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Lent Appeal 2009: Sylvia Wright Trust

Kylie, Jason, and Sylvia

What do Kylie Minogue, Jason Robinson, and Sylvia Wright have in common? Kylie is, of course, the world-famous pop singer and television star. Jason, as every rugby supporter knows, was born in Leeds and went on to become a Rugby League and Union legend (not for Leeds , unfortunately!).

Fewer people have heard of Sylvia Wright but St Chad's has in the past been very generous in its support, financial and otherwise, for the wonderful work Sylvia continues to do after 27 years in Tamil Nadu, one of the poorest regions in India. The Sylvia Wright Trust is delighted that St Chad's has decided to donate the proceeds of this year's Lenten appeal to her continuing work.

In 1982 Sylvia Wright sold all her possessions in Cookridge, cashed in her pension, left her family and friends, and moved to India to help the poor and sick. She also took her skills and experience as a nurse and senior lecturer as well as her enormous spiritual strength as a committed Christian.

She established a mobile clinic which treated 400 patients a day in scattered villages. In 1985 she acquired her first small hospital (she opened a new one in 2002) to deal with illnesses and diseases that had previously been left untreated. Deafness among local children was, and still is, endemic. In 1996 Sylvia built a boarding school for these profoundly deaf and mute children. Accommodation and education is free. The 32 teachers have helped the 230 children (aged 3-18) achieve excellent exam results and six have now gone on to university.

This work is supported by people of all denominations through the Leeds-based Sylvia Wright Trust. The support network, including many churches, school groups, and individual benefactors, reflects a true spirit of Christian co-operation and unity.

So what do Kylie, Jason and Sylvia have in common? Answer: They each received the OBE at Buckingham Palace in July 2008.

Sylvia subsequently admitted that she had never heard of the other two. I suspect they have probably not heard of her!

Thank you for your continuing support and generosity this Lent.

Tony Hartigan

For more information about the work of the Trust visit their website. Sylvia Wright Trust

Projects in deprived areas of Leeds which have benefited recently from CUF grants. Click on the name of the project to visit their website

•  Holbeck Elderly Aid , providing a range of services to enhance the life of elderly people in Holbeck, including a Befriending Scheme, a Gardening Scheme, and a Home Security Scheme;

•  Faith Together in Leeds 11 , a unique partnership of Christian Churches, Muslim and community organisations, which promotes regeneration in Leeds 11;

•  Christ Church Upper Armley Youth Project , which works with young people in the Armley area, co-operating with schools and other organisations, and employing youth workers;

•  The Manuel Bravo Project , which provides legal advice and representation to asylum seekers in Leeds who are unable to find adequate legal support.

•  The West Yorkshire Community Chaplaincy Project , which unites members of all faiths in its work with ex-prisoners, aiming to reduce re-offending.