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| Fighting famine through music Moved by the plight of thousands facing starvation in Malawi in 2002 Vera Hassall, an 83 year old, felt she must take action to help. She embarked upon a 12 hour marathon with a difference to raise money for MACS. It must have been about the middle of July 2002 that I switched on to Radio 4 and heard the following: "...millions will die unless governments act quickly". Then followed details of the famine that was sweeping over Africa. I think it was the same day I received a newsletter from MACS. The main heading was stark in large print: FAMINE. The first sentence was more than alarming: "In the first four months of this year well over 10,000 people starved to death in Malawi". The worst famine they had ever experienced, even worse than in Angola. Just think! Ten thousand already and a million more waiting for their death now unless action was taken quickly. I felt that everybody who was intending to sit down to a normal meal on that day must help to prevent another disaster. I was glad that I had intended to have only a peanut-butter sandwich and a cup of coffee for my lunch that day! Yes, everybody ought to do something, starting with myself, but what? For the past few years I had noticed that one of the best ways of raising money was by some sort of marathon. Two years before, I had performed a musical marathon which involved twelve hours continuous playing of songs and hymns on five or six different musical instruments. During the day I got through over 300 tunes, all from memory, raising one and a half thousand pounds for three separate charities. Why not do it again? After all no-one else had done - or perhaps could not do - this type of marathon, and at 83 I could not quite manage a running, swimming, climbing or cycling marathon! So music it was to be. I spent the rest of the day drafting an attractive brochure, with my main heading FAMINE AFRICA, and had 700 copies printed. These were quickly distributed to our four local villages and then by post to all my friends further afield. As many of my likely sponsors would be about to go on holiday I dated the actual Musical Marathon for the 31st August. But cheques were soon dropping through my letter box on a daily basis, right throughout August, demonstrating the sensitivity and generosity of spirit people felt for people in Malawi. I thoroughly enjoyed performing the marathon on the 31st August 2002 and felt better at 9 pm that I did when I started 12 hours previously at 9 am! I ultimately was able to send well over £2000 to MACS, who at my request used the money immediately on famine relief for the hundreds of hungry orphans in Malawi and to purchase seed for planting. Of course the money raised by my marathon was merely a drop in the ocean of need, but I thank God that He used me in the only way I could be used, directing me through that well-written and challenging newsletter of July 2002. We must all do something and not be allowed to cover up non-action by prayer alone! To find out how MACS is supporting famine relief programmes in Malawi click here | | |
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