Author Archives: Sarah Warwick

Hot on the heels of last year’s successful HASTE marathon runner, Lizzie “No couch potato” Couch, we have another keen volunteer to take up the HASTE baton in the form of Andrew “Huss” Hussey who will be running for us in the 2012 London Marathon.

Although we weren’t given a spot in the marathon this year, Andrew has been struck by the good work we do and has been kind enough to say he will fundraise for us any way – Yay Andrew! He’s trying to raise £5,000 so we can have enough money to build another school so please please please do support him at virginmoneygiving.com/AndyHussRunsLondon. OR do head down to the route on 22 April to cheer him on – it’s 26.2 MILES, people! He needs all the support he can get.

It’s that time again, when eggheads grab their thinking caps and gleefully venture to Islington for an evening of searching questions and homemade food. Yes, it’s the HASTE quiz supper, which this year will be held on 22 November at St James’ Church Hall, Prebend Street, N1. Tickets £20pp or £150 for a table of 8. All proceeds to HASTE and much fun had by all. From 6.30 onwards. Email iandjbing(at)btinternet(dot)com for more details.

Thanks to everyone who attended the HASTE garden party on 8 July. Lots of people came, despite the rain, and the wine flowed freely. The chairman gave a speech announcing our plans to build two schools this year. We are very much on target for our £10,000 fundraising goal for 2011 after some generous donations from our supporters, so thanks again to everyone for your continued support. Look out on the website early in 2012 for a video of our school-building efforts.

…Indeed it is, and with it the will-it-won’t-it rain forecasts, pub gardens crowded with Pimm’s-happy punters, and… Yes! The HASTE garden party.

July 1st is the happy date this year (It’s a Friday). £10 in, and that gets you a free drink, delicious buffet food, and a delightful night had by all. Doors open at 6.30 (Pimm’s o’clock) and the evening normally draws to a close at 9.30ish. Email sarahwarwick@gmail.com or iandjbing@btinternet for more details or to book your ticket. We look forward to seeing you there.

[There will be no HASTE Open Garden in Kent this year, sadly, due to family illness]

All London stood by in awe on Sunday April 17 as our first HASTE runner, the delectable Miss Lizzie Couch (pictured) completed the 26.2mile course in just 4 hours 18 minutes.

Speaking afterwards, she said, “It wasn’t as hard as I’d thought. I was quite annoyed, actually, because loads of people were walking so I got a bit stuck at the beginning. I’d do another one to get a better time. Having said that, all the supporters and the atmosphere was wonderful. What a great day!”

All the HASTE committee and supporters were very proud of her, and were delighted to accept £7,000 that she had raised. With some other fundraising we have done this year, we will be putting that into a £10,000, which we’ll be using to build two schools in The Gambia. Lizzie, alongside Judith, Sarah, Lucy and other supporters will be going over to help with the building process.

If anyone would still like to help with our fundraising, Lizzie’s online page will be open until July. See www.virginmoneygiving.com/lizzierunslondon

Heading out on holiday to a lesser developed country? Well, do like TV Broadcaster Kate Humble does and stuff your backpack with school supplies and donations for the projects out there which need your help.

We at HASTE have been collecting pens and pencils for our school projects for years, and we’ve now teamed up with Kate’s new website to tell more people about HASTE and what it does.

We’re always looking for school supplies, which we can receive either at our London headquarters, or directly in The Gambia (where you can visit our projects).

So do have a look at Kate’s new inspirational site, and – next time you go away – remember to Stuff your Rucksack!

The cat’s out of the bag. Many of you will have heard a rumour that we had a runner in the 2011 Virgin London Marathon and we can now confirm that it’s true! Thanks to a generous donation of £300 and the recommendation of one of our supporters, we have been accepted into a Silver Medal Place for the marathon, which means we’ll be allowed to submit a runner every five years.

For our inaugural race, we’re pleased to announce that Judith’s niece Lizzie Couch, who already has several half marathons under her running-belt, has agreed to run the 26.4 miles for us. Not only that but Ms Couch has said that if she reaches her target of £10,000 (enough to build two schools) she’ll be out in The Gambia for Christmas 2011 building them herself! Thank you Lizzie, we’re all massively behind you!

We’ll be announcing the name and URL of Lizzie’s Just Giving page ASAP on this site but in the meantime please direct all questions to sarahwarwick@gmail.com (Please enquire for an address to send cheques). We’ll also be auctioning off logo space on Lizzie’s running shirt, so wannabe corporate sponsors please get in touch for our rates.

We’ve so far (17.09.10) raised £50 and we’ve got six months to raise another £9,950 so let’s all get behind Lizzie and help her build two new schools for HASTE.

It’s almost time for the Haste Annual Charity Quiz, on November 23rd this year. Whether you get a whole table together or just buy a ticket or two, the HASTE ACQ is everyone’s favourite thing to do on a cold November Tuesday. Plate up with sausage cassarole and warming baked potatoes and enjoy a few glasses of wine as you pit your wits against some of London’s finest brains. Tickets £18pp or £144 for a table of 8. All proceeds to HASTE and much fun had by all. At St James’ Church Hall, London N1 at 6.30 onwards. Email iandjbing(at)btinternet(dot)com for more details.

Many thanks to everyone who came to our HASTE garden party on Friday (2nd July). It was a great success, the rain held off and much Pimm’s was drunk. We raised over £1,100 pounds – not bad for an evening’s work – and the takings were especially good on the tombola, so thanks to everyone who bought tickets and congratulations to one lucky winner who took home TWO bottles of scotch. Please keep the bottle donations coming in, and remember: it could be you next time!

Missed our latest craft sale at the annual garden party? Never fear, our babies’ clothes and blankets are now on sale on our new Etsy shop! Visit us now at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/HASTEcraft