K is for Kids; K is for Kyrgyzstan (yeah, only the computer knows how to spell it). On 18 April our team from Tonbridge Baptist leaves for a 9-day mission trip to see and serve in Samaritan's Purse's work among children and families on the margins in central Asia.

We'll get to join in their Raising Families programme which through local churches trains and equips families living hand to mouth to recognise and use their own resources to meet their needs. We've been asked to run several activity days for disabled children at centres set up by  community action groups. It will also be great to see how funds sent from TBC's harvest appeal last October are being used to help families raise themselves out of poverty.

Our team is Eunice Linares, Liz West, Lizzie Martin, Kevin Tolhurst, Mike Sanderson and Nick Cole. The total cost of the trip is £9,000 but after each of us has contributed what we can afford, our fundraising target is £6,000. Will you help us?

We've planned a range of fundraising activities including a Quiz Night at TBC on Saturday 28 March (save the date, more details later on), shoe shine and car washing on Sunday mornings. Also as individuals we're doing various sponsored events - see under our names below. 

On the trip, we'll also help local churches distribute Operation Christmas Child gift boxes to children. In Kyrgyz culture there's a time of gift-giving in April.The gift boxes build relationships that often opens the door for Raising Families projects to start.

K Team Members

Nick Cole. On 22 February, I'll run the Tunbridge Wells half marathon. I last ran a half marathon 13 years ago in Nottingham (the Robin Hood run). Nowadays I feel and look more like Friar Tuck. How about a additional pledge if I make it up Spring Hill without stopping?  The video clip in the gallery below shows that challenge.

Kevin Tolhurst. I'm also running the Tunbridge Wells half marathon. How about an extra pledge if I beat my previous best time of 1 hour 41 mins? Then I'll run the Paddock Wood half marathon on 29 March and  the full Brighton Marathon on 12 April. Again do encourage me to get personal bests by promising additional donations! Thanks.

Lizzie Martin. K is also for Kitchen - which is where I will be creating cakes, desserts and other yummy treats for people to buy, so I can make the journey from the kitchen to Kyrgyzstan and back again :-)

Other team members' activities to follow.

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