County people urged to support ‘Wee Box’ campaign

Feb 25 2010 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

WEST Lothian people are being urged to give their support to a national charity.

The 40-Day Challenge is part of SCIAF’s Wee Box, Big Change campaign, Scotland’s largest annual fundraising campaign to provide practical support to people living in extreme poverty in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Last year West Lothian people raised over £11,000 towards the £900,000 total raised across Scotland.

This included £5905 in Livingston, £3018 in Bathgate, £1343 in Linlithgow and £656 in Broxburn.

The celebrities, together with thousands of Scots will give up a favourite treat such as wine, chocolate, and take-aways for the 40 days of Lent, put the money they save in their own small fundraising box (the WEE BOX), and donate the proceeds to SCIAF at the end of Lent on April 1.

Famous Scots backing the campaign include, businesswoman Michelle Mone, Taggart’s John Michie, football legend Ally McCoist, First Minister Alex Salmond, Miss Scotland Katherine Brown, The Proclaimers, actor Gerard Kelly and Clyde 1 presenters Romeo and Adele Cunningham.

SCIAF say helping raise cash doesn’t have to mean making a major sacrifices.

Donating the money you would normally spend on 40 packets of crisps would provide crop seeds for four families; giving up 40 cans of juice would buy a goat; the equivalent cost of 40 cakes would buy affordable medicines for 70 people and saving the money normally spent on 40 glasses of wine or beer would pay for training and equipment for two midwives.

SCIAF Chief Executive Paul Chitnis said: “One billion people will go to bed hungry tonight.

“In Ethiopia alone, 6.2 million people are in need of emergency aid following droughts and crop failure last year.

“Millions more are affected by war, natural disasters and HIV and AIDS.

“SCIAF is working in all these areas, providing practical support to help poor communities work their way out of poverty and become self-sufficient.

“It is fantastic to have the generous support of so many famous Scots and the people of West Lothian.

“They are making a small change to their own lives during Lent which will make a huge difference to communities living in extreme poverty. I would urge everyone to get involved.”

Members of the public who wish to take part in the 40-Day Challenge can order their Wee Box, or find out more about SCIAF and the Wee Box, Big Change campaign at www.theweebox.org or by calling 0141 354 5555.