Opal Foundation

Introduction


Opal Africa Abseil Raises £40,000 and RisingDonation Online button


WE DID IT!


• 268 abseilers in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham
• Money raised will fund the building of a borehole in
South Omo, Ethiopia, to provide safe water for 60,000
people for lifeDonation Online button
• Great atmosphere on the day, with musical entertainment, and refreshments provided for abseilers and their supporters.


Thank you for making the Opal Africa abseil such a special and memorable day. 


Together we raised £40,000, rising daily, which will make a real difference to people in South Omo, by providing them with safe water from a deep water borehole.


There were some amazing stories emerging from the day from Opal staff, residents and business partners taking part:


• Kevin Satizabel, one of the residents at Opal 1 Birmingham, who is registered blind, took the once in a lifetime opportunity to abseil over 170 feet down his 17 storey home.  Kevin, who is studying BMus Composition and Piano at Birmingham Conservatoire was persuaded to sign up on the day by his friend Helena Frost, who is partially sighted and abseiled the building herself dressed as a bumble bee.

 




• At Opal 3 Leeds, which towers at 269 feet high, 14 year old Beth Sant and her mother Karen Goodall and Opal resident Jade Majid and her father Oscar added to the family atmosphere of the event.  Beth and family friend Charlie Henderson had volunteered to help at the event and after watching others complete the abseil, Beth took the opportunity to become the youngest abseil participant nationwide.

 

 

• Most 50th birthday celebrations involve a few drinks and a meal with friends.  Not so for Chris Hammond of FC United, who celebrated his 50th birthday with an unforgettable descent of Opal 3 Leeds.  Chris very kindly pledged all of his birthday money from friends and family as sponsorship money.

 



The Opal Foundation is working with AMREF to build the borehole.  AMREF are a reputable African based charity with over 50 years experience of working with local communities to develop effective sustainable projects which the community owns. The Opal Foundation wishes to improve access to safe water in one of the most deprived areas of the world, South OMO, Ethiopia.  For example, less than 7% of the population have access to safe water and child mortality is greater than 190 deaths per 1000 live births.