Press Releases

JIMMY OSMOND SET FOR FUNDRAISING GALA
The Courier
by Dan Frost
16 March 2007

A Small charity started by a former teacher from Uckfield is upping its profile and has secured the support of a celebrity guest for its fundraising gala in London next month.

American singer and former I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here contestant Jimmy Osmond has agreed to headline a special dinner in aid of the Tyume Valley Schools Development Association (TVS), which helps school children in a deprived area of South Africa.

Started in 2003 by Uckfield Town Councillor Margaret Kiloh and her friend Margaret Woodward, the charity aims to improve education in the poverty-stricken Eastern Cape of South Africa, by organising for teachers from the UK to visit the region and help teach the children and professionally train the South African teachers.

With all of the volunteer UK teachers paying their own way and no full-time officers working for the charity, Tyume Valley has rarely needed to embark on major fundraising initiatives up to this point.

"Schools raise money for us through jumble sales - that's the kind of fund raising we have done in the past," said Cllr Kiloh, "but now we are trying to raise funds for something which is turning into a major project.

"Many of the children walk miles each day to and from school and their villages are remote and isolated, so the charity's main target this year is to raise £30,000 to pay for some school transport," she explained.

"We want to keep the personal touch, but there is an awful lot that needs doing and we need money to do it and that's really why we have had to take this step up in fundraising.

"We are thrilled and honoured that Jimmy Osmond will take time out from his current UK tour to appear at the event," she added.

Mr. Osmond will speak after the dinner on April 15 at the prestigious One Whitehall Place, near the Thames Embankment. The Osmond brother is expected to share anecdotes about his life in show business and his challenging time in the Australian jungle.

The dinner event will also host some more local music and comedy talents, including Uckfield's singing sisters, Nia & Carys Coleman, and Uckfield FM breakfast show DJ Mike Ziolek, who will MC the event. Mr Ziolek said he was looking forward to meeting Jimmy Osmond face to face after interviewing him by phone on Uckfield FM two years ago.

"Jimmy was kind enough to phone the studio after we played his voice as our 'mystery artist' on the breakfast show," he said. "I'm looking forward to shaking his hand and thanking him in person."

A mini-auction will also be held at the dinner and one lucky bidder will win the honour of appearing in OK Magazine next to Jimmy Osmond.

Cllr Kiloh has encouraged people to buy tickets for the event and to support the charity in any way they can.

For information on buying tickets visit www.freedomevents-sussex.com

Note: Due to unfortunate circumstances, this event has been cancelled.