On Sunday 23rd October, we will host a Charity Day to raise funds for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or ‘Doctors Without Borders’ is an international independent medical humanitarian organisation. They provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters or exclusions from healthcare. Since being founded in 1971 in Paris by doctors and journalists, MSF now has a worldwide movement of almost 63,000 people from 160 different countries, including healthcare professionals, logistic and administrative staff.
MSF have responded to the war in Ukraine in various ways; delivering 800 metric tons of medical supplies and relief items, and provided hospital care on board two medical trains. Their efforts also stretched to other surrounding countries were they provided physiotherapy services, as well as mental and psychosocial support and much more. You can read the full extent of their efforts here.
All donations for MSF pay for millions of consultations, surgeries, treatments and vaccinations every year. This is a non-profit organisation and the current statistics on where donations have been allocated are; 80.5% on fulling their social mission, 64.4 on their humanitarian programmes, 12.1% to support their projects and programmes, and 4% on awareness-raising. The rest is spent on general management and fundraising costs. They also maintain reserves that allow us to respond immediately to a crisis without having to wait for an appeal. The use of MSF funds is tightly controlled and the audited financial reports are publicly available.
All proceeds made on garden tickets on Sunday 23rd October will go to the charity to help them continue their inspirational work. There will also be charity boxes in the shop, café and by the ticket shed so that you can donate if you wish.