Murder mystery evening raises funds for local charity

A Charity Event at Hendall for CHADIK

On Saturday 22nd February, Hendall Manor Barns opened its doors to raise money for the charity, CHADIK – Children’s Health & Development in Kenya, by hosting ‘The Great British Bump Off’ ; a murder mystery evening performed by The Hadlow Down Variety Club with dinner, all set within the magnificent Stone Barn at Hendall Manor Barns.

This small charity was set up by and continues to be run by Dr Gillian Bullock, a local resident to Hendall Manor Barns.

How CHADIK was formed

Back in 2007, Dr Gillian Bullock visited Kenya very soon after the major election disturbances.

Whilst there with her husband, she was invited to visit the small private Cottage Hospital in Nanyuki, about three hours’ drive from Nairobi. Very impressed by the standard of care of the patients, when a proposal arrived from a charity called Kijani Kenya to build a paediatric facility in the grounds, she and several others decided to start fund raising.

It quickly became apparent that funds to build would be virtually impossible at that time, so the group registered as Kijani Kenya (UK) and made contact with Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital in Nairobi to develop outreach clinics in disadvantaged areas.

By 2011, the UK group had come up against many obstacles to working with the parent Trust, so it was agreed that there would be a split with the group retaining the joint work in Nairobi as well as other smaller projects in Nanyuki and form a new charity.

Nine months later CHADIK was born with a Board of Trustees and local management committees.

This Board not only dealt with the medical interests but also worked to encourage agricultural development among young people. Not all projects were successful but the two main stream activities – Gertrudes and the Kisima mixed secondary school are very much so.

Agriculture in the latter was supported by the supply of teaching materials and a large educational polytunnel as well as extra funding from the Richard Lawes Foundation. Four years funding of the students is nearly complete and the last five students will take their leaving exams in October.

Whilst regular outreach clinics continue to be supported, the longer term plan is to support Gertrudes Children’s Hospital in its newly established cancer programme.

As the local management team based here in the UK are all volunteers, there are no overheads, so every penny that was raised at ‘The Great British Bump Off’ event has gone to these disadvantaged children.

Monies raised for CHADIK

It was a highly successful evening and we are delighted to report that £2207 was raised for the charity! We would like to thank the Hadlow Down Variety Club for putting on such an excellent murder mystery drama for us all to be entertained by.

Anyone wishing to organise any charity event with either a charitable or not for profit purpose will find us enthusiastic to assist and able to offer discounted or nominal venue hire rates.