Pam Rhodes, who co-presents the BBC One religious programme and recently became vice-president of The Leprosy Mission, will be the guest speaker at the Focus on Nepal lunch hosted by the charity’s Jersey branch – in association with Jersey Side by Side – at the Hotel de France on Sunday 23 September.
Jersey Side by Side, which supports the rebuilding of lives damaged by natural disasters, and The Leprosy Mission have worked closely together in Nepal following the devastating earthquakes of 2015 which killed 9,000 people and caused widespread damage to homes and lives.
Jean Le Maistre, of the Leprosy Mission Jersey supporters’ group, said: ‘Pam will be giving an awareness update of where Nepal is three years on from the earthquake at the lunch.
‘Islanders have long supported the work at Anandaban Hospital in Nepal, prompting Pam to visit and thank them personally for their amazing support, which continues to change lives each day.
‘So this lunch will be a bit of a thank-you to them, and an update of how things currently stand.’
Mr Le Maistre, who is also a member of the National Council of the Leprosy Mission in the UK and vice-chairman of Jersey Side by Side, added: ‘I think this talk will be extremely interesting because Pam is a very high-profile person and a really good ambassador for the work going on in Nepal.’
Anandaban Hospital became a disaster response centre recognised by the Nepalese government in the aftermath of the earthquakes, with Leprosy Mission staff providing medical care, emergency shelters and relief packages to more than 18,000 earthquake victims. Mrs Rhodes visited the hospital – which cares for more than 40,000 leprosy sufferers each year – in the spring.
In a statement on the charity’s website she said she was looking forward to her Jersey visit.
‘I’m honoured and enthusiastic about my new role as vice-president of The Leprosy Mission and am excited to come to Jersey and meet the supporters who have so passionately supported The Leprosy Mission’s work at Anandaban Hospital in Nepal for many years now,’ she said.
The lunch is open to all. For ticket information call Mr Le Maistre on 484004 or email jalemaistre@gmail.com. For more information about Jersey Side by Side visit facebook.com/jerseysidebyside
