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The Friends of Adam Thurston Charitable Trust 

We have set up a small charitable trust in order to make donations to causes that Adam would have approved of. Currently we have chosen the following charities:

Friends of Lydney Hospital:

What is it?  FOLH is a charity with an objective to improve the facilities and services offered to the local community by Lydney Hospital. Lydney Hospital is a local, rural hospital constantly threatened with cuts and closure by the NHS. Since its creation in 1985, FOLH has raised £832,000.

Connection to Adam?  Lydney is Adam's family town. In addition, there has been a long family connection with FOLH. The charity was set up by Adam's great uncle.

What has happened so far? The Friends of Adam Thurston has donated £6,500

Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign

What is it:   RMCC  specialises in treating people with cancer - 40,000 people each year in fact.  Royal Marsden is highly regarded as a world leader in research, drug trialling and diagnostics.  At the Royal Marsden,  they are doing everything they can to help improve patients' survival rates - whether it's new drug therapies or better equipment and facilities. It's not often that one gesture can affect the lives of many people, but a donation to the Royal Marsden is a very special gift indeed.

"We're really grateful for the help that the Friends of Adam Thurston is giving to patients at the Royal Marsden Hospital.  Thank you!" Carolyn Cocke, Development Director

Connections to Adam: Adam has various connections with Royal Marsden  - it is where his oncologist, Dr Elleyane, was trained and where he went for his second opinion consultation. In addition, one of Adam's old school friends from Marlborough College, Rich Baird, now works at Royal Marsden.

What has happened so far? FOAT has donated money to help the work of Professor Michael Brada, at the Neuro-oncology Research Unit which is dedicated to finding more effective ways to treat brain and spinal cord tumours.

For more information on Professor Brada's work, click here.

Student Community Action -  Durham

What is it: Durham University SCA is one of the largest Student Community Action groups in the country. They involve around 700 student volunteers in well over 40 projects within the local community. Volunteering enhances personal development and gives students the opportunity to escape the university bubble once in a while, as well as strengthening relations with the residents of Durham.

Connection to Adam:  Whilst Adam was at Durham, he was instrumental in SCA's development. He managed to get SCA founded with charitable status, and threw his immense energy and talents into ensuring SCA is successful as it is today.

What has happened so far? FOAT has donated money to the SCA to allow them to set up new projects to help the local Durham Community.

They have now launched the Thurston Project which is a Performing Arts, self-confidence raising, fun scheme for young people to get involved in drama, meeting other young people and discovering skills they never knew they had!

From the SCA “The Thurston Project has really got a feel for the needs of the local area over the last year. Students from the University have visited different places to recruit young people for the scheme: they have given presentations in schools, visited outreach projects in County Durham and advertised in person in Durham Marketplace and Library. Young people were given a taster session, of Break dancing, by Jonzi D which brought everyone together for the first time. The project has strong links with teachers, and will work closely with them to ensure that we target students who really need the encouragement and help. The project will also encourage young people to be part of the team which plans and creates the Thurston Project.

The Adam Thurston Prize for Contribution to the Local Community

What is it: This is a prize fund we have set up for the students of Hild Bede college at Durham University. The prize is awarded each year to the student who most contributes to the local community. The prize consists of a cash donation for the local cause concerned and a small personal prize for the winner.

Connection to Adam:  Whilst Adam was at Durham he was constantly involved (does that surprise you!) in projects to make the university, his college and the local community a better place (see Vernon Armitage's Tribute). This is the prize that Adam would have won if it had existed when he was a student!

What has happened so far? FOAT has awarded four prizes to students at Hild Bede who have contributed to the local Durham community. Awards have so far been given to the Waddington Street Centre and Durham City Centre Youth Project. In 2007, the prize winner was Suda Peera, who was a very active member of S.C.A. and amongst many other things has taken a leading role in setting up the Thurston Project, has also been involved in the Keenan House International Children's Play Group, Mural Painting, Litter-picking, International Student Link Up and much more.

Old Marlburian Lodge Gap Year Fund

What is it: The Old Marlburian (Adam’s old school) Lodge have set up a fund to help pupils have a worthwhile GAP year, contributing to the community in the local environment there are in.

Connection to Adam: Adam was an active member of the Old Marlburian Lodge. Also for those of you that knew Adam, his GAP year was a very fundamental year of his life where he met many of his closest friends.

What has happened so far? FOAT has donated funds for a student, Christopher Ridley, to take a GAP – he will be working in India in a centre for children with mental disabilities and helping them integrate into Indian society by working closely with the families. He will then move on to work in a volunteer centre run by nuns.

The Tsunami Housing Project

What is it: FoAT has helped provide funds to contribute to the rebuilding of an area of Sri Lanka devastated by the Tsunami in 2004.

Connection to Adam: One the manufacturing partners of the Watts Group (Adam’s family’s company) was affected by the Tsunami in 2004.

What has happened so far? FoAT and the Watts Group have donated funds to help the rebuild project, and as an extra surprise the residents wanted to dedicate their new community centre to Adam’s memory…so we now have a third Thurston terrace!!

What have we provided?

-         FOLH has been given £6000 by the FOAT, which will be used to buy valuable equipment for the local hospital.

-        Thurston Terrace  - a wonderful plaque and bench (see photos)

-        Primose Hill – FOAT has donated a new set of chairs for congregation of this small church that Adam used to enjoy attending

-        A donation to the RMCC to help Professor Brada’s cancer research at the Neuro-oncology Research Unit which is dedicated to finding more effective ways to treat brain and spinal cord tumours.

-        Durham Prize –  To date, FOAT has awarded four prizes to students at Hild  Bede who have contributed to the local Durham community.

-        Some financial support for the ‘The Tsunami housing’ project in Sri Lanka.

-        A sponsored GAP year in India for Christopher Ridley through the Old Marlburian Lodge.

What events have we had?

-         The dedication of the Thurston Terrace (see pictures) in May 2005

-         A musical concert at St Mary’s Church, Lydney, in conjunction with The Royal British Legion and Remembrance Sunday

-         The Law Society evening sponsored by Clifford Chance  - 29^th June.

How do I donate?

Apologies for the archaic way of providing donations but cheques should be made payable to "CAF - Friends of Adam Thurston" -  sent to the CAF Department, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4TA.

Thanks:

There are so many people to thank for making the Friends of Adam Thurston happen: you know who you are. I know you are donating your time, money and thoughts as tribute to how much Adam meant to you, which makes it even more special, so thank you.