Ball for a good cause

In 2005 Aimee Carter sold her hairdressing business and car to raise $25,000 to enable her to fly to Ghana and work as a volunteer at an orphanage, Ashan Children’s Home. It was here that she was responsible for the care of approximately 50 children at the home, despite battling malaria several times and a bout of typhoid herself. She often had to carry the small children hours away to the medical clinic to be treated for malaria themselves, all at her own cost.

While there, this amazing young woman taught English at the local school, built bunk beds, placed windows in the bedrooms to stop the mosquitoes, purchased mosquito nets, supplied water tanks, animal farming and much more.

Upon returning home after ten months to recover from illness, she then went back to Ghana with the funds she raised while being back home, speaking at Rotary clubs and also running a sausage sizzle at the local Mornington Race Track.

“One of the achievements we are especially proud of is the completion of the clinic/baby home which we started building while there which was officially opened on our behalf by The Ambassador Australian High Commission, Mr Bill Williams,” said Aimee. “It was an emotional roller coaster, not only for me but also for the children I left behind as many looked at me like their mama.”

Aimee’s philanthropic efforts rubbed off on her family with mum and dad, Cheryl and Tony’s visit to the orphanage in 2010 inspiring them to start the inaugural Children of Ghana Charity Ball the following year.

“After our visit to the orphanage it was evident that we needed to raise more funds and awareness to help the children in Ghana and so we started the charity ball.  Last year’s event was another wonderful success which has enabled us to continue to make a real difference to the standard of living of the children living in poverty in Ghana. Without sponsors help this would not have been possible,” said Cheryl. “As a result of everyone’s efforts the orphanage is now a shining beacon of hope and an example of what can be done with hard work and generous support.  The children are now leading far happier and healthier lives and

receiving a proper education, which is far removed from the grim situation of starvation and the constant threat of disease that Aimee found when she first arrived back in 2005.”

This year the funds raised will be used to provide fresh drinking water to a remote village with help from Disaster Aid International and the Sky Juice Foundation.

“We also hope to arrange concreting of a schoolyard at the Offin Children’s Centre in Kumasi. This area which is used by the school children as well as the children from the home, changes from a dust bowl in the dry season to a muddy mess in the wet season which makes play time almost impossible. It is for all these reasons and our love and concern for the welfare of these children in poverty that we are running this fantastic event the Children of Ghana Charity Ball,” said Cheryl.

The 7th annual Children of Ghana charity ball is to be held on Saturday June 17 at the Frankston Arts Centre.

Included is a sumptuous four course meal, start up drink package followed by drinks at bar prices, pre-dinner entertainment, guest MC Brodie Harper from channel nine, auctions, raffles and to finish off, we shall rock the house down to the sounds of Big City Beat back by popular demand.

Wise Choice and Blacktie will be catering the event and together sponsor a portion of the menu.

“Our major Sponsors are the Rotary Club Frankston Sunrise and Mercedes Benz Mornington. Other sponsors include Bridgestone Select Frankston, Wise Choice, Blacktie and Micky Blue,” said Cheryl. “My husband Tony is a Rotarian and we have always had strong support through our club.”

For tickets phone 0400 516 265