My Charity

My charity is called 'Facing Africa', an international charity concerned with the prevention and curing of NOMA. What is NOMA you ask?

NOMA is found almost exclusively in malnourished children in the poorest countries. It is a vicious and deadly gangrene that eats away the flesh around the mouth and face of children aged mainly up to 6 years. It is estimated that 70 - 90% of these children die but for those who survive, they will suffer three main afflictions; facial disfigurement, functional impairment and social outcast. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that up to 500,000 children are victims of NOMA and that over 100,000 aged 2 - 6 contract NOMA every year. The charity is not well known even though they carry out life changing and live saving work so I wish to promote their good work and increase peoples awareness of NOMA and Facing Africa.

Where Does The Money Go?

Facing Africa in co-operation with similar charities around the world aim to combine surgical rehabilitation of NOMA victims with measures of prevention through education of local health workers and families, organisation of vaccination programmes and training of health personnel. Facing Africa is trying to establish an international centre for research and treatment of NOMA for the African sub-region in Sokoto/Nigeria, where the disease is endemic. The NOMA Children Hospital in Sokoto is considered the nucleus of a Noma Centre for the whole of West-Africa. Visits by German/Dutch/French medical teams to the hospital are funded by the charity and provides a lasting humanitarian aid project that also includes prevention and research programmes. The cost of NOMA treatment for a child is about £500 in local hospitals, imagine a new face and a new life for £500!!

Part of the money raised will be used to pay towards the ongoing surgical teams to Sokoto. Essential medical equipment will be sent to Sokoto and some of the money will be used for the essential surgical medications. In addition to financing and sending up to date operating theatre equipment, the current target is to raise £50'000 for the construction of a rehabilitation and recovery wing in the NOMA Children Hospital in Sokoto.

My Goal

I am aiming to raise £5000 for Facing Africa,  which is 10% of the money needed to build this rehabilitation and recovery wing in the NOMA Children Hospital in Sokoto. All the money raised by myself will go towards the charity, therefore the £3000 needed to do this race will all come out of my pocket. You can be rest assured that all the money donated will be handled entirely under the direct control of the trustees and will not be sent as cash donations to officials. Your money will make a difference!

Donations

Taking with you what you have learnt from this website is great, what would be even better is a donation to this charity through the following link, Any donations are much appreciated!

http://www.saharamarathon.co.uk/cgi-bin/fa.pl?action=show&cuid=5