Newsletter 2017

Newsletter Edition 5
A Huge Thank You to the Class of 2016
Our small foundation needs the constant support of
people like this to achieve great things
Supporting people on your doorstep & across the globe

A note from Cheryl
Running the Foundation on behalf of John May is a great honour and a job I am very
passionate about. However being on the job alone can be a sobering experience and I
could not do it without the support of some truly amazing people who make the tough
days bearable. So our front cover is a nod to some of those very special individuals and
businesses who donate their time, money and advice so that the work of the Foundation
continues to thrive, despite the fundraising challenges we face as a small organisation
competing with some pretty big fishes.
Thanks to the following for your unending support, please feel proud of the important
part you play in the success of LMF and keeping me sane!
Front Cover photos in alphabetical order, Helene Abbiss, Claudie Andrews,
Shambu Acharya, Dan Adams, Lee Ashcroft, Jo Barton–Taylor, Colin Benjamin, Konrad Breese, Tina Carney, Alan
Cleverly O.B.E., Kerry-Anne Danniker, Cheryl D’Cruz, Lorraine Farmery, Alan Farmery, Iris Glock, Michael Gove,
Sandy Grayson, Charlotte Grayson, Sarah Hills, David Jelley, Saroj Koirala, Robin Lennie, David Wilkin, Mary Luff-
Wilkin, STIHL GB Mascot, John May, John May (Jnr), Christopher McCready, Alan Meeks, Emma Osbiston, Andy
Paskell, Sapan Rai, Nick Ransom, Sarah Ransom, Darryl Ratiram, Lee Rawlings, Dr Bhola Rijal, Kapil Rijal, Rajni Rijal,
Sangeeta Rijal, Tara Rijal, Rajendra Sherstha, Mahesh Singadia, Colin Stokes M.B.E., Rob Tidbury, Trudy Waite, Naomi
Waite, Valerie White and Sophie Winkworth.
John’s summary 2016
As 2017 gets underway we look back on another year with mixed emotions, where we once again reached out
to those in need both locally and across the world. With your generous support, we have completed three
phases of work in Nepal. There is much still to do, but before we outline any new plans to help the people of
Nepal, Dr Rijal will return to make an assessment of where we can make the most impact. Meanwhile please
see the progress made in our four-page spread dedicated to Nepal.
Closer to home we continue to support our three nominated local heroes, Parity for Disability, Surrey Young
Carers and The Prostate Project. All of these continue to work in our immediate communities carrying out
some truly amazing and heartfelt work to enhance the lives of many people from all walks of life.
I cannot end this note without paying tribute to a great friend of mine, Alan Cleverly O.B.E. who passed away
in 2016. He was there for me in my own personal hour of need when I lost Lisa in 2004. Alan was a valuable
member of the Foundation who was there from day one. He supported the work we do right up to the very
end of his own life, when Jane and family kindly donated funds from his funeral to LMF.
I miss him every day, but I am grateful for the many, fond and memorable moments we both shared over the
years. It goes to show that we all have to overcome our own personal waves of disaster, though how we cope
may differ, but it is always easier if we have a helping hand or two that reaches out to guide us through the
toughest of times.
That is simply what my daughter’s Foundation embodies, and I hope that you will all hold out a helping hand
to help us make other people’s lives that bit easier through the work we do in Lisa’s name.
Many Thanks
In Memory Of
Alan
Cleverly O.B.E.
On the 7th March, we heard the sad news that a
true friend and great member of the
Foundation Alan Michael Cleverly O.B.E. had
sadly passed away in his sleep after a long and
courageous battle with cancer. A battle he fought
with determination, passion, great faith and a
tremendous sense of humour.
A dear friend of John May, he was one of the first
people to support John when he lost his daughter
Lisa in the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. Alan
rallied the troops in the UK and helped to raise
funds, which enabled us to start the Lisa May
Foundation. It was a natural decision to make
him a valued member of the Foundation and he
continued to support us to the very end. His true
friendship and spirit will be sorely missed.
Alan was a giant of a man in stature and his
personality entered the room long before he
himself arrived! His booming voice and laugh
were infectious. In the world of politics where he
worked, he was a larger than life personality, who
took on many roles and won over many hearts
and minds. He was also a fabulous auctioneer at
many of our charity events, where he convinced
many people to buy things they never wanted
and certainly didn’t need!
His spirit lives on through the many memories
we have of him and the sterling work he did for
so many. His familiar tones will forever be heard
booming advice from on high wherever we are.
May he rest in peace.
We also wish to take this opportunity to thank his
wife Jane and children Jonathon and Georgina
for remembering us and kindly donating funds
from his funeral and memorial service to the
Foundation. This was a generous gesture that
was much appreciated at a time that was so
difficult for them.
Welcoming new members to the
Foundation.
As we have just lost a formidable figure
and member of the Foundation in Alan,
we recognise the great loss and welcome on
board not one, but two new valued members
to join us.
Our members are people that endorse and value the
work we do as a charity. They also take a keen interest
in the future of the organisation and pass on their
observations and feedback, so that we may pave the
way forward with their external views and expertise in
mind.
Out thanks must go to Jane Cleverly and Michael Gove
(MP) for agreeing to join us this year.
Jane Cleverly
Jane is the wife of the late Alan Cleverly and has been
a loyal supporter of the Foundation since it began in
2005. Jane comes to us with a wealth of hands on
experience, helping Alan to successfully organise
and execute many a charitable function. She is a well
respected lady who is keen to lend a willing hand to
help whenever she can. We could not think of a more
fitting person to carry on the good work that Alan
started all those years ago.
Rt Hon
Michael Gove MP
Michael Gove is a Conservative politician, who was
Secretary of State for Education from 2010 to 2014
and Secretary of State for Justice from 2015 to 2016.
He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Surrey
Heath since 2005. He is also an author and was a
columnist for The Times. Michael has supported our
work for a number of years and most recently kindly
appeared in one of our Nepal appeal videos. He is
also keen to see and hear more about the work we do
locally in Surrey Heath. Another loyal supporter whose
wish is to see more people given an opportunity to
benefit from the support of a helping hand when it is
needed most.

Nepal: One Year On
The tragic reality of this terrible natural disaster was the death toll of 9,000 people and a further
22,000 that were injured during the two earthquakes that struck Nepal last year.
The first was on 25th April 2015, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake which caused most of the damage and loss of life.
A number of aftershocks followed, including one that measured 7.3 on 12th May 2015.
The quakes destroyed or damaged over 800,000 homes in the western and central districts of Nepal. Nepal is
not a rich country by any means and the geographical location and harsh terrain made assistance and recovery
a logistical nightmare. The country declared itself to be in a state of emergency and asked for support. Financial
aid was pledged from all over the world, but many obstacles stood in the way of progress from civil unrest
between the borders of Nepal and India, to rocketing prices for materials and supplies.
However, there is still so much more we could do.
Dr Rijal will soon be returning to Nepal and will announce further details of a new phase, which will focus on
helping the children of Nepal build a better more sustainable future which we hope to deliver via a new structured
curriculum.
When tragedy strikes it is so hard to know where to start, but when you step back, having given initial aid you see
an opportunity to rebuild and improve is crying out to be actioned.
Thank you for helping those in need across the globe.
Please follow us on social media for updates.
However, thanks to our amazing Team 21, led by Dr Rijal, your donated funds can actually be seen making a
difference in the most remote of villages.
The Team delivered aid personally, and used local Nepalese suppliers. Because of this we have not experienced
the red tape that many of the larger charities have faced. Your money has reached people who are now rebuilding
their lives.
Dr Rijal and his team wish to say a very big thank you to everyone who contributed to the appeal. Together we
have raised over £100,000. This has enabled us to complete all three phases that we set out to achieve.
• Phase 1: Our Team 21 flew out to deliver immediate medical aid and distributed vital food supplies.
• Phase 2: 155 shelter homes were designed, transported and built in remote villages across Nepal.
• Phase 3: We constructed eight school halls to replace previously damaged schools to get the children
back to school with pride.
“I have been overwhelmed by the support for this appeal. I would like to thank everyone
who has donated and enabled us to do so much” Dr Kapil Rijal
All the build sites were chosen because our Team 21 had already visited them in phase one and two of our
projects. It was fitting that we returned to give them more permanent support to ensure the sustainability of the
children’s education.
All the school halls are now up and running and have been provided with the basic supplies to start afresh. This
could only happen thanks again to your generosity.
School Name Area Project Completed
Jageshwor
Higher Secondary School
Navajagritri Chandi
Higher Secondary
Ratna Rajya
Higher Secondary School
Ramashwori
Secondary School
Bhagwati Himalaya
Higher Secondary School
Bijaya Bhawani
Higher Secondary School
Durga
Secondary School Ranchowk
Bal Bikash Kendra
Children’s Welfare Centre
Borlang V.D.C
No 7 Gorkha
Asrang V.D.C.
No 6 Gorkha
Gorkha No 9 Gorkha
Bungkot V.D.C.
No 9 Gorkha
Ghairung Batase V.D.C
No 2 Gorkha
Makai sing V.D.C
No 8 Gorkha
Saurpani V.D.C.
No 8
Chautara
in Sindhupalchowk
One School Hall has been built and divided to run two
classrooms and we have also repaired the washrooms.
One School Hall been built and divided to provide two
classrooms, and new washroom facilities are now on site.
Here we have built two school buildings to achieve
four classrooms.
One School Hall with two classrooms is now
up and running.
One School Hall with two classrooms is
now open
One School Hall with two classrooms is
now fully utilised.
One School Hall been built and divided to provide two
classrooms, and new washroom facilities are all operational.
We have restored and renovated the original building and
pathway leading to the building.

My Nepal Trip
by Christopher McCready
Living in Camberley, I was aware of the great work that the Lisa May Foundation has done to support those
affected by natural disasters and as an Officer Cadet at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, I am looking
to commission in to the Royal Gurkha Rifles and had been wanting to visit Nepal for some time. Therefore,
the next logical step was to get in touch with Cheryl to see if there was any way I could work with LMF in
Nepal. An itinerary was put together by LMF, flights booked, and I was off on a journey of discovery.
Armed with my camera, 10 footballs, 300 pencils, 50 colouring-in books, sweets and balloons, I was ready to
spend a week dropping off donations to schools in Nepal. I was to arrive in Kathmandu on New Year’s Eve and
then travel to a village called Ranchowk (near the epicentre of the earthquake at Barpak).Unfortunately, my
flight was delayed and I missed my connection to Nepal, having to stay in Istanbul until 2nd January and my
luggage had been mislaid. I arrived in Kathmandu late but in one piece, with supplies.
I was met by Ashish Ghimire, the MD of Shilu Metal Works. He designed and built the LMF shelter homes and school
halls. Ashish and Jeevan and Kamal were the perfect guides as they had all been instrumental in successfully
planning the logistics of the Nepal Earthquake Team 21 expedition. I soon realised that viewing these natural
disasters from the comfort of your home is distressing, but feeling the desperation and seeing how the people
of Nepal have created homes in rubble, ruins and obliteration was humbling and yet breathtaking. Their positive
attitude and love for life seemed to be able to put a façade on what they faced every single day. Never have I
experienced such optimism.
The final school was Vijaya Bhawani Higher Secondary
School in Makai Singh. It was here that I saw how people
from all over the world came together to help Nepal
recover. Every school I visited required more classrooms
but this school sought to fully restore itself to how it was
before the earthquake and with more funding is looking to
rebuild a library, playground, science room and a hostel as
its students currently have to make a 4-hour round trip on
foot simply to come to school every day. Once again the
determination to learn amazed me.
At each school the children and staff were all incredibly
welcoming and there was such a positive focus to educate
despite the tragedy that had come before. I was constantly
amazed by how the schools have adapted to the situation
they now find themselves in. Their ability to persevere
only serves as a heartfelt reminder of how much more
support they require and deserve in order to overcome the
difficulties they face.
I for one am determined to fundraise and support this
worthy project and I hope that my findings encourage
more people to help fund more amazing projects like this,
in such remote locations for the people of Nepal whose
resilience and positivity remain high.
So much more could be done to help these amazing children who are passionate to receive an education,
especially when all it costs is £40 to educate one pupil and £12,000 to build another School Hall.
Chris
The drive to the district of Gorkha to visit schools which the Lisa May Foundation continue to support was
probably the most beautiful journey of my life with every
corner revealing a different view of the valleys, rivers and
snow topped mountain peaks. I cannot imagine how hard
it was, to not only travel this terrain immediately after the
earthquake, but to take supplies and deliver aid under such
traumatic circumstances. I was in awe of Dr Rijal and Team
21 for their courage and resolve to help people in these most
remote locations.
Five hours later we arrived at Ratna Rajya School in the village
of Birinchowk where we were greeted by the Headmaster
who showed me around and talked me through the progress
they have made since the earthquake and the work they still
need to do to restore the school further. Given the altitude
and the freezing wind and rain it would be near impossible
to teach in these circumstances without a building tough
enough to stay up in this beautiful but exposed landscape. It is all relative I know but these children were eager
to learn and took every single second of their lessons with such passion.
The second school, Ramashwori High School, in the village of Bungkot, was once again exposed to the elements
with classes forced to be held in makeshift shelters. At both schools I was fortunate enough to see the buildings
which had been built thanks to the funds raised by the Lisa May Foundation and all those who support the
charity. It was particularly useful to have Ashish with me as he designed and fabricated the trusses which form
the skeleton of the new buildings. They had created hope when there was none and the resources to give the
community the opportunity to see there was a tomorrow.
On my last day we visited another two schools, the first being Bhagwati Himilaya High School in Gurung. Here I
was able to see the level of damage the earthquake caused as what was left of the old school building was visible
at the opposite end of the playground. The broken shell of this building was a clear reminder of the force that
shook Nepal in 2015.

“
It’s wonderful to support such a worthy cause and also, to see the
amazing enthusiasm bringing our staff together so positively
”
Robin Lennie – MD
It’s a Chain Reaction!
Our great friends at STIHL GB powered their way through another year of fundraising for
LMF. It seems be to a natural chain reaction for them to pass on their generosity from the
Camberley HQ right across the country to their dealerships, where more super people
emerged to donate throughout the year.
They literally blew us away with their support and made us feel part of the STIHL family. Event after event we just
kept finding out more about the staff’s skills and talents as they sawed to great heights. They have really carved
their names into to the hearts of LMF and our charities.
We now know why STIHL have successfully completed 90 years in business, they have the power, the drive and
the batteries to just keep going! Their tool kit is extensive and their work-rate is second to none.
Sadly, all good things come to an end and this year STIHL have decided to support Surrey Young Carers (SYC)
as a standalone charity. We are sorry to see them go, but pleased we introduced them to a charity they feel
passionate about to support in 2017.
We have built great relationships that we know will last and hope the door is open for us walk back in sometime
in the future. We would like to thank them for all they have done and wish them every success with SYC.
The pictures gathered here tell some great stories and the quotes from their staff speaks volumes about who they
are.
Many thanks for a phenomenal two years and over £28,000 which has helped all of our causes and grown
awareness of the work we do for others.
“Each event has been different, very
enjoyable & very well organised. We
always receive updates on how much
we have raised for the LMF which is
great to know and spurs us on to raise
more money!”
Emma Alda – Field Sales PA
“With the sun shining and a buzz
in the air, the STIHL football game
was a fun day for all. What made us
cheer even harder and the lads kick
and tackle even stronger was the
fact that we were all their to support
The Lisa May Foundation. It’s days
like this that really depict how proud
we are to be partners of such a
deserving charity”
Rebecca Rassie – PR Manager
Loving your work guys xx
“The skydive was completely
out of my comfort zone
but by far and away one of
the best things I have ever
done, topped off by the fact
we raised loads of money for
such an amazing charity! A
day I’ll never forget!”
Andy Paskell – Marketing
“It’s been a real honour for me to have had the responsibility for STIHL GB charity work
and I’m so proud of our ‘STIHL staff’ who have donated and supported. I couldn’t have
imagined how successful, rewarding and enjoyable this whole experience has been to
work on, we have made a difference to the lives of people that really need it.”
Jo Barton-Taylor - Marketing

Our Local Charities Update
Prostate Cancer (PC) is the biggest killer of men in the UK, sadly one man dies every hour from PC. We now
know that early diagnosis and treatment does gives men a better chance of beating this disease.
Parity run three day service centres in Camberley, Mytchett and Farnborough which support adults
living with multiple and complex medical conditions and disabilities.
This is an update from them on what we do to help them and what they are focusing on for 2017.
Thanks, in no small part to the support of the Lisa May Foundation and the fabulous additional support of STIHL
GB, Parity for Disability has been able to weather the storm and survive the difficult economic climate again this
year. The Foundation stepped in to save the day for some new Parity attendees who wanted to take part in our
activity week at Runway’s End Activity Centre in July, topping up funds so they could be included in the amazing
week of outdoor adventure. A wonderful film was made by the Lisa May Foundation’s volunteer film maker Nick
Ransom and Cheryl when they followed our week’s activities at Runway’s End. The film was made to air first at
our 25th Anniversary dinner and auction in September, which LMF took a table at in support. The video is now on
the LMF YouTube channel and our website too. Finally, a very generous donation of £3,000 from LMF has helped
fund Parity’s speech and communication programme. In 2017 LMF have already agreed to match fund our big give
project to the tune of another £3,000.
This small volunteer run charity has already made a great impact on the advancement of early diagnosis and treatment by
funding vital research and equipment. Over the last few years they have set their sights much higher and have agreed to
provide 50% of a £4m project to build a world class urology centre on the grounds of the Royal Surrey County Hospital. The
other 50% will be funded by the NHS Trust.
The Prostate Project team works closely with consultants, nurses, researchers and patients in order to understand their
needs and provide funds to achieve better results.
LMF have over the years donated funds, raised awareness and brainstormed with the charity for new ways to fund this
build. Our latest project is an undertaking to make a short crowd funding video to showcase the work they do and how the
new centre will benefit not just men and their families but anyone with a urological disorder.
LMF are proud add to our support to their network and making the video gave us some rare inside access to see the
consultants and researchers at work, even filmed in an operating theatre!
We have interviewed a cross section of people affected by PC as this disease does not just affect men, it sends waves of
worry through their families too. Please help us to raise more funds and awareness for this amazing charity.
More people with multiple disabilities (we call them students) are coming to Parity now that our third day service
centre in Mytchett is up and running. They’ve finished full-time education and are looking for services where they
can keep building or at least maintaining the skills they’ve learned. Communication is one of the most important.
Though most people don’t use speech, they can share thoughts, wants and needs through signs, symbols, eye
contact, body language and a range of low tech or high tech devices. Some students use a voice communicator
and our qualified speech therapist, Anna Kendall, is able to make sure they don’t fall through the cracks instead
becoming more and more skilled at using their devices.
This a case study of one of our students. “Patrick is a self-starter”. Patrick (not his real name) is 28 and has
used a voice communicator for six years.
“Communication devices are not built with people’s physical disabilities in mind,” says
Anna, our speech therapist. However, Patrick is able to use one finger on his left hand
to press the keys on his device.
Anna has been working with Patrick on tailoring and using his recently upgraded
communicator. She’s also training Parity staff to use it with him. Patrick’s language is
increasing and he’s starting to construct sentences spontaneously. Whereas once he’d
mainly refer to himself in the third person, he now usually uses ‘I’ much more.
Patrick is also using the future tense, a huge step forward, putting together sentences like “Rebecca will help
me paint”. He’s also beginning to spontaneously talk about others. For example, out of the blue, he used his
communicator to say that another student was not at Parity that day and told us where the person was instead.
Patrick is a self-starter and extremely sociable. He will be able to keep working with Anna and come ever closer to
fulfilling his potential over the coming year, thanks to the generous support of the community. Sadly, we do not
receive any local authority fees to fund our speech and communication work. Cheryl and members of STIHL GB
have put a lot of hard work and enthusiasm into their fundraising and truly shown an interest in what happens
at the charity and its services for people with multiple disabilities. On behalf of everyone at Parity, thank you for
taking the time and caring so much. We need more people like this to boost our funds and support our work.
Helene Abbiss, Parity Community Support Director
“We are amazed at the creativity and focus which the Lisa May Foundation brings to all it does. Many would want to
raise money for special good causes but John May in memory of Lisa set about actually doing it. We are delighted to
be associated with such an inspirational team.”
Dr Colin Stoke M.B.E Chairman of the Prostate Project
Surrey Young Carers (SYC) provides respite opportunities for the young people who look after someone at
home with a long- term illness or disability. Some look after parents or siblings with a physical disability, some
care for family members with mental health issues.
Over the last year we have maintained our support for SYC by funding activity days out and covering transport fees which
eat up the majority of their funds. We also step in from time to time and put on seasonal events when their budget pots are
dwindling.
We continue to raise awareness of the work of the amazing sessional workers, by taking supporters to see them in action.
It is far easier when you see firsthand what people do and at the same time you see just how important funds are to small
organisations such as this. LMF took STIHL GB along to an activity day and they came away humbled to see such deserving
children getting a rare day out to just be themselves. The children also enjoy the company of their peers who all share the
same kinds of worries and responsibilities back at home.
“In 2016 LMF have helped to support activities such as: trips to the cinema, meals out, a visit to Wisley and a bowling
trip. These activities give the young carers an opportunity to enjoy a life outside of their caring role. Thank you LMF
for all your support”
Trudi Waite - Young Carers Senior Support Coordinator

Hello. I’m Nick Ransom and I have been volunteering with the Lisa May Foundation for
over two years now. Despite studying a degree in Television and Radio at MediaCityUK in
Salford, I still enjoy producing online video content for the charity. Over the years, I’ve
worked with Cheryl to produce a number of videos for the charity’s YouTube channel. I’ve
enjoyed capturing the many fundraising events and also being able to produce some minidocumentaries
on the chosen charities we support.
This year I really enjoyed working with the guys at STIHL GB. It was great to film them take
part in both the charity football match and skydive jump. The skydive jump was particularly
memorable – it was a unique challenge and being able to use the footage from the London
Parachute School made for comprehensive coverage of the event. There were some amazing
aerial shots and being able to tell the story of the day was incredibly satisfying. There were
stacks of footage and the editing process was really enjoyable.
When Cheryl explained Parity were taking their students to Runway’s End Outdoor Activity
Centre, I jumped at the chance of producing a film containing the highlights of the week.
It was a real honour to produce the video especially as it marked 25 years of the service.
The work they do really is incredible and it was good fun to make a video with so much
positivity and energy. As much as I love covering the fundraising events, being able to dig
deep into the stories embedded within our community really makes me tick. I love meeting
and interviewing new people and filming Parity’s activity week really was a great project
to lead. I’ve since launched my own business, NR Media, and have worked with a variety of
clients. As a uni student, I offer reasonable rates. Why not email me for a quote?
Working with the Lisa May Foundation has been an absolutely joy and
I cannot wait for 2017. I’ve been presented with so many opportunities
and the amount of experience I’ve gained whilst volunteering here
has been immeasurable. I can only encourage other people my age
to put their skills to good use and have an amazing time whilst doing
so. Congratulations on everything you’ve achieved LMF, here’s to
another successful year.
Nick
Hello my name is Lauren Haughey and I am a student at Farnborough
6th Form college.
I have been volunteering for the Lisa May Foundation (LMF) since
November after meeting Cheryl at our college’s volunteer Fair earlier in
the year. I liked the idea of volunteering for a charity that helps people
on both a local and international scale. This Christmas they helped clothe
the homeless and sponsored several Christmas parties at their chosen
charities. They have also continued to support Nepal even after the media stopped reporting.
Through volunteering with LMF I have already helped with the creation of this newsletter,
and have been given the exciting challenge of developing a new e-newsletter in college with
LMF and our target audience will be the younger generation. Our aim is to inspire more
people to volunteer and fundraise for this amazing organisation and other charities too!
It’s a great opportunity to help others and gain experience in a field I’m really passionate
about.
Thank you LMF for this great opportunity, I look forward to working with you on these two
exciting projects as well as many more creative writing opportunities in 2017 and beyond.
Lauren x
Are natural disasters increasing,
and is it our fault?
In recent years we’ve seen a series of natural
disasters causing devastation through the
destruction of lives and livelihoods across the
globe. From the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004, to the
violent earthquake that shook Nepal in 2015 - we’ve
seen it all...Or have we? There’s a new question
striking concern in our hearts. Are natural disasters
increasing, and is it our fault?
Using evidence found from historic data, satellite
imagery and other sources we are able to identify
a change in the global pattern of natural disasters
and understand what’s going on. Accuweather
shockingly says that “There were three times as
many natural disasters between 2000 to 2009
compared to the amount between 1980 and 1989. A
vast majority (80%) of this growth is due to climaterelated
events.”. NASA also agrees that natural
disasters related to climate are surging, stating that
there is an “increased risk of drought and increased
intensity of storms, including tropical cyclones with
higher wind speeds”. It is noticeable that all these
hazards mentioned are linked to climate...But what
is the link?
The answer is simple: climate is changing and
temperatures are rising. This means that Earth
has the perfect conditions to stir up some more
hurricanes, more water-stressed conditions, and
more wildfires with bolstered power. The change
in climate is down to a phenomena known as
the ‘Greenhouse Effect’, meaning that gases are
trapped in Earth’s atmosphere which cause our
planet to swelter.
The effect is actually a natural process, but the rate
at which it occurs has been enhanced by human
activity, causing it to be more harmful. This is a
result of actions we take daily that emit greenhouse
gas emissions, including gases like carbon-dioxide
and methane. The BBC Weather Centre states that
carbon-dioxide is “currently responsible for 60%
of the ‘enhanced greenhouse effect’ “ and “Since
the Industrial Revolution the concentration globally
has increased by about 40%”.
This demonstrates that there
is a clear link between human
activity and greenhouse gas
emissions,
image courtesy: blogs.edf.org
due to the technological
changes we made in the
Industrial Period. This
includes changes to
transport, such as our
increased use of train
lines and cars which
release carbon-dioxide
emissions. In fact, the Scientific American Podcast
states that in 2007 car usage was the second largest
source of these emissions, releasing 1.2 billion
metric tonnes carbon-dioxide into our atmosphere.
It is therefore no surprise that gas emissions have
soared by a record breaking “30 parts per million
(ppm) in the past two decades”, as told by the
American Chemical Society (ACS). Something
we’ve never seen before, and something that is
quite concerning.
Another human cause of greenhouse gas emissions
is our increased consumption of food at restaurants,
such as burger-chains. One reason for this is given
to the fact that many of these restaurants carry out
deforestation in order to make space for the cows
they breed to feed our mouths. In fact, Mongabay.
com says that in the Amazon Rainforest “more
than 60 percent of deforested land ends up as
cattle pasture” demonstrating that a lot of trees are
butchered purely for this purpose. Deforestation
occurs on a massive scale and is another cause
for enhancing our global temperatures through
the Greenhouse Effect. This is because trees
store carbon and transform it into food. So,
when there are more trees, less carbon-dioxide is
emitted into the atmosphere. The WWF says that
“46-58 thousand square miles of forest are lost
each year—equivalent to 48 football fields every
minute.”. This horrendous figure is responsible for
“15% of all greenhouse gas emissions”, and as
consequence conveys the effect humans have on
our future in terms of increased temperatures and
natural disaster severity.
With this in mind, there is all the more reason to
support the Lisa May Foundation. They generously
give aid to those suffering from natural disaster
devastation, and the positive result is clear to see
in this newsletter.
Lauren x
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors
and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

Christmas Goodwill
Want to lend a hand and help out at the Lisa May Foundation?
Here’s how you can help us!
VOLUNTEER
Perhaps you’ve got a passion for photography, or IT, or maybe you’ve got a knack for
office admin. Regardless, our charity truly values its volunteers and supporters! Whether
you’d like to help with just a single event, or have some influence over the creative ideas
of the charity, we’d love to hear from you!
FUNDRAISE
Fundraising is the gathering of voluntary money contributions, and is a great way to help
our cause. Here, you can find our Top 3 favourite fundraising ideas! Or simply give us a call.
The list of ideas is endless and can be easy and enjoyable!
• The Car Boot Sale- If you’ve got a bunch of old clothes, books, or things you no longer
need, you could sell them at a local car boot sale. This is a perfect way to raise some
funds for charity!
• A sponsored event- Set yourself an aim and gather supporters to help you when facing
the challenge. Why not grab your bike and cycle around the local area? Or, tick a box
off of your bucket list and attempt something more adventurous. This could be a ‘Man
vs. Food Challenge’, or potentially even a sky dive! The choice is yours!
• Throw a party! - Invite over a few friends for a quiz night, garden party or pizza party!
Collect donations from everyone who attends and help out LMF!
Every year we love to go the extra mile to make
the festive season special for our charities. It’s
a time to think of others and whilst we may not
know them well, feel it’s important to reach
out and help other deserving causes when we
can. Take a look at who we helped this year. We
captured some memories to share with you.
Parity are always coming up with creative ideas to keep
their students active and smiling. The only thing that
stops their creative juices is the funding pot! This year
we offered to fund a different event at each of Parity’s
three centres.
St Martins had a pantomime troop pop in to perform
for the students and their families, a great way to bring
people together and make memories.
Mytchett invited drum runners in to make some
impressive music with the students joining in as band
members. Great sounds and lots of smiles from staff,
students and friends.
Whetstone Road held a traditional Christmas party and
enjoyed some fab food and drink in their festive centre
all decorated by the students own handy work.
The Vine Centre for the homeless - We reached
out to help this great organisation which was struggling
to get donations of clothes to help keep their clients
warm over the harsh winter. They asked us if we could
help and we went one step further.
Calls were made to supporters and local businesses and
we asked for new warm layers of clothes in various sizes.
We wrapped them in Christmas paper and labelled them
appropriately to make sure everyone had something
new for Christmas in their size! A huge thank you to all
volunteers and the companies who helped make this
happen.
Donations came from: Oakwood-PS,Cotton
Graphics, STIHL GB, True Colours and Trudi
Waite who collected at church.
Santa’s helpers wrapped gifts: Thanks to; Ella, Sophie,
Claudie, Sandy, Charlotte, and John who helped me
deliver the presents to the centre in time for their
Christmas lunch.
“As a Foundation we appreciate the
sponsorship of local businesses which
enables us to help more people”
Cheryl D’Cruz - LMF
We’re easy to communicate with and value your support.
SIMPLY GET IN TOUCH....HERE’S HOW!
EMAIL: cheryl@lisamayfoundation.org CALL US: 01276 472000
TWEET US: @LMFORG
Surrey Young Carers - The LMF Christmas parties
for our carers are always a hit, but this year was extra
special. We offered to hire out a whole cinema so that
the children had a private screening of the latest Harry
Potter spin off movie.
“I have watched all of the Harry Potter films
and read the books too. I can’t wait to see
this film.” and “Wow we have the cinema
screen all to ourselves – a private screening,
that’s brilliant.”
These special children rarely get time out to enjoy
themselves, and this was a real treat. We also provided
Harry Potter(HP) themed goody bags with wristbands,
badges and HP glasses of course! STIHL GB kindly
added sweets to the mix and the evening was real hit
with the 38 lucky carers who attended.

“
As a local independent Camberley business, we were keen to support a local and worthwhile
charity doing great work in the area. Having met the team at the Lisa May Foundation we found
just that. Cheryl is a superb ambassador for LMF and the cause of supporting the community
and raising funds. We are proud to support and will continue to do so indefinitely!
Mark Sherlow – MD Catch Telecom
”
“
LMF is a really effective
charity as it is excellent
at identifying those who
need support and then
raising funds to help
Bruce Montgomery –
The Prostate Project
Frimley Park Hospital
”
T: 01276 472000 W: lisamayfoundation.org E: cheryl@lisamayfoundation.org
Registered Charity 1108763