SPARSHOLT CC AND SYDENHAMS JOIN FORCES TO HELP IN NEPAL

Sparsholt Cricket Club seam bowler and vice-captain Jon Vokes and his girlfriend Kelly Douglas have left Winchester earlier this week to head for Nepal where they will join the ‘All Hands Volunteer Organisation’  helping to repair some of the damage caused by last year’s devastating earthquake in Nepal which left thousands dead and many more homeless. Kelly (23) works in the office at the Winchester Branch of Sydenhams and has taken a month’s leave to help out  - branch manager Colin Waite has also helped by giving the pair a numberof items which will help them  while working in the dusty earthquake sites. ‘we cannot take too much with us due to the usual baggage constraints, but Colin has given us things like masks, goggles, and general safety equipment that we will need while we are in Nepal’ said Kelly. Jon (26) is a landscape gardener working for his father’s Sparsholt based company, and is also looking forward to the experience ' I’m delighted to have the opportunity to volunteer for All Hands Volunteer and we are looking forward to helping them rebuild from the devastating earthquakes of last year. Fortunately for me, I can complete a whole month of hard work before the cricket season starts.

The couple will be based at Sindhupalchowk, 6 hours by bus on track roads from Nepal’s capital Katmandu airport where their flight landed. Volunteers are split into working parties to carry out different tasks depending upon needs and any skillsets they have ‘ we don’t know exactly what tasks we will be asked to do until we get there, but there is a great deal of rubble moving (from destroyed buildings, both during the earthquakes and in the many aftershocks that have happened since) and I expect this will be one of our main tasks’. 

When asked how they got involved in the venture, Kelly explained ‘I made lots of friends when I went travelling to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and South America last year and I am still in touch with some of them via Facebook – one of them, Tim Hill, is already in Nepal helping with this effort, and through talking to him I decided that I would like to go and help a little too.

They will be provided with accommodation and food in very basic conditions, and they have to take their own mattresses for bedding. With only one day off each week, and the nearest shops being a long way away, they will have to take any ‘treats’ with them when they leave Kathmando. The food provided for all volunteers is basic breakfast, lunch will be provided by the Nepalese families where they are helping and dinner will be back at the base where all the volunteers meet again at night to be briefed and share experiences. ‘Base camp’ also provides basic internet links (although somewhat intermittent) so all volunteers can keep in touch with their families and friends back home – hopefully Kelly and Jon will be able to send an update on the situation in Nepal.

They have funded their own flights and equipment, but their food and accommodation is provided by the All Hands Volunteer organisation. Kelly said ‘according to the documents we have, food and accommodation costs about $25 per day, and this is funded by the charity, we have therefore set up a website where pledges can be made (log on to give.hands.org, search for Jon & Kells Vokes & Douglas). All donations go direct to the aid organisation to help with these costs. They are expected to return from Nepal on 2 April, Kelly will return to her duties at Sydenhams and Jon will be preparing the ground at Sparsholt ready for the cricket season that starts later in April.  

Picture 1 shows Sparsholt Cricket Club captain Andy Worth, with Jon Vokes, and Kelly Douglas with Sydenhams branch manager Colin Waite shortly before the couple’s departure. Pictures 2 and 3 have been taken by Kelly’s friend Tim Hill showing some of the work that the All Hands Volunteers are already doing in Nepal.