The Voyage of Spectacle

We’re “registered” right here!  Although we aren’t in need of traditional wedding gifts, we do have a two-item list for those feeling generous:

A Charitable Donation to the HOPE Cancer Project

The HOPE Project intends to build a state -of-the-art, 750 -bed modern cancer hospital in Maharagama, 20 km from Colombo.  The driving force behind the project is Sri Lankan cricket icon (and our close friend) Mahela Jayawardena, whose own brother Dhisal tragically died of cancer in 1995.

At present, Sri Lanka has only one major cancer hospital, and its dedicated staff have been fighting a losing battle.  The hospital lacks modern equipment, medicine and family support facilities, meaning that many Sri Lankans are dying from treatable cancer.  More than anything, the hospital simply lacks space; it is desperately overcrowded, and the need for additional hospital rooms and bed space is critical.

Armed with first-hand experience of the challenges facing cancer patients and their families, Mahela sought to use his popularity within Sri Lanka and global esteem in the cricket-playing world to improve the quality and availability of cancer care nationwide.  The HOPE Project was founded and its top priority was construction of a new hospital facility.

During the HOPE Project’s infancy, fund-raising efforts were quite successful, awareness of the country’s oncology needs increased, and international interest gained momentum.  The project proceeded apace:  funds from many sources were promised, the needed land was acquired and the foundation, drains and water pipes were constructed.  But then two things happened.

The first was the 2004 Tsunami.  Understandably those who had pledged their support to HOPE had to urgently redirect funds to help deal with the terrible aftermath of this tragic event.  It was decided by all parties that, as Sri Lanka was dealing with an unprecedented national crisis, the project had to be put on hold.

The second was the escalation and subsequent conclusion, in May 2009, of the 26-year civil war fought within Sri Lanka.  This resulted in another area of attention for Sri Lanka-related charity work:  peace- and resettlement-related projects.

With a peaceful Sri Lanka returned to normalcy post-Tsunami, the HOPE Foundation now feel the time is right to build on all the good work done in the early 2000s and get the hospital construction project back on track.  We couldn’t agree more.  We hope that you will join us in our efforts to support the HOPE Project by making a financial contribution in honor of our wedding.   

If you are citizen of the United States, we have organized a way to make your contribution tax-deductible.  We have started a dedicated fund at Andy’s mother’s non-profit clinic, the Violence Intervention Program Community Mental Health Center, to collect money for the HOPE Project. One hundred percent of the collected money will be passed along to HOPE, and donors will receive a charitable contribution letter (for tax purposes) from VIP-CMHC.

To make a contribution, (1) please make out a check to “Violence Intervention Program”, (2) write “For HOPE Cancer Hospital” in the memo line of your check, and (3) mail it to:

Violence Intervention Program
Attention:  Ted Miller
1721 Griffin Avenue
Los Angeles, CA  90031

Wine

As you know, we are keen lovers of the grape.  Believe it or not, Andy’s once-proud collection has been decimated in recent years.  If you are interested in a gift of wine, there are two easy ways to go about it:

(a) Call or Email our friend Dave McDonald at Mission Wines in South Pasadena, California.  Perhaps no one knows our wine tastes better than Dave.  He can select something from their inventory, assist with a purchase, and place it (with a note) in the storage locker we maintain at the shop.  Please communicate only with Dave, as he is our contact for this undertaking.

Phone:  (626) 403-9463 or (866) 367-9463
Email:  dave@missionwines.com

(b) Either mail or deliver wine to:

Andrew Heger
c/o Mission Wines
1114 Mission Street
South Pasadena, CA  91030

If you choose (b), please be sure to include a note — otherwise we’ll be left to guess the identity of our benefactor!

Thank you for thinking of us on our special day! 

Love, Melissa and Andy