Monday 12th October 2009 Welcome to October 2009 Newsletter We are delighted to announce that touraid has welcomed Mike Phillips, (Wales and British and Irish Lion scrum-half) to join Mike Catt, MBE, Danny Cipriani, Sue Day and Chester Williams as our new Ambassador. Mike has taken the rugby world by storm with his performances for the Ospreys, Wales and especially for the British Lions during this summer in South Africa. He is a proven 'winner' and he is keen to get involved with communities in Wales taking up the touraid challenge. As you are all no doubt aware out next fund raising event is the All Starts Rugby Match at Esher RFC on Wednesday 14th October. This has kept everyone at touraid very busy and promises to be a great night with Khmer and touraid teams increasing by the hour!!! Thank you all again for your support for touraid and I hope to see you at the Charity Rugby Match. Andy Berry Sailen Tudu It is part of the joy for all of us at touraid not only to see the development of the boys and girls due to their relationships with communities here in the UK but, also of the young coaches/mentors and role models who accompany them. All have humbled us with their dedication to the children but few have a story like Sailen Tudu who coached the victorious Jungle Crows in 2007. Tudu's story can be seen at The Times Online and we are thrilled that we will be seeing his considerable skills playing for the touraid XV on 14th October at Esher RFC. Click here for Tudu's story in The Times Online Tobago Girls take Surrey by Storm! 10 fabulous U11 girls arrived Thursday 24th to have a week long stay at Ripley Court Prep school in Surrey. This turned out to be a fantastic week with the Tobago U11's thrashing everyone on the courts. The relationships made over the week seemed very strong with the usual many tears at the farewell. Ripley Court is going to fundraise to build a Netball Court in Trinidad and also plan a tour to Trinidad and Tobago in 2 years time - boys and girls. Headmaster Andrew Gough stated, 'We are delighted to be the first school to host an all girls' tour with touraid. It is not only the host families that benefit from this special week but my whole school; pupils, staff and parents. The kids connect in their special ways and is heart-warming to see. Educationally it is exceptional and though hard work the whole experience is very satisfying and rewarding.' Tobago coach, Malvina Cadiz, stated, 'For all the girls this is a dream come true. Hardly any would have travelled as far as Trinidad before so a chance to come to the UK and meet such loving and supportive people such as at Ripley Court is amazing. It will give them life-long memories and friendships, I am sure.' Oxford University first XV - Raise money for touraid We would like to say a big thank you to the Oxford lads for their efforts in raising money for touraid The team proved to be as successful on the circuit as they do on the pitch with Daniel Rosen being in the winning team at the touraid vs Oxford Go Karting evening held in September. Many thanks again to all the team members and coaches. Umzingisi boys follow touraid Ambassador Mike Catt! We recently received some fantastic news from Nick Mould, the project Director of Umzingisi; '5 of the boys who came to the UK have been offered scholarships to top schools in PE as a result of the exposure they got after the tour. Two of them will be going to Grey - Mike Catt's old school (who incidentally are the only school to have beaten our first team this season)! touraid envoy, De Wet Barry (Ex Springbok and Harlequins), has also committed to coaching at Umzingisi for the foreseeable future. All at Saffron Walden RFC who hosted the boys were impressed not only by the talents of the boys on the pitch (they won all their games) but also by their demeanor and behaviour. The tour has given the lads the confidence and profile that they justly deserve- they are so talented and all of us at touraid are thrilled that they will be given the opportunity to shine. What price a Springbok from Umzingisi? Click here for Umzingisi web site Gardenia and Saracens link up In January 2008 King's House welcomed Gardenia Primary School from Cape Town, South Africa to Richmond for a week of cultural and sporting activities. Following this Saracens contacted touraid and visited Gardenia to carry out coaching seminars and clinics for the kids and coaches. More recently four members of the Saracens Sport Foundation travelled to Cape Town to visit local schools and research the local sports based projects that support groups and individuals in the area. One such visit saw them drop in to Gardenia Primary School, Cape Town. touraid are delighted that this link is continuing and providing benefits all round. As Gordon Banks from Saracens said: 'The game displayed dazzling dancing feet, precise passing and some terrific try scoring. After almost 2 hours of non-stop action the coaches drew the session to a close, and the boys revealed they had a game that afternoon! Rugby balls, T-Shirts and Tag Rugby belts were given to the school to mark the occasion, before the obligatory photos were taken. The passion and camaraderie shown by the young players was truly inspirational - the facilities and equipment they use to train every day was basic, yet they all maximised what they had and were a joy to work with.' Future Events CHARITY RUGBY MATCH OCTOBER 14TH 2009 AT ESHER RUGBY CLUB Another reminder about next weeks match. Tickets will be available on the door for just £5.00 Adults £3.00 children. Please click here for more information or contact office@touraid.org. A night not to miss and the chance to watch great rugby while raising funds for Cambodian children living on the dumps and touraid. The All Stars rugby match is at Esher RFC on Wednesday 14th October (7.15pm KO) ; curtain raiser 6.45pm. Live music, auction, raffle, cheerleaders and much more. Click here to see the Surrey Advertiser's article on the Charity Match touraid is a UK registered company by Guarantee UK Reg. Charity No 1116664 office@touraid.org www.touraid.org 01932 8633889 07980 0423584 This e-mail was sent by touraid. If you cannot see this e-mail correctly, please click here. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.