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Arugam Bay Surfer, Krishantha, has been released from hospital following a freak, life threatening, surfing accident. The 21 year old, one of Sri lanka’s top sixteen surfers, and Project manager for Paddle4Relief, was thought to have broken his neck after being drilled into the sand at his local break. Fortunately two quick acting, travelling surfers from Israel, pulled Krish from the water, and so preventing him from drowning. Krish was then taken to a hospital two hours away, in Monaragala, by his elder brother Thusantha, where following numerous tests and X-rays, was seen by a specialist from Colombo, and given a favourable prognosis.
Krish is now at home, frustrated at having to wear a neck brace in searing heat and not being allowed to surf or do any work. Just to rest.
If it were not for Krish’s youth, strength and fitness, and the rapid response of the two Israel Surfers, we would most possibly be mourning the death of a very talented, caring and conscientious young man, who devotes his life to his family, friends and community.
Krishantha’s accident again highlights the need for qualified Surf Life Savers and a Medical Centre in Arugam Bay.
Please help us to raise enough money to make this possible.
Now with the Civil War over, and with the prospect of more tourists and surfers visiting the area, the need for such resources is vital.
Paddle4relief are committed to making this happen, and in making it a viable, sustainable project that will see some of the local watermen gain vital knowledge, qualifications and employment.
So, if you can help in any way, please contact tim@paddle4relief.co.uk.
Donations of money or equipment would be extremely beneficial, and gratefully received.
Krishantha malee, may you have a speedy recovery, and may we be blessed with your presence in the line-up @ ABay once more.
August 24th, 2009
I have just uploaded the latest batch of photos to a new gallery 13.
Please use the gallery link on the menu bar, or just click the photo in the P4R Info section.
The photos contain some touching shots and great fun ones of the Cricket Club!
Glorious sunset on the beach in Sri Lanka.
Have a look and enjoy.
Don’t forget, the big day - Paddle 2009 - is only a few days away!
Good luck Tim and Paul and everyone else involved in the big day.
June 7th, 2009
Braunton based charity Paddle4Relief are launching their biggest fundraising year since their birth in 2005!
P4R’s first event will be ‘The Usual Suspects’ music gig at The Aggi, Braunton, on Saturday 28th March.
Paddle4Relief has it nailed when it comes to putting a show together, and “The Usual Suspects” promises to be no exception. Back by popular demand, an exciting line up has been announced including headliner Peter Bruntnell, Jim Jones, Douglas E Powell & the Readers, and Robin Courtnage in Brixton Pieces- the best of Devon based talent.
For four years now, Paddle4Relief have been helping the forgotten victims of the 2004 Asian Tsunami, raising over £16,000 to help provide safe drinking water and numerous community projects in Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka, and this vital work must continue!
In 2008 P4R provided more than forty families with safe drinking water following the completion of nine Well Projects. A further four have been completed already this year. Help us to raise the £1500 to complete a firther ten Well Projects in 2009.
This famously well-supported event kicks of at 8.00pm, entry price £3.50.
March 17th, 2009
Paddle4Relief presents ‘The Usual Suspects!’ . . . . . these are massively talented musicians who have supported Paddle4Relief from the very beginning!
at The Aggi, Braunton on Saturday 28th March 2009. From 8.00pm - 11.30pm.
Peter Bruntnell headlining!
Douglas E Powell and The Readers
The Devil Delta Blues Band
Jim Jones
Peter Bruntnell
An absolutely awesome line up.
Entry on the door - £3.50
All proceeds go to Charity.
February 25th, 2009
Guys and gals,
it is with regret that i have to inform you that our media officer, Chantal Denham, has resigned from the Paddle4Relief Team. Chantal has gone to follow her dreams.
Chantal was only with us for a short time but managed to make a huge impact in raising awareness and funds for this small Devon based charity. She has a gift that draws in people; informative and compelling; magnetising and electric; an extremely valuable individual.
Chantal’s energy, motivation, enthusiasm and fun loving outlook on life, combined with her excellent communication skills inspired the children in Sri Lanka immensely. As i have said in previous blogs; the children of Arugam Bay miss her dearly. It was heart tearing, and an enormous emotional burden to keep trying to explain to them that Chantal had returned to the UK. In spite of my explainations they continued to ask every day ‘Chantal coming?’ Not just one child, but many! It was like a stack of dominoes falling as i walked through the village, coming across child after child.
Chantal went out to Arugam Bay in September 2008. The first member of the team to join me in one of many aid trips i have taken to this tropical island over the past four years. Chantal focused her energies on teaching at the Montessori School that P4R renovated and extended in 2006. She had the vision to make improvements in the facilities and teaching methods, and increased the number of activity sessions with the young local children; so improving social interaction and development.
I, and the rest of the P4R Team, wish Chantal the very best for the future. I am sure she will achieve her dreams in completing her TEFL course, and working abroad with children.
Thank you Chantal. You will be sorely missed. Be safe in all you do. Enjoy lifes rich tapestry and hopefully we will be blessed with your presence in the future.
Suba Dawasak
Timothy
January 13th, 2009
Happy New Year to all. I hope that everyone has a fun filled and prosperous 2009.
I know it is a week or more into the year but i feel it’s better late than never to let others know of ones’ thoughts and wishes.
I must admit that personal issues, renovating my house and panicing over my TEFL course have been the reasons for not passing on my New Year wishes. Sorry.
It looks like it will be a tough year with the economic crisis but the Paddle4Relief Team are determined to put a smile on your face with some awesome fund raising events.
The festive period was a time of reflection for me. A time to remember 4yrs ago, of that horrific day! A day that the people of Sri Lanka, and elsewhere in the world that were affected by the tsunami try to forget. It was the day their lives were turned upside down and inside out. Nothing is really the same and nothing will be. Their memories are so painful. They carry on because they have to, but in their hearts the grief remains, the memories, the pain, the dispair. I see it so often when i am there. I hear it. “Why did it have to happen?”. “Why us?”. It tears me apart, brings me to tears. I know there is so much suffering in the world. I’ve seen so much through my travels. I dearly wish i had a magic wand to make everything alright. To take away the pain, the hunger, the thirst, and the distressing memories.
We can make a difference! We can put a smile on a childs face, food in their mouth, and fresh water to drink. We can organise activities, swimming, cricket, face painting and plant potting! We can help them to laugh and enjoy life. We can show them that others care about them.
By doing what we do, we put a smile on our own faces! So please, support us again in 2009. Enjoy the social fund raising experiences. Remember that when we have a beer, or glass of wine, there are others who are struggling to find safe drinking water for their children. P4R have been doing that. We have so far helped around 50 families gain access to safe drinking water. Let’s not stop the good work. We may be small, but we make a difference.
Join us, help us, have fun with us, come to Sri Lanka with us and experience the beautiful island with its beautiful people.
I’m now off my soap box and heading for a surf!
Thank you for reading my wittering on!
Stay positive, live life every day, and love your family and friends.
Tim
January 9th, 2009
May i take this opportunity to wish all the Paddle4relief team and the p4r supporters a very merry Christmas and an extremely prosperous New Year. Thank you to all of you for your support throughout 2008. May you all be blessed with good health and happiness. I look forward to catching up with you all at the 2009 events.
Hopefully there will soon be pictures of our latest trip to Sri Lanka on the website. Apologies for the delay but out of our control as sometimes technology does go kapput!
Be safe in all you do. Enjoy, and live for the day. May laughter and happiness be all around you all.
Thank you.
Tim
ps - massive thanks to Matt and John for this awesome website.
December 24th, 2008
The kids are destroying me at present, have been for the past two days. They are upset that i am leaving. Their tears are tearing me apart. I am back to wearing the sunnies to hide my tears. Don’t want them to see me shedding tears. I have to be strong, keep smiling and laughing for them. Giving them reassurance that i will be back, yet not knowing if i will be! It hurts, hurts more every time i come out. The bond becomes stronger on every visit. I wish i had more time. More time to spend with them. It takes so little to give them so much. And them to make my life so much richer.
I know that it is hard to understand for those of you who have not experienced what i have. To realise the difference one can make. I know i have critics back home, but fortunately not here. Here they see what i do. They share the experience with me. They don’t understand what i do in the UK but that is not important. What is important is the time i spend here with the community, building the trust and relationships. For the parents to allow me to take their children to the sea to swim. For them to trust me after such losses four years ago.
This is my last few hours here. I have 10hrs in a van before arriving at the airport. The journey is tiring but the experience allows me to spend that time reflecting. It is emotional but i’ll not change it for anything. I am prepared to sacrifice a huge amount of my life and opportunities just so that i can give a little to those that have suffered so much, and will never have the opportunities that i have had.
I thank my parents for my life being so rich. My true friends for allowing me to be me, supporting me, and accepting that i am human and that i am not perfect, and i make mistakes, and hopefully i learn from them. And i thank all of you who have supported me in allowing me to achieve so much. Be safe in all you. Be happy. Thank you.
See you in the UK.
Tim
December 13th, 2008
Another productive day painting at the pre-school blessed us with seeing huge groups of beautiful Green Parrots flying around, along with Yellow Oriols. There were three of us being productive today, myself, Thusantha and Jayanantha. Hopefully everyone will like the new design when it is finally completed inside and out.
We worked until 2.45pm when the hunger for lunch could not be contained any longer. The downside is that i now have a very distinct rice n curry belly! Unfortunately i didn’t carry out any physical work after the late lunch. I was feeling too ill and fatigued. I am not sleeping well, only a few hours each night, and then restless with my insect bitten raw legs! My immune system appears to be in my boots at the moment, sore throat, blocked nose, mouth ulcers, cramps and swollen ankles!
I am torn! I want to stay out here through the next few months, to continue with more well projects and research training/further education programmes for some of the young people in the village. Most yyoung people here do not get the opportunities we get to continue to study, to follow the career/vocation path they wish for. Most of the young men follow their fathers into becoming fishermen, or working seasonally in the tourist establishments. Some manage to get huge loans so that they can work in the middle east. This can be a risk as some of the agents take their money without ever finding them a job.
The family’s black puppy, Tube, went to the animal doctor today. He got a little angry with the doctor when the surgical spirit was used to clean his wounds! He had an injection and has some tablets to take. No stitches, which i was extremely surprised about seeing the injuries are so deep and gaping. He is not himself, just curled up asleep, not really responding to tlc, but he has been through alot for a three month old pup this past 24hrs.
I’ll leave you now and head up the hill to the family home for some dinner.
Tim
December 10th, 2008
Tonight has seen a mad dog terrorising the community! This dog has attacked two individuals in the past week. Tonight it has been running around the south area of the village attacking other dogs. Men have been in groups searching for the dog. Unfortunately ‘Tube’, the families young 3 month old black pup, who has a twin brother, also called ‘Tube’, who happens to be more white!, ended up with his head in the jaws of the mad dog! Tube has always stuck his nose in where not wanted, growls alot, is grumpy and very brave. He now has two big holes in his face, virtually all the way through from the outside of his nose to the inside of his mouth. The holes are gaping and need stitching up. We have cleaned his wounds. The other four dogs are in close company around him now. He appears to be in shock, very quiet and reserved - not the Tube we know.
Most of the day was spent at the pre school again. We have again cleared the guttering and made some repairs. The monkeys continue to damage the roof and guttering, as well pooing everywhere! We plan to put up some old fishing net tomorrow to protect the outdoor classroom area from the marauding little devils! The tree branches got cropped back and i started painting new designs on the walls. We hope to do a plant potting group with the kids tomorrow arvo, after i have finished the painting. Babu has been helping out. He is 14yrs old, from a poor family, and he believes that school is a waste of tiime! He says he can learn all he needs to know by going fishing and finding work. Having spoken with him, he has an interest in outboard motors. I plan to find out about courses so that he can become a mechanic - depends on what schooling he has to have to attend the course!
The flea problem continues as i find myself constantly scratching! Never before have i experienced this problem in Sri Lanka.
i am fading fast at the moment, having only had 3hrs sleep last night. I got to bed around 4am having spent the night on the internet and in editing photos and collating well project information.
Small wave. No surfing as no time!
Sleep time
Tim
December 9th, 2008
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