Skills Centre helped raised almost £1,400 in just three days to help a little girl afford transatlantic lifesaving treatment.
Donations totalling £1,389 were collected by Harrow College for a fund set up for 7-year-old Robyn Higgins, who was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer called Stage 4 Neuroblastoma in May.

BOLLYWOOD heartthrob Vivek Oberoi led a line-up of celebrities at a Kenton fundraiser that generated almost £200,000 to improve the lives of Indian villagers.
He was a headliner at Saturday's Gift Of Hope dinner in support of Food For Life Vrindavan, which helps women and children living in Uttar Pradesh by constructing schools, distribution food and providing health care.
Both Vivek and the organisation's founder Rupa Raghunath gave a speeches about the work of the charity to the diners at the gala held at the Kadwa Patidar Centre in Kenmore Avenue, Kenton.
Others to grace the stage for performances included 'Eastenders' star Nitin Ganatra, musician Nirag Chag, singer Navin Kundra and comedian Neal De'Souza.
Afterwards the Hindu actor said: "This was a memorable event with some great acts. "I truly believe in the work that Food For Life Vrindavan carry out and am passionate about doing as much as I can to make a difference in the lives of those children and women who need it the most."
Mr Raghunath added: "It was a fantastic and moving evening, and we were honoured to have somebody like Vivek Oberoi come and support us all the way from India. The money will make a big difference to Vrindavan's destitute children. And thank you to all those involved in making this event a success."

FIFTEEN volunteers are needed to pick up a paddle and take part in dragon boat race to raise cash for the UK's only specialist hospital for colorectal disease.
St Mark's Hospital Foundation, which supports St Mark's Hospital in Watford Road, Harrow, has entered a team into the 12th Rotary Dragon Boat Festival on Sunday May 17 but the original scheduled participants have had to pull out.
Dragon boat racing involves a crew of around 20 sitting two abreast in a long canoe-like boat and paddling in synchronism to the sound of a drum beat.
The races will take place on the River Thames at the Docklands Sailing Centre located at the Millwall Outer Dock in south-east London between 10am and 3pm.
An entry fee of £10 per person is required along with a minimum guaranteed sponsorship of £100, and all participants get a T-shirt.
n For more information and to register, call Maxine McNeil, the foundation's fundraising manager, on 020 8869 2371 or email maxine.mcneil@nwlh.nhs.uk

By Jon Clutton

A family pampering fun day will be held on Saturday March 7 in aid of St Luke's Hospice.

The fundraiser at Elmfield Church in Imperial Drive, North Harrow, starts at 3pm with entrance for adults £1.50 and under 12s free.

There will be a variety of treatments available including makeovers with facepainting and a teddy tombola for the kids.

A charity representing Harrow and Brent's 10,000-strong Oshwal community has raised £15,000 for local good causes in the past year.

In particular, The Oshwal Association of the UK, North West Area donated £1,001 to St Luke's Hospice in Kenton Grange, Kenton, and £3,001 to Edgware Community Hospital in Burnt Oak Broadway, Edgware.

The association's members follow a strand of Jainism, an ancient religion whose worshippers believe in causing no harm to any living thing and practising universal compassion.

Spokesman Hitesh Shah said: "Our members entrust the elected committee members to identify and donate to worthy causes.

"This year, amongst others, we chose St Luke's Hospice as a place which was local to our community, and which does sterling work in caring for the terminally ill.

"We heard about Edgware Community Hospital's requirement for equipment for the eye clinic, and felt that we could donate a substanstial sum to enable them to achieve their funding objectives.

"The bulk of the money raised is in the form of donations, typically given during the annual festival of Paryushan, which usually takes place in the late summer or early autumn."

Young people in Harrow borough are being encouraged to take part in a new volunteering project.

A new programme of full-time charity work for 16 to 25-year-olds is being launched after Harrow Council was awarded a £285,000 grant.

The money from v, the youth volunteering organisation, will help launch v Talent Year, which will aim to recruit 30 volunteers from the borough over the next two years.

Christine Bednell, portfolio holder for children's services, said: "I would urge as many young people as possible to take up this opportunity to make a difference to children and young people's services - it's a great way to gain training and a qualification. We will support any dedicated young people willing to give up their time to help the community they live in."

The volunteers will help the council's children's services from youth to play work, as well as supporting children and people with special needs and disabilities.

In the first year 30 per cent of the young volunteers will be unemployed and in the second year this will rise to 50 per cent.

Volunteers will also receive a level 2 National Vocational Qualification and a Personal Development Grant.

Anyone interested in volunteering should call 020 8420 9244 or
email .

Kenton's Ghanshyam Education Centre - which backs onto the Shri Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple - is looking to expand.

Leaders at the school, in Kenton Lane, have submitted a planning application to Harrow Council for first, second and third floor extensions that will physically link the school to
the mandir in Westfield Lane, where worshippers follow a modern form of Hinduism known as the Swaminarayan faith.

The three existing classrooms would be supplemented by an extra five, a large activity hall and disabled toilets.

If the proposals are approved, students will enjoy a creche, language classes, computer classes, dance training, indoor sports, community seminars, and computer training.

Ghanshyam Education Centre opens from 8am to 9pm Monday to Thursday, from 8am to 8pm Friday and Saturday and from 10.30am to 8pm Sunday.

Temple youths from Kenton are getting into their stride to raise money for two community charities.

The mayors of Harrow and Brent, John Nickolay and Ralph Fox are both supporting a sponsored walk organised by young members of the Shree Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple.

A Kenton-based hospice is looking for volunteers to help staff its charity shops.
Shop helpers are needed for St Luke's Hospice shops in Pinner, Harrow, Harrow Weald, South Harrow, Wembley, Kingsbury, Rayners Lane, Burnt Oak, Stanmore and North Harrow.
Volunteers only needs to commit to four hours, one shift per week, 9.30am to 1.15pm or 1.15pm to 5pm, Monday to Saturday.
Responsibilities include serving customers, sorting through donated items and steaming clothing, there is something for everyone.
The shops make a substantial contribution to meeting the costs of providing Hospice care at Kenton Grange.
Training will be provided and volunteers get a 10 per cent discount.
To find out more call 0750579275 or visit www.stlukes-hospice.org.