Hatton Press Release

Ernest Hemmingway once said, ‘The World is a fine place and worth fighting for.’ It seems appropriate, therefore, that on Saturday, March 31st, 2007, The Murry Foundation was joined by Britain’s most celebrated fighters in a bid to raise money for its life saving work, domestically and internationally. Ricky Hatton, Frank Bruno and Sir Henry Cooper joined Adam Murry and his foundation at a black-tie dinner at the De Vere Royal Bath, Bornemouth, along with over 200 supporters and guests.

The event had been carefully planned several months previously with the aim of raising money for The Foundation’s expanding projects in Nepal and South Africa. The last Murry Foundation event, featuring Steve Collins and Nigel Benn had been a resounding success and it was important that this event followed in its footsteps. In many ways this was a more complicated event with more guests and the addition of The Murry Foundation Foster Program. The preparatory work involved in making the event a success was phenomenal, involving much determination and many sleepless nights of work.

Despite flight delays all three boxers arrived at Jimmy’s club to mingle with the VIP guests in a champagne reception. Guests had the opportunity to meet their sporting heroes and have their photos taken at the same time. At 8 o’clock the VIP guests joined the rest of the supporters at the Royal Bath for the dinner and auction. Guests were delighted to learn that surprise guest, Ray Lewis, of the Drifters, would be serenading the diners during their meal.

Arguably, the highlight of the night was Ricky Hatton’s speech that assured diners that his oratory skills were every bit as accomplished as his boxing. Ricky spoke for some time sharing his wicked sense of humour with the delighted guests.

Unusually, Adam, who typically allows his hard work and devotion do the talking, took control of the microphone and introduced The Murry Foundation Foster Program. The Foster program involves the fostering of all orphans supported by The Murry Foundation. Hundreds of Orphans in Nepal and South Africa will be financially and emotionally supported by this carefully developed programme. Guests on the night had the opportunity to offer £500 a year to support the orphans, provide food, shelter, education and medical care.

After the dinner, an auction of sporting memorabilia took place to raise money for the variety of causes supported by the Foundation detailed in the promotional video that left many supporters tearful, moved by the work of The Foundation. Ricky Hatton donated a special prize consisting of a signed and framed photograph and a day in Manchester, for the winning bidder and friends, to watch him train. The auction was an undoubted success with the Ricky Hatton prize being won by two generous bidders who bid their way up to £7000 pounds each.

After diners had taken a break from the furious bidding, the master of ceremonies, introduced Frank Bruno and Sir Henry Cooper who spoke frankly about their boxing careers, entertaining their avid audience.

As the event drew to a close many guests retired to the bar to relax and contemplate a very successful night. In total, £170,000 was raised by The Murry Foundation. As ever 100% of the money raised will be passed to the various causes as Adam bore the financial burden of staging the event himself. The money will be used to continue developing the orphan village and conservational work in Nepal, and will also be used to acquire new land in South Africa on which a new school can be built, including a conservation area that will include a recreational area for the orphans. The Holy Mission School in South Africa will also benefit from the event, to ensure the long term survival of this crucial aids orphanage.

In February 2007, Adam Murry, Chairman of The Murry Foundation, visited the Holy Family Centre in Limpopo, South African, a religious centre run by holy sisters who care for children suffering from HIV and Aids. These are the world’s forgotten children, who had no choice but to live with this deadly virus. Many babies are born into the world, already carriers of the fatal disease, a symptom of their genetic inheritance.

Holy Family Mission was first established at Ofcolaco in the Limpopo Province in 1951, offering a diverse range of services for the local community, including a primary school, a clinic, an income generating weaving project, youth camps, home based care training, Christian leadership courses and various other activities. Over time, these services have changed as the needs of the people in the area have developed.

The first request for The Mission’s help came from the Letaba Hospital, through the paediatrician, with the approval of the Superintendent. There was a great need for some children, with TB and HIV/Aids, to receive follow-up care after being discharged from the hospital. Some of these children were orphans and others were very vulnerable or abused, coming from dysfunctional families.

The carer’s, trained by the ‘Choice’, organization work day and night to ensure that the children receive constant care and attention. Many work a second job through the day, or at night to support their own families. Although, it would be easy for these people to be broken by the unnecessary suffering that surrounds them, it appears that they draw strength from the adversity that they face on a daily basis.

The children living in the mission have endured a combination of extreme poverty, resulting in malnutrition, the death of parents from HIV/AIDS and TB, abuse, especially rape, alcoholic guardians, leading to neglect, mentally handicapped mothers unable to care for their children, ignorance, desertion and rejection.

A medical doctor visits the Centre each week. He sees any new children and also any who are unwell. He reviews all the children every month referring those who need special care to the paediatrician in Letaba hospital. All medication for the children is dispensed through the Holy Family doctor and through Letaba Hospital. It is only administered by the staff at Holy Family.

Before the intervention of The Murry Foundation the Centre relied on donations from overseas aid organisations and private donors. This was a precarious position for the school as funding could not be guaranteed on a day to day basis. The school’s long term survival relies on consistent support, without which, the ill children would undoubtedly suffer an arduous demise under the blistering African sun. Adam has agreed that The Murry Foundation will fund all aspects of the running of the school to enable its children to make the most of their short lives. The Murry Foundation believes in the protection of the vulnerable and it is impossible not to be moved by the heart breaking stories of these unfortunate children. They deserve the same chance to live and shape their lives as any other person. They will, tragically, never be afforded this dignity. Gro H. Brundtland once said ‘It is vital that we harness political and financial commitments to fight the war against AIDS at the highest levels.’

The Foundation invests in projects that ensure the long term stability of animals, humans and ecosystems alike. Education of future generations is the key to ensuring that mankind does not perpetuate the same mistakes over and over again. The Orphan Village in Nepal has proved to be a great success in restoring communities and the environment, and given the continued success of this unique project it was decided that the same model could be applied to South Africa.

South Africa, is an area of outstanding natural beauty threatened by man’s brutal touch. Many South African children live in abject poverty and, after securing the support of the South African Government, The Murry Foundation initiated plans to develop a South African Orphan village, purchasing a well equipped hotel for redevelopment with close proximity to areas of astounding natural beauty. The five acres of land, as ever, will be left in trust to the children that attend the school from generation to generation so that their key to a happy future will never be taken away from them. As with the Nepalese Orphan Village, the South African orphans will benefit from new schools and medical centres, safe accommodation and consistent lad acquisitions that will provide space for agriculture and recreation.

The latest event served an official launch of this program that is now planning to foster several thousand South African and Nepalese Orphans. Moneys raised from previous events have been very important for the regeneration of areas like the Beeshazari Lakes in Nepal. Not only have locals benefited from a clean water supply but the regeneration has commanded revenue from a revitalized tourist trade. South Africa, a very beautiful country, will follow a similar plan.

Many supporters agreed to enter into the fostering programme, but many more foster parents will be needed for the project to be a success. £500 buys a child a year of life, providing, food, shelter, medical treatment and education, allowing the Murry Foundation to develop the surrounding areas by acquiring land and investing in sustainable projects. The first footsteps in this long journey have been taken and the event was an undoubted success; a timely reminder that hard work, generosity and humanity have not forgotten those beings that need our help.