Changes

Dear all,

Please be informed that due to some unforeseen circumstances, I am unable to participate in the Raleigh Expedition this Autumn.

However, all funds raised over the past few months would be channelled towards a future expedition; which I hope to be that of July 2008.

Will keep you guys posted.

-LV-

Raleigh-ing for a Cause

(Poster courtesy of Christal Loh, September 2007)

-LV-

Unwanted Items Anyone???

Dear all,

Unwanted items required for our Jumble Sale to be held on 23rd September 2007.

• Old/Vintage Clothes
• Board Games
• Sports Equipment
• Electrical Appliances
• Accessories
• Kitchen Ware
• Decorative Items
• Books

For more information contact Li Vyen (012-5300281) or Zhi Yong (017-6690188) and we will make arrangements for collection.

Further details on the venue for this event will be posted once confirmed. Stay tuned!

-LV-

Venue Sponsor: 1 Utama Shopping Centre

Dear all,

I'm glad to announce that 1 Utama Shopping Centre has agreed to be the official venue sponsor for our fundraising event "Raleigh-ing for a Cause" on the 22nd September 2007.

Brief details are as follows:

• Date: 22nd September 2007 (Saturday)
• Venue: 4th Floor Highstreet, 1 Utama (Opposite Glitter's Cafe)
• Time: Whole day (10am - 10.30pm)

Planned events are as follows:

1. Hotdog Eating Competition


2. "Pay for us to Cycle"


3. BakeSale (Sponsor - Shalia's Cupcakes)


4. Cookie Decorating Booth


5. "All the Happy Things" - Sale of items remniscent of our childhood


6. Sale of second-hand books


7. And more to follow........

Keep an eye on this space! Will get the official poster up ASAP.

-LV-

New Sponsor: Shalia's Cupcakes

Dear all,

I am glad to announce that Shalia (Shalia's Cupcakes http://shaliastreats.blogspot.com/) has kindly agreed to contribute towards my one-day project at 1 Utama (Raleigh-ing for a Cause).

FYI, Shalia is an avid baker who bakes lovely little cupcakes (cuppies) decorated with delightfully colourful butter cream icing. Her deliciously scrumptious deserts would be available for sale at my BakeSale Booth during the event on 23rd September.

Here's a sample of what she makes...

(Picture credits: http://shaliastreats.blogspot.com)

Craving for them now? Be sure to visit my booth on that day! Don't miss out!

PS: Shalia could be contacted at shalia.scrumptious@yahoo.com for bookings and orders.

-LV-

"Raleigh-ing for a Cause": 1 Utama, 23rd September 2007

Dear all,

I am writing with great pleasure to inform you that the One-day event "Raleigh-ing for a Cause" on the 23rd September 2007 is confirmed. More details to follow.

Thanks to my kind sponsors - 1 Utama Shopping Centre.

-LV-

My Partner-in-Crime

Dear all,

I've added a new link today. Please visit Zhi Yong's blog at http://zh1yong.blogspot.com/search/label/Expedition07 for more details on our current and/or upcoming fundraising activities.

FYI, Zhi Yong is a fellow Raleigh-ian and my fellow fundraiser aka partner in crime, who together with Vincent (another partner in crime) controls the 'home-base' aka correspondence in Malaysia whilst I'm slogging it out in Manchester. Together we shall make September's fundraising project a successful one.

Keep an eye on this space for updates.

-LV-

Sponsorship: Liverpool FC

I received a pleasant surprise today. After the numerous mails and proposals send out to my sponsors, I was delighted to receive a positive reply from Liverpool FC. Here's what I found in my mail.

Are you a Red? Interested in getting your hands on this piece of treasure? Stay tuned for more information on what will be done with it!

Till then....

-LV-

BBQ's Off!

Dear all,

Please note that the BBQ Weekend originally scheduled for Saturday, 11th August 2007 has been cancelled due to lack of demand.

Feel free to contribute to my "Postcards to Malaysia" fund though.

-LV-

Postcards from Malaysia!

Dear all,

I've launched a new fundraising initiative today - the "Postcards from Malaysia" campaign. As part of my fundraising project, I would send out a postcard to every donor during my expedition this October.

To contribute, click on the "Make a Donation" button above and send me your name and mailing address at livyen @ hotmail.com.

Check out the poster below.

PS: Note the new "Make a Donation" button at the top left corner of my blog. A simple and easy way to donate via Paypal.

Author's note: Credits to Yoon Mae for this novel idea.

-Li Vyen-

BBQ Weekend - 11th August

It's official! My first project is underway! (Barring bad weather and bad turnout!) *Fingers crossed*

Thanks to Sam from the International Society who is willing to allow me permission to use the International Society for the event free-of-charge, and also his kindness in allowing me to use the grills as well. Our discussion went well yesterday and he gave me a couple of other suggestions for fundraising! Thanks a lot Sam!

A big thanks to Yiwen for helping me out with the poster as well!

Date: 11th August 2007 (Saturday)
Time: 1pm - 4pm
Venue: International Society, University of Manchester (along Oxford Road)
Tickets: GBP4 (from the International Society)
or
Contact: Li Vyen at 0789 4343 238

*All are cordially invited*

RI in 10 words

An interesting question was posed to me today.

Tell me about Raleigh in 10 words

My reply was as follows:

- UK based youth charity, working on environmental and community projects.

Typing, writing and proof reading

Just sent out the first of my fundraising letters.... *keeping my fingers crossed at the moment*

Funds Raised TD: -nil-

The Journey Begins

- Ready to take flight!- (23rd July 2007)

July 2007:

I finally heard from RI. Received an email from Pei Ting (the current Expedition Officer) confirming that I'm IN! *Yay!!!* Sabah, here I come!

I sat down later that night and began typing my fundraising proposal. Half-cooked plans that I have had in my mind all these while were put in place; in black and white. 2 hours later, I was done. I mailed it over to RIKL and I am grateful to both PT and Shih Chung for the great feedback and ideas they have given me so far.

It looks like I'll be 'harassing' them with loads of emails in the following 2 months...

The Ambition

Raleigh International was something that I've always heard of and intended to participate in from time in memoriam. However, due to conflicting schedules, exams and other academic commitments, my plans have been shelved, until December 2006....

Flashback December 2006:
It dawned upon me that I would complete my studies in September 2007 with 9 months more to go (back in December 2006). I sat down and contemplated about what I wanted to do in September 2007 and beyond. I knew I wanted to go into practice (law), yet at the same time, I knew that I needed a short break before embarking on this new phase of my life. Various options crossed my mind.... RI being one of them.

I loved the outdoors, adventures, meeting new people and am environmentally conscious. RI seemed to be a natural choice! Before I knew it, I was at the RI website doing preliminary research on the expedition dates, countries and fundraising targets. I took time for consideration and got into contact with Siaw Ling (the then Expedition Officer) who guided me through the application process.

End February 2007:
After completion of my first semester coursework, I decided to 'take the plunge'. I submitted the application for what I consider would potentially be the 'wildest adventure of my life'.

And I waited...... hoping that I would receive the greenlight from Raleigh International soon...

Prelude

This blog is intended to document my adventure as a participant on the Raleigh International (Sabah) Autumn 2007 programme. This shall serve as a platform to provide all readers and interested parties e.g. sponsors with constant updates on my fundraising projects. In addition, this blog shall also function as a 'home base' throughtout the period of my expedition. Reports, updates, pictures and events would be posted as the journey unfolds.

Therefore, the blog URL is aptly named after the campaign that I have devised. The "Send Li Vyen to the Jungle" campaign shall run throughout July until late September 2007, afterwhich I will begin 10 long weeks of adventure in the pristine Borneo rainforests.

It is hoped that with added support from members of the online community, my fundraising targets could be achieved in a speedy, efficient and relaxed manner.

________

Before we begin...

What is Raleigh International?
RI is a UK based youth charity that has affliated offices throughout the world. It runs numerous expeditions to different countries; namely Malaysia, Costa Rica & Nicaragua and Namibia. It aims to bring together young people from various parts of the world in order to work on community and environmental projects in the nominated expedition countries.

Why fundraise?
Raleigh International is not a summer camp. Instead it is a project aimed for the betterment of the community and environment around us. Funds are required to finance the running and implementation of these projects. Although the local projects are sponsored partially or fully by a local organisation, funds are still needed to ensure the smooth running of the RI organisation and also the projects involved. Monies obtained from the fundraising activities would be used to further improve future projects.
Apart from that, organising fundraising activities provide participants with an opportunity for personal development. E.g. improving their PR, communication and organisational skills. As evident, the Raleigh adventure does not begin on Day 1 of the expedition. It extends way before and beyond that...

______

Need more information on Raleigh and its related activities?

Go to http://www.raleighinternational.org.my (Raleigh International Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
or
http://www.raleighinternational.org (Raleigh International, UK)