Striving towards and actively assisting in the financial stability, educational fulfillment, physical wellbeing and cultural enrichment of the rural communities in Haryana.

July 2008

On Sunday 20th July, a total of 47 cyclists from London and Leamington overcame hills and a driving headwind to ride from Oxford to the Pump Room Gardens in Leamington Spa in order to raise new funds for the Buwan Kothi International Trust.

The Buwan Kothi Challenge 2007, from London to Southend-on-Sea in Essex, raised over £20,000 and played an important part in ensuring that the Gilly Mundy Memorial Community School was able to open by April 2008.

To sponsor one of this year's participants, visit the Cyclists for BKIT blog for more information. The Trust is hoping to raise a total of £15,000 from July 2008's event.

Click here to see photos from the day.

June 2008

The charity football match between a 'Leamington United for Buwan Kothi' XI and a celebrity team organised by Luther Blisset, the former Watford and AC Milan striker, has unfortunately had to be postponed.

The game, due to take place at Leamington FC's New Windmill Ground on Sunday 10 August 2008, kicking off at 2pm, will now be held in 2009.

June 2008

Chris Clark (brother of Stephanie Carney, one of BKIT's Trustees) and Martin Henery set out on 6th June 2008 to cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats, attempting to raise £1 for each of the 971 miles of their journey with proceeds donated to the Buwan Kothi International Trust.

At around 3.30pm on Monday 16th June, Chris and Martin arrived at John O'Groats after ten days of cycling, a journey completed without crashes, punctures or mechanical problems, but with inevitable saddle soreness and general aches and pains (click here for a slideshow of images from the ride).

The orginial commitment to raise £971 has been easily exceeded and the ride will hopefully raise over £2000.

Many congratulations to them both for their amazing achievement! Don't forget, you can still sponsorship Chris and Martin at www.justgiving.com/chrisclark4buwankothi

April 2008

The Buwan Kothi International Trust has launched a new blog that celebrates the efforts and hard work of our many supporters - and reminds everyone that making a donation is not the only way of supporting our activities.

Anyone can get involved by making a Pledge to support rural communities in Haryana and making a difference in any way they can - whether by taking part in (or organising) a sponsored event, or volunteering some free time, or talking to friends and colleagues about the Trust and what it has achieved so far.

So if you have an idea, then make a Pledge and we'll do everything we can to help you to turn your commitment into positive action.

Visit the iPledge for Buwan Kothi blog at www.ipledge.org.uk

UPDATE: JUNE 2008

The 'iPledge for Buwan Kothi' blog has been made Justgiving's 'Charity Site of the Month' for June.

March 2008
Hundreds of people gathered on March 17 to dedicate the Gilly Mundy Memorial Community School, exactly one year after Gilly's sudden death. In just 12 months, the Buwan Kothi International Trust has raised over £50,000 to build the school in Lehrian, close to the village of Buwan Kothi where Gilly and his wife Debbie were married.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by a number of the charity's Trustees and members of Gilly's family and was addressed by highly respect Indian educationalist Anil Wilson, who for many years was Principal of Delhi University's prestigious St. Stephen's College.

Primary classes began on 2 April with 100 new pupils and the Buwan Kothi International Trust continues to fundraise for the expansion of the building to include secondary classes and a community resource centre.

Click here for photographs of the school.

The BBC's Jatinder Sidhu covered the opening of the Gilly Mundy Memorial Community School for the BBC World Service: Listen to his report .

TOP: The Gilly Mundy Memorial Community School's first pupils.

BOTTOM: Gilly's father Mota Singh, his wife Debbie Quargnolo and his brothers Rupee Mundy and Jas Mundy, in front of the plaque commemorating the opening of the school.

February 2008

The Trust is delighted that in this year's Flora London Marathon, Sheila Alon will be running to raise money for our work.

Sheila, a friend of trustee Deborah Coles, is an experienced runner and friends of the Trust in London are planning to show their support for her efforts by cheering her along on April 13th.

You can do the same by also sponsoring Sheila – visit her online sponsorship page at http://www.justgiving.com/bkit.

UPDATE:

Congratulations to Sheila, who completed the London Marathon in 4 hours, 54 minutes and 40 seconds! Her full results can be found here.

November 2007
A tree, particularly one that benefits a rural community, can be a lasting memorial to a family member or friend. The Buwan Kothi International Trust would like you to help us plant trees around the boundary of the Gilly Mundy Memorial Institute in Haryana in northern India.

Sponsoring a neem, mango, jamun, banana, ashoka or other local variety of tree at the Institute costs a minimum of £10. This includes the sapling, a plaque with your own message, a gift certificate if you are ordering a tree as a present and also covers the costs of caring and tending for the tree after it has been planted.

To place an order, download this order form (81K).