Long Time, No Blog

Greetings Team,

Its been a busy summer, working on paper work for Guinness World Records and drumming up more support for helping Natalie. While donations have been trickling in for the past few months, today there was a huge influx. I am excited to tell you that this morning an anonymous person has donated $5000! Yes that's right, $5000 to help put Natalie through school.

I am just blown away by this generosity shown by this person. Whoever you are..... THANK YOU!

Please if you have any questions, send me an email. I would love to chat.

Geoff

Unofficial World Record Set!

Friday was a big success, I set an unofficial Guinness World Record by sinking 12 backwards center court basketball shots in 10 minutes, but even better, the donations to help put Natalie through College have now Reached $4000, which is an amazing start.


Friday was such a great night, close to 100 people made it out watch and one of those people had no idea she was coming to this event, and that was Natalie. It was an amazing opportunity for everyone to final meet this amazing woman and even more special was the fact that the secret about this fundraiser was revealed to her. Natalie was slightly overwhelmed as you might expect, but her joy and surprise was very evident. She is so thankful that so many people would take the time to come out and support her and what she wants to do in her life.


We have not reached our goal but that is because we are just getting started, the next step will be huge and that is getting her story out to larger media outlets and this will take time and effort, but in the end it will be worth every ounce of energy. Thanks to all have have supported our effort to make a difference in the life of this family and we look forward to the many more people who will come forward in the coming months and say they too want to be part of this.



Important Links- Donations www.givemeaning.com/project/givingforliving

Facebook Group- http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2398686227

Location Confirmed

World Record will be set Friday July 6th 7:30 pm. If you would like to come check it out, we will be at Peace Portal Church (15128 27B street, South Surrey B.C.).

If you would like to help change Natalie's life with a donation, you can go online after JUNE 27th at http://www.givemeaning.com/project/givingforliving . All money donated will be collected and given to Natalie to help pay for her schooling. Thanks everyone.

Geoff

Hello there, my name is Geoff Stewart and on Friday July 6, 2007 I am going to set the Guiness World Record for the most backwards basketball shots from center court in ten minutes. Now you might ask why, and the answer is, I am not too sure. But the idea came to me when listening to a local morning radio show where Kid Carson said he wanted to set a world record himself. That got me thinking about any obscure skills I have and this came to mind. Just so you know I am not kidding about this, here is a video of my practicing.

I am using this once in a life time opportunity to help out a family that Lavonne and I have become close to in the past few years and feel very strongly that setting this record could help us to give them a better life. By helping to get Natalie through school where she is going to study to become a Community Support Worker (Nursing). She can get herself off Social Assistance, but not having any real vocational skills has made it hard for her to find work. She is a beautiful person who loves her children and has sacrificed so much to get them here and for that she deserves to given every opportunity to make a life for her family.


My hope through this is to pay off her school loan she has taken of approximatly $20,000 and also pay off her immigration loan to the government of Canada. Natalie wants nothing more than to be able to provide a home for Bienfait and Kesha, and I would like to see her realize this dream and feel like her immigration to Canada did in fact bring her children a better life. Natalie came to Canada to make a difference and help people, she wants nothing more than to work and make other people's lives better. This is a chance for someone to make her life better.

If you would like to help change her life, please email me at geoffstewart@gmail.com. Cheques can be made out to Natalie Mperheza and the final total will be published here a few days after The Record Attempt. You can always bring any donations on the 6th if you are interested in coming out that night.


Our Friend Natalie............

I would like to introduce you to Natalie Mperheza and her children Bienfait and Kesha. They came from the Congo two years ago and now reside in North Surrey in a government subsidized apartment complex.

You may be wondering why Lavonne and I have gotten involved with this family, and to put it quite simply they needed someones help and they still do.

Natalie left the war torn Congo in search of a new life for her and her children who were toddlers at the time. The three of them took everything that they could carry and headed south to South Africa where Natalie worked for a short time before coming to Canada. Natalie immigrated to Canada with Bienfait (left ) and Kesha (middle) in search of a life where her children would not have to grow up fearing for their lives, and where Natalie could find work and support her children as they grew up in a new country.

Life has not been easy for her and her family, the official language of her native Congo is French which made it very hard for her to communicate at first in Canada. Over the past few years she has worked hard to learn English and speak it with her children who are flourishing in their school. Bienfait and Kesha are so beautiful and full of life and laughter.

Lavonne with Bienfait and Kesha in my Apple Tree

Bienfait, Kesha and Geoff