Anita, Alex and Annabel Nicholson Memorial Fund

Fundraising

Singapore and the jurisdictions we target to support have been under COVID related restrictions for almost all of 2021.  These have included blanket travel restrictions and quarantines and restrictions on events.  While these are now starting to ease, restrictions continue to be in place. 

Nevertheless, this has not dampened the enthusiasm of the supporters of the Nicholson Memorial Fund and Atlas Asia who have continued to raise money through ‘socially distanced’ events.   

In March we had the Le tour de Insurance Circuit Breaker cycling challenge.  Over 200 cyclists in 26 teams across 7 countries participated - raising over S$30,000.  The organisers focused this challenge on raising funds for the Jungle Crows Foundation/ Khelo Rugby (who also joined the challenge!).

In April many of our donors in Asia (and Singapore Alumni in the UK) also clipped in their cycling shoes or put on their trainers and joined the ‘London to Cape Town Challenge’.  Another successful virtual event with the proceeds raised for a DigiBus.

In July, our planned team for the 100 km ‘Race To The Stones’ hike/run had to be divided between the ‘free runners’ in the UK who could join the event and those of us stranded in Singapore who participated remotely.   The split team actually meant a bigger team overall and probably ended up increasing our fundraising.    The generosity of donors far exceeded our expectations raising over £37,000. 

Finally, this was topped off by two of our supporters completing the virtual London Marathon 42km ‘Race for equality’ in the heat of Singapore raising over £5,000 for Kampuchea Balopp in Cambodia.

Projects

Many of the projects we have targeted have struggled to continue under Covid restrictions and lock downs.  Some have been able to embrace virtual classes/activities and keep their kids engaged, but many of those we were seeking to work with have had to pause their activities.   We are hoping to be able to pick up with them again as restrictions ease.  The need will clearly not have reduced, but neither has our determination to find and support the poorest and most disadvantaged children in Asia.

We were delighted to have entered our second year of funding for Kampuchea Balopp.  They have done a great job of continuing to engage and support children with significant disadvantages in Cambodia and have managed to get new initiatives off the ground despite the COVID pandemic.

We are also supporting Jungle Crows/Khelo rugby and are looking to build on the past relationship with them and support the growth of the fantastic work they do in Kolkota and other parts of India.

We are also in discussion with a project in the Philippines and waiting to revive mothballed plans for a project in Sri Lanka and for a Mixed Ability Rugby programme here in Singapore.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people that offered support for our events and projects whether that has been in participating physically or supporting financially or both.  We are extremely grateful.  With your support we can strive to help to some of the poorest children in Asia, giving them the chance to thrive.