OBs' Charitable Endeavours
- October 2011: Dan Jane ascends Kilimanjaro
- April 2011: Richard Maunder walks the South West Coastal Path
- June 2009: Tom Wigram in Indian Ocean Rowing Race
Dan Jane: On Top Of The World
Old Blundellian Daniel Jane set himself the task of conquering Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro. He tackled the mountain in an eight day trek where the temperatures soared to 30 degrees in the shade by day, but plummeted to 30 below on the mountain’s exposed slopes at night. He was exposed to Acute Mountain Sickness which causes nose bleeds, chronic fatigue and nausea.
Dan was one of six climbers make it to the top to walk the final one-mile ridge which was the highest point in Africa, Uhuru, which stands at 5,895m.
Dan and his group all work the fore railway industry and Train To Kili expedition was raising money for a charity called The Railway Children. It seeks to help the vulnerable youngsters who often drift towards railway lines and stations 
when they find themselves homeless in Britain, in Africa and in the Indian sub-continent.
Before they left, the group visited an example project run by the charity at Mkombozi where boys were taught to live in the community and given an education (group photo, below).
Dan funded the expedition himself and so every penny he raises will go to help children. His target is £10,000 and he has raised £7,500 so far.
You can help him by donating at http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/DanielJane.
Read more about Dan's adventure here (a PDF document).
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Richard Maunder walks the SWCP April 2011
When the family business was sold in January 2008, I found myself thinking ‘what might I do should I have the opportunity to take some time out’. That opportunity has now presented itself and I have been planning a walk around the South West Coast Path. Not only has my employer given me leave (on a permanent basis if you get my drift), but more importantly Jo has given me the green light.
Mum was walking the Path with friends and had covered around 180 miles over several years, but sadly was unable to complete due to her illness. Mum died on the 1st August 2002 from acute myeloid leukaemia. We spread her ashes at Park Head, a lovely spot in North Cornwall near St Merryn where Mum and Dad used to walk often. The picture of Jo and I was taken there.
Dad undertook a 1000 mile walk from Nice to Chevithorne raising important funds for the Yarty Ward in Exeter where Mum spent much of her last months.
So following in Dad’s footsteps (albeit a far smaller walk), I plan to cover the 630 miles of SWCP in around 40 days and complete the trail that Mum was walking. I start on the 15th April and plan to complete on the 24th May. I am walking ‘in reverse’ as all the guide books start in Minehead and complete at South Haven, Poole, but I just fancied going the other way, and at least I’ll meet walkers coming towards me!
I am taking a light weight tent, and plan to camp mostly, but will take advantage of a hot shower when I come across a cheap B&B, Youth Hostel (not so youthful anymore) or friends/family to put me up for the night.
I do hope you will sponsor me and help provide extra funds for the Exeter Leukaemia Fund which supports the important work at the Royal Exeter and Devon Hospital. Through the VirginMoneyGiving site, every penny raised goes to ELF. Please donate by going to my page at http://virginmoneygiving.com/richardmaunder.
If you have a moment and are interested in following my progress, I have set up a simple blogger page which I hope to update daily with a picture and comment. Go to http://richardmaunder.blogspot.com.
[ See further information from Richard in this PDF document. ]
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Tom Wigram in Indian Ocean Rowing Race June 2009
The following is an email from Sue Wigram, Tom's mother: -
Tom Wigram (SH 1991), my son, has asked me to contact you to see if you could highlight his current situation on your website!
On 19th April 2009 four of them set out in a bid to become the first four-man crew to row the Indian Ocean. They are competing in the inaugural Indian Ocean Rowing Race to raise some much needed funds and awareness for men’s number one killer, prostate cancer. All being well the race will take approx 60-70 days and will see them cover approx 3,568 miles (5,742 kms), from Geraldton (Western Australia) to Mauritius... that's a long way and a long time to be sat on their prostates!
They are currently half way through this challenge and when speaking to Tom this week he asked if I would contact you, so this is what I am doing. Their website is www.rowingforprostate.com and they would love to hear from anyone who would like to leave a message on their message board, they find these messages hugely beneficial to keep them pulling on those oars. Truth be told I think they are beginning to feel a tad far away from friends and family, not surprisingly. All four of them, although currently living in New Zealand, are very much West Country boys, Billy Gammon will have played against Blundells from St. Michael's Tawstock and King's Bruton, his home is in Trevose, Cornwall. Pete hails from Bath and Matt too has spent a considerable amount of his younger life in Cornwall.
Myself, and Tom's mother in law, Sue Heron, have just completed a very successful two day fund raising event in aid of www.rowingforprostate.com and were overwhelmed by people's generosity, their interest in the cause, and also how many wished to read their daily blog, (it does make compulsive reading) and wish to join us all dot watching! We have thousands of school children in New Zealand, and many friends who are in the teaching profession in the UK encouraging their pupils to take an interest in the boys journey and some have even left messages on their message board.
Should you want any further information do contact me by email, wigram@talktalk.net, or telephone 01626 832083, but I do hope you will find a few moments to look at their website. If the above link doesn't connect please would you copy and paste it into your web browser; I have to admit to not fully understanding computers!!