October 20, 2009

IT’S TIME FOR “STARVATHON 2009”

Dear Rayjon Member,

It’s that time of the year yet again when we gear up for our major fund raising event in November – our annual STARVATHON. Last year we raised $13,000.

We are seeking your help again this year to enable us to continue making progress with our Rural and Urban Development Projects in Haiti. Our goal is $15,000.

Over the last year, excellent progress has been with both our Haiti projects. In St Marc, our education and health care programs continued to develop well. We are proud to announce the graduation of our first Grade 13 high school graduates from St Patrick’s High School (Haiti), with hopes and dreams for post-secondary education and training. The Gilbert clinic has expanded to provide diagnostic and hospital services to those who would otherwise have no access to life-saving health care. The new agricultural development project has taken off in leaps and bounds, introducing new crops and improved farming techniques as well as transformational products such as mayonnaise and salad dressing for sale. These excellent programs require financial support to operate and to support the matching of CIDA funds.

In Cap-Haitien, the Sacred Heart Centre not only provides the malnutrition program, but also a micro-credit loan program to assist women in starting their own business, a Production Centre to teach various business skills such as tailoring, and an urban gardening initiative to provide a sustainable means of growing food in this urban area. The Sacred Heart Centre does not receive any CIDA funding and is supported in part by the Sisters of St Joseph, but is otherwise funded by donations to Rayjon.

The continued success of these excellent programs very much depends upon the loyal support and generosity of Rayjon’s supporters and donors.

This year’s Starvathon planning group is organizing a 24-hour fast for the weekend of November 21 / 22 starting at 12:00 noon at St Joseph’s, Corunna. It will be a jam-packed event and all Rayjon members are invited to attend. Details are shown on the back of this letter.

How can you help?

1. You can choose to participate personally in the November 21 / 22 Starvathon – and collect pledges using the attached sheet, or

2. If you can’t join us on November 21 / 22, you can conduct your own fast – and collect pledges as above.

3. After you have completed your fast, collect and return the pledges before year end so that tax receipts can be issued for the 2009 tax year.

4. Finally, if you can’t take part in one of the fasting options, please consider making a donation to Rayjon.

We hope you will participate in whatever way you can. Thank you.

Best wishes,

John Barnfield

President

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STARVATHON AGENDA:

Saturday, November 21

12:00 noon People arrive + bring cans / goods for Inn Of Good Shepherd

12:00 noon Lunch

1 - 2 p.m. Brief intro. / orientation to Event

Ice Breaker

Rayjon History (poster session)

2 – 2:30 p.m. Briefing for Community Visits / Projects

2:30 – 5 p.m. Community Visits / Projects

5 – 5:30 p.m. Debriefing session

5:45 – 6:45 p.m. Educational Game

7 – 9 p.m. Keynote Speaker + discussion groups

9 – 10 p.m. Physical Activity

Sleepover

Sunday, November 22

8:30 a.m. Haiti & DR Trip Meetings with Trip Leaders

10:00 a.m. Option 1 - Mass

Option 2 - Physical Activity

11:00 a.m. Situational Exercises

11:30 a.m. Wrap up + clean up

12:00 noon Lunch