Jun 28 2005

By Vicky Huntley

SPOON-BENDING psychic Uri Geller has forked out £2,000 in sponsorship for a Crowthornebased fundraising group.

Berkshire Challenge Club is trying to raise as much money as it can for its charity expedition to Everest base camp next spring and has welcomed Mr Geller’s donation.

The cash will go towards establishing a computer link between The Holt School in Holt Lane, Wokingham, and Himalayan girls’ school Laxmi Ashram.

Mr Geller said: “I think this is great. I would like to donate £1,000 to sponsor the expedition and another £1,000 which I will give directly to the Ashram in India.”

But Berkshire Challenge Club’s leader Jenny Coates, 24, of the Brambles, Crowthorne, said not all of the £1,000 allocated by Mr Geller would be spent on expedition costs and at least £1,600 could go directly to the Ashram.

She said: “We are so grateful for this donation. I think we can buy several computers for Laxmi

Ashram with this money. “They will be able to make joint lesson plans and e-mail projects with The Holt – it is fantastic.”

The club has been hard at work raising money and awareness for the trip.

Miss Coates said: “We give presentations covering many of the relevant issues – conservation and eco-tourism in the Himalayas, Laxmi Ashram’s work for low-caste girls and sustainable agriculture.

“Hopefully the school link will be more than just e-mail correspondence. I think we can really raise awareness of important problems in the Himalayas.”

Berkshire Challenge Club will be holding a fundraising garden party at the Two Poplars pub in Finchampstead Road, Wokingham on Saturday, July 30.

Local shops have donated prizes for a grand prize draw, there will be a barbecue and live music. Entry is free.

To support Berkshire Challenge Club or to find out more about Laxmi Ashram and its link with The Holt, visit www.everesttrek.org or call Jenny Coates on 01344 778228. I don’t mind helping: Uri Geller gives a cheque to Jenny Coates and Phil Larby from Berkshire Challenge Club.