Tommy and Anita Hayes complete their fundraising hike!!!
After the work weekend of 7th September, we all gathered in the Community Room in Tara House with the gracious presence of Ven. Panchen Otrul Rinpoche to celebrate and thank Tommy and Anita Hayes for their endeavour. They gave a talk about their fundraising hike of 147 km from their home in Clare, to Jampa Ling in Cavan. This was to raise funds for the purchase of Owendoon House, the main house at Jampa Ling. They had hiked for 2 weeks, taking the roads less travelled, partly because of their dog, and partly because they wanted to enjoy the back roads. They passed a lot of derelict buildings, as you would expect on the back roads, but Tommy remarked that he counted more gardens where people were growing their own vegetables, than on a walk he did a few years ago. Both Tommy and Anita were struck by the kindness of the people whom they met along the way, and the amount of interest there was in what they were setting out to do. More than €2,000 was raised through sponsorship and by donations, a wonderful achievement. Part of the afternoon’s programme was devoted to music, with several musicians joining Tommy who played the drums and the spoons. He left the set of spoons he has played for 25 years at home, so these were just spoons from Tara House kitchen. After a few moments running them in, Tommy gave an astonishing performance; the speed and dexterity with which the spoons flew along! It was a lovely end to a fabulous weekend. Jampa Ling would like to invite anyone who has ideas for fundraising to buy Owendoon House, please contact Anita Hayes by sending Jampa Ling an e mail at: info@jampaling.org.
