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| | After all the snow, the wind and the seemingly endless rain it would be understandable if you thought the sun would never shine in Staffordshire again.
However, one Stoke-on-Trent pub promised to bring a bit of sunshine into your life, meaning you were able to sit back, relax and pretend to be somewhere exotic even when the rain was beating down outside!
Caribbean Night
Lightwood pub the New Florence held a Caribbean night on Thursday 12th February. I was there and imagined I was all bronzed and toned, even though the reality is I'm as pale as a milk bottle.
Sarah took some photos while she was at the the Caribbean night
click HERE for the pics! |
Hair braiding
Hair braiding has never been more fun and funky! I have no doubt that soon loads of women will be sporting plaits on their bonce in an effort to resemble I'm A Celebrity starJordan. Well let's face it, hair braids are a cheaper and far less painful way of achieving Jordan's look than having the BIG op! Anyway, those who fancied bit of the Glamour model look were able to get their hair braided at the Caribbean event.
Salsa
Salsa has never been more popular. The world and his missus seems to be 'chaa, chaa, chaaing' in village halls and community centres all over the country. My local gym even holds weeklysalsa-areobics sessions!
Some were practising their best booty wiggling salsa moves at the pub, others were simply sitting back and watching everybody else making drunken fools of themselves!
And people were boogying to help raise money for a good cause, the Jackson Odiero fund.
What is the Jackson Odiero fund?
The Jackson Odiero fund was set up by Peter Odiero, to raise money for his brother's (Jackson Odiero) cancer treatment.
Jackson is from Kisumu in Kenya. He had been due to come to Staffordshire and live with local residents Peter and his wife Sam Odiero, while he studied for an MA at Staffordshire University on a scholarship placement.
Medical Crisis
Unfortunately Jackson failed his medical examination when doctors discovered he had testicular cancer. This means Jackson needs to raise up to £11,000 to pay for treatment - and the best treatment for him is here in this country. "There are no facilities in Kenya.
We want to get him here as quickly as possible, he's in so much pain.
I understand the pain Jackson and his family are going through as a relative on my side of the family recently died of bowel cancer."
Sam Odiero |
Life in Kenya
In Africa Jackson found the time not only to study for his science degree, but also helped victims of HIV and Aids on a volunteer basis working for UNICEF.
As a young 29 year old lad with the whole of his life in front of him Jackson loved playing football. But he is now unable to participate in his favourite sport as he is in far to much pain.
Hospitals in Kenya
Jackson's brother Peter told me about the appalling conditions in Kenya's hospitals and about how Jackson has been refused treatment.
"Jackson travelled for hours from his village Kisumu to the capital of Nairobi only to be refused treatment.
He was in so much pain that he made the four hour journey a second time to see if he could get any pain killers, but the doctors turned him away again and told Jackson not to bother him again."
Raising money
The fund raising event at the pub was the first step on the road to raising enough money for Jackson's treatment.
As regulars of the pub Peter Odiero and his wife Sam approached the manager and suggested a fund raising event, thus the concept of the Caribbean night was created.
Community effort
The community really joined together to help the cause, with the DJ, chefs in the kitchen and dancers working for free.
You can make a donation to the fund by calling the pub manager Paul on 01782 312841.
Paul has helped to set up a bank account to handle the funds.
Sarah Williams |
