6-Marathons-in-6-Days Fundraiser!

Please see the letter below from my close friend, Shane Kiernan. On Sunday, September 11th, Shane will set forth on his quest to run an unthinkable SIX MARATHONS IN SIX DAYS to raise funds for our orphanage project in Kenya.

Please help support Shane's incredible (and borderline crazy) attempt by donating at
http://www.lordshouseofhope.org/getinvolved.html

Thanks, Shane! Good Luck!!!
_______________________________________________

Dearest friends,

This Sunday I will embark on one of the most gruelling ultramarathon races available worldwide, the Trans Britain. It is a 6-day ultramarathon race staring in Scotland, running through the spectacular, but punishing, Lake District in England to finish in Wales. From start to finish it is 156 miles to be completed in 6 days (essentially a full marathon per day).

I am enduring this mountain of pain in order to raise funds for two charities that I hold dear.

1: The House of Hope Foundation (Nairobi, Kenya) was created with a single vision in mind: to help improve the lives of disadvantaged children in Kenya. The targeted project—The Lord’s House of Hope Orphanage—in Nairobi, Kenya, is a materialization of this vision and one which continues to grow through the involvement of volunteers and donors from across the globe.

Upon completion, the House of Hope orphanage will serve as a home for up to 40 orphans from one of the world's largest slums -Kibera- in Kenya. With access to a loving and supportive environment, a healthy diet, medical care and a world class education, the children in the orphanage will be given each and every possible opportunity to succeed and live a life that would otherwise be impossible to attain.

In order to support the goals of the House of Hope Foundation I have agreed to cover the cost of 40 beds for the orphanage. It is for this purpose I am putting myself through the physical and mental agony of the ultramarathon.

2: Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin (Dublin, Ireland) is seeking to upgrade the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit in St John’s Ward and with your assistance I am hoping to secure funds to help the Hospital to do so. Such investment is needed as for children with cancer and other life-threatening conditions whose bodies aren’t creating the healthy blood cells that they rely on, bone marrow transplant (BMT) is a critical and hugely delicate procedure. It’s an intensive, challenging treatment, and the child’s young life hangs in the balance.

In Ireland there are on average 150 children diagnosed yearly with cancer and approximately 30 BMT performed yearly. The current unit at Our Lady’s was opened in 1991 but these facilities are no longer fit-for-purpose. This unit has absolutely got to be gold standard and will require a complete upgrade to achieve international best practice & standards.

To achieve this standard I am seeking to compliment the efforts of the fundraising team at Our Lady’s by attempting this mad race and hoping that you, my friends, will support this urgent appeal.

I have made a commitment to do my part by attempting to complete the Trans Britain but in order to support these charities I am asking you for your support in the form of a small donation. I have included a link to the House of Hope (http://www.lordshouseofhope.org/getinvolved.html) who has agreed (as per my wishes) to split and forward all donations equally with Our Lady’s.

If any of you has any further questions about the race then please contact me should be interested in finding more about the charities then I ask you to speak with either Tom (Our Lady’s) or Joe (House of Hope) who are copied on the mail.

I greatly appreciate all of your support.

Warmest regards,

Shane Kiernan

Link to the race website: http://gobeyondultra.co.uk/go_beyond/trans_britain

WATER AND WIRES!

A very important stage of the building is under way. Thanks to generous donations at recent fundraisers and Emmanuel Lutheran Church, the Lord's House of Hope is getting wired for electricity and plumbing presently! The budget for the work also includes plastering of the walls. Excitingly, the House will have welcoming smooth walls, working plumbing, and lights soon.

NEW PHOTOS OF NEW PROGRESS

Progress is continuing on the interior and exterior construction of the orphanage. Most recently, the building has received entry gates, additional grills, and interior doors. We are going to be using the recently raised funds to complete the electrical work. It will truly be a great day when the lights for the LHOH are finally on.

The Annual LHOH Golf Outing was a HUGE SUCCESS! Although the rains came down - good times were had by all, and many golf groups braved the elements to finish the round. Special thanks to the 20 Hole Sponsors, and the many people that attended the golf, dinner, or both. Also, much gratitude is owed to the many donors for the silent auction items. Many left with some fantastic items, and all moneys will go directly to the orphanage.

Our numbers continue to grow every year, and next year, with the help of some newly recruited volunteers, we are expecting even larger turnouts!

LHOH Denver Fundraiser Success!

With the very generous support of Hard Rock Cafe, Best Buy, and KUSA 9 News, the fundraiser vision of Corey Rose (with some helpful heavy lifting of John Lindsay and Aristea Brady) was a huge and fun success. Bop Skizzum and Rachel James Band filled the great Hard Rock Forum with music, literally being a voice for the soon-to-come LHOH children. With the success, everyone is on board for making this an annual event - good times in the name of a great cause!

The Sports Corner and Lord’s House of Hope

Is Proud to Sponsor:

Cheers to Hope

A night of Good Drinks and Good Food

Thursday April 28^th 6:00 until 10pm

Tickets are $25

Enjoy the night sampling wines, cocktails and beer paired with delicious food; all while raising money for a fantastic Charity.

The fundraising efforts will go towards the building of “The Lord’s House of Hope,” an orphanage in Kenya. The Lord’s House of Hope will provide shelter for 40 children and appropriate accommodations for supervisory staff. Each child will receive monetary support through individual sponsorships. Please make this a reality for the children in Africa! For more pictures and information check out their web site www.lordshouseofhope.org

For more information call The Sports Corner

(920) 336-9913

500 Grant St De pere, Wi

Tickets can be purchased at the Sports Corner in advance.

And

Karen Koebe 920-833-7347

Judy Wilson 920-833-7345

Barb Selmer 920-504-4049

Sarah Kneisler 920-833-7162

Final pictures of the completed roof

Thanks to the Lord, the rains held off long enough to complete the roof!

Raising the Roof

With the rainy season of Kenya quickly approaching, it is imperative to have a roof over the orphanage. To that end, much great progress has taken place, and the local workers are working hard to complete the roof in time.

Denver joins the cause

Hard Rock Café Denver and KUSA Channel 9 present “Love All, Serve All” - a night of great music for a great cause. On April 9th, Rachel James headlines the benefit concert, and silent auction, with 100% of the proceeds to benefit the LHOH! Special thanks to Corey Rose of KUSA Channel 9 news for organizing and hosting the event. The LHOH is excited to have our friends in Denver join the cause.

Instalation of the windows

Support from so many giving people allowed for the purchase and installation of the windows in the orphanage - 92 in all. Guard rails that were also donated have been installed bringing the project another major step towards completion. A huge thank you goes out to all of you that donated a window or guard rail.

As we drive down the long dusty dirt road, the excitement within me intensifies the further down the road we drive and the closer we get to arriving at our destination. Thus far I have only heard of the land and have yet to experience it for myself with my own eyes. As we turn the corner, Joe says “Are you ready?” and I know it’s about to be shown to me. The first thing I see is the guard’s tower, standing tall, strong and protective. We have arrived!

Being involved with this orphanage for the last year 18 months, I have seen the photos of ground breaking, the foundation being laid down, the walls going up. None of these photos prepared me for the specter of seeing it all first hand.

Before continuing, there is something to be said for these workers. The way they work is extraordinary - most of it very hard physical labor, and always with smiles. It is good to know our project is helping support the local workers who are desperate for and deserving of the work.

My eyes first take in the huge front section of the orphanage. As we walk around the various rooms, Joe gives a running commentary of what each (currently empty) room will house. I can just imagine the library with the window view into the green countryside.

The mess hall is large enough to accommodate 40 children. One day over the main door into this room, there will be a fabulous painting or inspiring quotation – the space is just perfect to show case something grand and meaningful for the children to view every day.

Next stop; up the staircase to the second floor. Yes there is actually a second floor now and this will house the volunteers who will want to come to stay at The Lords House of Hope. The two rooms will allow for 2-4 volunteers at a time.

Continuing the tour in the orphanage, we arrive at the second building, where there are the bedrooms for the staff and children. The girls will be on the 2^nd floor and the boys on the bottom level. I think the girls have the better deal in this situation – from the top floor you can see so far down the green rolling hills. I know so much inspirations and creativity will be born to these children just by looking out the window and seeing the gorgeousness that surrounds them every day.

My favorite part of the entire orphanage is the second story balcony which overlooks a river (it’s down there somewhere). The scripture comes to mind, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10). It is here that I close my eyes and think of what this orphanage will be like when it’s completed and the children are moved in. It is here that I conjure up all the dreams in my head of children feeling loved and supported and living in a place so far removed from the dirt, hustle and bustle and poverty that is Kibera.

Written by Kristy Anderson (02^nd January 2011).