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Blythswood Care chief executive to take on Aberdeenshire cycle challenge to help poor to stay in school


By Hector MacKenzie

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James Campbell
James Campbell

A LIFE-changing Ross-shire charity’s work to help poor school children in Romania looks set for a financial boost after its chief executive set himself a 60-mile cycle challenge.

James Campbell is set to tackle a route through picturesque Aberdeenshire glens and mountains when he cycles round Loch Muick, Lochnagar, Balmoral Estate and Braemar on Saturday, May 11.

His challenge aims to raise funds for Blythswood Care’s Talita Kum after-school programme. It works with the poorest children and young people in and around Jimbolia in south-west Romania.

The programme helps with homework, develops extra-curricular skills and also provides nutritious meals. The aim is to keep children and young people in mainstream education and give them the opportunities to develop their abilities and prevent early school leaving.

Mr Campbell said that the children’s futures improved dramatically following the launch of the after-school

programme, which is supported by Suits on Bikes.

The risk of children leaving school early fell from 45 per cent in 2009/2010 to less than five per cent in 2017/2018.

During that time, Scottish-based charity Blythswood Care extended its Talita Kum programme so that a project originally designed to help children aged seven to 11 now continues to give them vital support as they progress through junior secondary school.

“It has been a great success,” said Mr Campbell.

“Suits on Bikes have been a key part of that success as they have raised substantial support for the project’s monthly running costs.”

The brain-child of Romanian school teacher Adrian Popa, Talita Kum provides a square meal, help with homework, access to hot showers, and a full cultural programme of music, art and drama.

To sponsor Mr Campbell on his cycle challenge visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JamesCampbellSuitsonBikes


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