Newsletter February 1999

This newsletter is dedicated to local resident Sheena Oswald who is to cycle across Borneo in aid of deafblind charity!

Steen Jakobsen

Webmaster

Article from:  Anglo Portuguese News 4-2-1999:

A Series of Events has been lined up, starting this Saturday , to attract sponsorship for a remarkably dynamic Algarve business woman, Sheena Oswald, who is planning to cycle across Borneo in aid of "Sense", the worlds largest deafblind charity. Sheena regards the trans-Borneo event in April as both a real test of her own determination and stamina, and an opportunity to contribute to the international work of an organisation which aims to transform the quality of life of less fortunate people.

Formerly in charge of sales and marketing in Europe for Tandem  personal computers. London-born Sheena settled in the Algarve three years ago and now combines freelance work as a sales representative for a publishing company with developing her own properties for holiday rentals. She plans to open a Tapas Bar shortly. Serious cycling is a new sport for her, although the self discipline needed in her current training regime is built on years of  regular keep fit activity in the form of running, tennis and aerobics.

The Borneo ride appeals to both her marketing and fundraising instincts. Its exotic location focuses interest, she says, while the organisers and main overall sponsors, such as travel firms, are keeping costs to a minimum so that a very high percentage of donations go directly to those in need.

"Deafblindness is the significant impairment of both hearing and vision and can mean total blindness and deafness, or involve some remaining use of one or both senses." writes Sheena in an appeal letter which she is circulating. "People can be born deafblind or acquire deafblindness later in life. Rubella in pregnancy used to be one of the most common causes of congenital deafblindness, but is less common now thanks to immunisation. "More frequent causes now are meningitis, birth trauma, the effects of old age and the genetic condition known as Usher syndrome." "Sense" is funding projects in the U.K., India, Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America to provide care for elderly people who have acquired deafblindness, as well as giving training and family support for those born with it.

Anyone wishing to discuss or support Sheena's Borneo challenge can contact her by email at rustica@mail.telepac.pt The following fund-raising events have been arranged for this month;

Saturday 6th - Open Day for holostic treatments and hair styling at Heaven & Earth, Rocha Brava, Carvoeiro. 25% of income will be donated.

Monday 15th - Sponsored Silence. Join others in experiencing for between 15 minutes and an hour what deafblindness people face every day. 2.0pm Hotel Garbe, Armaçao de Pera.

Friday 19th - Quiz night at the Round-Up Saloon, Estrada do Farol, Carvoeiro hosted by Meurig Hughes, Entrance fee and percentage of bar takings will go to "Sense"

Saturday 27th - Charity Dinner at Portarade Restaurant, Ferragudo. Esc. 2.500 a head for three-course meal. All dinner and raffle profits to "Sense"

Article from:  Algarve Resident 5 February '99:

SENSE, the International Deafblind and Rubella Association, which supports the deafblind and the people caring for them has thrown down the gauntlet - the Trans-Borneo Cycle Challenge is 360 kilometre pedal pumping trek across the South- East Asian island home of the orang-utan. To qualify you must contribute 225 pounds sterling of your own and raise 2.000 pounds sterling through sponsorship. Sheena Oswald, 37, is the Algarve resident to take up the challenge, reports Luis Coelho. She has raised 600 pounds sterling for a course she really believes in: " Imagine living without 95% of your senses". To raise the remaining sum four events are scheduled:

Open Day for SENSE at HEAVEN & Earth on February 6. Heaven & Earth will donate 25 per cent of the money to SENSE.

Sponsored Silence to be held at Hotel Garbe at 2pm on February 15. With the help of Hilary Barber participants are encouraged to experience living in silence for 15 minutes to an hour.

Quiz night at the Round-Up Saloon hosted by Quizmaster Meurig Hughes. Test your knowledge and contribute to the charity on February 19.

Charity Dinner at Portarade Restaurant, Ferragoudo, on February 27. all proceeds will go to SENSE.

For more information  Sheena Oswald can be contacted by email rustica@mail.telepac.pt

The Trans-Borneo Cycle Challenge for ‘Sense’.

For a week in April 1999 I will be cycling over 224 mile across Borneo. I and other volunteers will be doing this to raise funds for Sense, the world’s leading deafblind charity. This cycle challenge will be a real test of determination and stamina for me, however it is not only an opportunity to push myself physically, I must also raise over £2,000 for Sense’s work by the end of February.  Until we leave, I am going to be working flat out to raise money for an organisation that aims to transform the quality of life for deafblind people. If you need further information or supporting material, please contact me directly on +351 82 52399 or by E-mail:

                rustica@mail.telepac.pt .

Your support will actively  improve the lives of deafblind people throughout the world - please help if you can.

Important for companies to note is :-

Any company who sponsor £500 or more get their name on the back of the T-Shirt worn by all the participants in the Borneo trek’. (Also, any UK company who sponsors more than £250 can get a tax rebate and I can provide you with the Gift Aid Form for this).

                         Yours   Sincerely,
                          Sheena Oswald

The International Deafblind and Rubella Association was  founded in 1955 and and is now known as 'Sense' and is the world’s largest organisation working with deafblind people.It is an international voluntary organisation supporting and campaigning for people who are deafblind,their families, their carers and professionals who work with them. People of all ages with widely varying conditions use Sense’s specialist services.

(HRH the Princess Royal in the United Kingdom is Sense’s patron).

Deafblindness is the significant impairment of both hearing and vision and can mean total blindness and deafness or involve some remaining use of one or both senses. People can be born deafblind or acquire deafblindness later in life. Rubella in pregnancy used to be one of the most common causes of congenital deafblindness, but is less common now thanks to immunisation.
More frequent causes now are Meningitis, birth trauma, the effects of old age and the genetic condition Usher syndrome. 95% of what we learn about the world comes through our sight and hearing. Despite the unique problems deafblind people face in communication, accessing information and mobility, many find help to develop and reach their potential through Sense’s specialist
support and training.

The money I raise through taking part in the Trans-Borneo Challenge fundraising trek in aid of Sense, the world’s leading voluntary organisation for deafblind people will be used to support the work of Sense. This means funding new projects that provide care for elderly people that have acquired deafblindness, providing permanent residential care and training for people born deafblind with support and advice for their parents. Sense works in the UK, India, Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America.  Sense is also working on a  joint project with 'Casa Pia de Lisboa'  the Portuguese deafblind charity which promotes deafblind people in employment.

You will be directly improving the quality of life of deafblind people and their ability to communicate with the world around them.

This is a high profile event  in the UK but not in the Algarve - at least not without some help on my part! So I have organised  publicity in the Algarve with the leading English publications distributed over here. Some which has been completed, more is on the way!

I am also planning some local  fundraising events. With the help of sponsorship from several of the companies that are involved in the trek, all the costs secured are minimal which means your donation goes directly to the people who need it. Any UK registered company who sponsors £250 or more is entitled to a tax rebate and I can provide the ‘Gift Aid Form’ for this.
Any Portuguese company can also offset donations/sponsorship against tax. Also, any company who sponsors £500 or more get their name on the back of the T Shirt worn by the participants of this challenge.

I hope you can participate in some of the planned  events over the next few weeks we have the Charity Quiz Night at the Round Up Saloon on Friday the 19th and the charity dinner at the Portarade in Ferragudo on the 27th AND 28th February.
If you can spare an hour on the 15th February for the sponsored silence at the Hotel Garbe then do give me a call.

If you wish to make a donation then please send me a cheque made payable to ‘Sense’.

                          Yours   Sincerely,
                          Sheena Oswald