Charity in desperate appeal for vital funds
A Perthshire charity that has run camps for children with serious illnesses for over 20 years has made a desperate appeal for funding so it can continue.
Over The Wall has been forced to cancel all its camps at Strathallan School due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The charity, which was started in 1999 by Hollywood superstar Paul Newman and Scottish businessman Joe Woods, provides free residential camps for children with over 130 different illnesses, helping over 8000 seriously ill children and their families engage in life-changing, memorable experiences.
The charity is already putting alternative plans in place for the children who were scheduled to attend the Perthshire camps in 2020 by creating an exclusive virtual programme, named ‘Camp in the Cloud.’
This will be a free interactive web-based programme that brings the camp directly into the home of the camper through challenges, activities and inspirational projects.
The charity is also engaging its larger audience through ‘Activity Blitz,’ a project which offers activities for all children and families in lockdown to participate in at home, which currently appears on the charity’s social media platforms, three times per week.
However, to ensure the continuation of the Strathallan School camps, Over The Wall is asking for any donations from the wider public in the region.
Kevin Mathieson, CEO of Over The Wall, said: “Today, we are launching an appeal for funding, to essentially help ensure the survival of Over The Wall– and would therefore gratefully receive any support the public can offer.
“We appreciate that this is a difficult time for everyone, but any support now would be critical in us securing the future of the charity.”
“The coronavirus has had such a severe impact on our fundraising programme that we have already adopted a range of different measures in an attempt to ensure the survival of Over The Wall. Whilst we know the coronavirus will one day be beaten, we are unsure of the continuation of our charity.
“So, if you can, please help us to ensure that Over The Wall survives these difficult times.”
Perthshire South and Kinross-shire MSP Roseanna Cunningham said she hoped the charity was successful in staying afloat.
She told the PA: “So many groups, charities and organisations are struggling at the moment and many of them will be in need of help. Over The Wall does some brilliant work at the camps it runs for seriously ill children and, whilst the camps have obviously had to be suspended for the time being, it is important to ensure that they can start up again whenever that is possible.
“In the meantime, its plans for a ‘Camp in the Cloud’ are innovative and interesting and well deserving of support. I wish them every success with the fundraising endeavours.”
To make a donation to help Over The Wall in its emergency appeal, go to www. otw.org.uk