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Group of UK supporters visit Kallupatti and see the work of RTU

For the first time ever, we ran a trip to India for supporters in February. Almost a week at RTU - seeing Chidren's Villages and other work in the surrounding area - was combined with visits to the temple city of Madurai, and the hills and wildlife area of Thekkady.

Local women attending a sewing course

One traveller wrote "It was an experience of a lifetime and will remain an influence on the rest of my life for sure, thank you again!"

Preparing lunch for school children and others  - a total of 1500 - in the RTU kitchens

Two of our trustees led the trip, and one Dr James Playfair, got a report into his local newspaper - click here.

We plan to run another trip next year. So watch this space, or if you want to register an interest, why not send us an email?

David Clark raised over £1200

As the 1972 Olympic marathon gold medallist Frank Shorter said: ‘You have to forget your last marathon before you try another.  Your mind can’t know what’s coming.’ I feel this quote is quite apt for an amateur runner like me.  I had run two marathons in the past - but I had forgotten the level and duration of pain I experienced.  I thought it was about time I got back into running and so I entered the Edinburgh Marathon in May 2011, to raise money for Reaching the Unreached.

I have been fortunate enough to have visited RTU on two occasions.  The first time was as a member of a Lasallian Developing World Project team in 2006, and I returned again by myself in 2008.  The experiences I had visiting RTU were truly inspiring.  I was able to witness firsthand the great impact it has on the local community in G. Kallupatti and even further afield in Theni District (in south India).

26.2 miles (can’t forget the last 385 yards/0.2) is an achievable distance for anyone capable of putting in the training.  For me that was about 6 months of training, with four months of intense work to ensure I could cover the distance.  It isn’t easy to describe what it is like to run a marathon – it is a mixture of elation and pain if I’m being honest.  Leading up to the day I was really nervous and could hardly stomach my dinner the night before; but the event for the most part was quite enjoyable.  However as many a runner has told me, there are two halves to a marathon – the first 20 miles, and the last six.  All was going well in Edinburgh until the race turned back on the coast road with just under 9 miles to go.  A strong head wind hit me at the worst possible point, and I hit the wall as predicted at around the 20 mile mark.  (‘The wall’ is a term used to describe the sensation when you have burned all your stores of glycogen and you experience sudden fatigue.)  Unfortunately I lost a minute per mile off my target pace and finished in a time of 3 hours 16 minutes and 3 seconds (no personal best this time).  The miles seem to get longer as the race goes on, but I was glad to be finished and to have raised money for RTU.

Thanks to everyone who has supported and sponsored me.  The total raised was £1246.20 (roughly £1555 once gift aid is added on).  If anyone would still like to sponsor me they can do so online at www.justgiving.com/davidclarkrtu

A rig strikes water

A retired schoolteacher from Wales...

...makes friends with children, mothers and teachers at RTU's Higher Secondary School. Read here about her most memorable experiences, as reported in our March 2011 Newsletter

REMEMBER RTU IN YOUR WILL.  A legacy is a wonderful way of continuing your support for RTU on into the future. Click here to download our 'Leaving a Legacy' leaflet.  If you have a concern that preparing a will can be very expensive, take a look at this website: www.totallyfreewills.co.uk