Friday 20 August 2010

Karen Woo Foundation

Since the sad and sudden death of Karen we have been looking at ways of channelling her positive energy into a lasting foundation to carry out her good works into the future. To that end we have in conjunction with some of her close friends established the Karen Woo Foundation. For further information please go to the website  http://www.karenwoofoundation.com/  or email contact@karenwoofoundation.com.

The website is currently being built and the charity is being registered. Although there is a facility on the site for donations via pay pal it is preferable if you can register details and wait until the charity is registered so that gift aid can be claimed on any donation made.
We thank you for your support at this very difficult time and have been consoled by the many kind messages that we have received.
Thank you.

Sunday 8 August 2010

Dear All,

Thank you for your messages at this sad time.
Karen was a dedicated professional who died trying to do good medical work in a difficult world whilst helping those who have very little.
Her loss is immeasurable to everyone that knew her.
She touched many people’s lives and her memory and charitable belief will live on through all of our work.
Bridge Afghanistan

Saturday 7 August 2010

Our Thoughts with Karen.

Dear All.



We have just heard the terrible news from Afghanistan.unfortunately Karen was part of the group that were killed whilst delivering aid and medical care in Nuristan of Afghanistan. we are distressed and deeply disturb by sad news We thank everyone for thinking of Karen at this time.

Firuz Rahimi
Bridge Afghanistan.

Medical Expedition

Nuristan region of Afghanistan July 2010
I wanted to write to you directly regarding my upcoming trip to Nuristan, a remote province in Afghanistan. I will be trekking for over three weeks as part of a medical team in to the mountains of this inaccessible area to deliver medical care to the people living there. Working in conjunction with the International Assistance Mission (www.iam-afghanistan.org), an organisation that has been working in Afghanistan for over forty years, I will act as the team doctor and run the mother and child clinics once inside Nuristan. The expedition team also includes an eye doctor and a dental surgeon as well as me as the general physician.

I wondered if you might consider making a donation to support this expedition. The funds will be used to buy medicines and medical equipment and to fund the transport and logistics of the trek.

I am currently fundraising for this expedition – My target is $7000 USD, approximately £4,700 GBP

Afghanistan has the highest rates of maternal and infant mortality in the world; one in five children die before the age of one (World bank stats for 2008). The communities who live in these remote areas get no medical care at all, so we are hoping to be able to make a really big difference to the lives and livelihoods of the people that we meet there.
The trek will not be easy; it will take three weeks and be done on foot and with packhorses - no vehicles can access the mountainous terrain. The highest reaches of the mountains are at approximately 16,000 feet and snow covered.

The expedition will require a lot of physical and mental resolve and will not be without risk but ultimately, I believe that the provision of medical treatment is of fundamental importance and that the effort is worth it in order to assist those that need it most.
Starting from the province of Badakhshan in the North of Afghanistan we will load up packhorses and begin the walk up the Munjan valley, travelling through another valley takes us to a pass that leads into the Parun Valley. We will begin at about 7,000ft, ascend to almost 16,000ft before dropping down to around 9,500 ft for our final destination. The total walking distance will be 120 miles round trip.
We will be dealing with a population of around 50,000 people in the region, many of

whom will travel to meet us along the way to be given medical care. The Munjan population are Ismaili Muslims while the Nuristanis are Sunni

and of a distinct cultural background. Common

ailments include respiratory infections, parasites,

worms, and skin infections as well as more

seriously debilitating conditions such as cataracts, malnutrition, traumatic injuries, and child birthing

injuries.

With your generosity:
£25 buys a 7 day course of Co-Amoxiclav, a broad spectrum antibiotic.

£50 buys analgesia, anti diarrhoea medication, rehydration solutions.

£100 buys bandages, syringes, needles and disposable gloves

£150 buys food and water for one team member for the trip

£250 buys vaccines and analgesia

£500 buys a portable solar panel – enough to power essential equipment such as satellite phones and GPS tracking equipment

The area in North Eastern Nuristan that we will reach is one of great harshness but of great beauty also. I hope that we will be able to provide medical care for a large number of people.

I would be most grateful for your contribution no matter how big or small.