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Romania:
Cold Mountain Challenge
 If
you've seen the film 'Cold Mountain', starring Nicole Kidman and
Renee Zellwegger, then you'll have seen the setting for our fantastic
fundraising challenge, because 19th-century North Carolina was
recreated in the Transylvania region of Southern Romania.
It's a remote area where time has stayed still. You can hardly
believe that you are in 21st-century Europe: it is as common to
see horses and carts on the road as cars, and field labourers
still use scythes. And this is a landscape of stark but incomparable
beauty, especially in the autumn when the trees are bright with
reds, golds and bronzes. But don't let that beauty beguile you
into thinking that this challenge will be a walk in the park.
The Challenge
 Starting
in the historical town of Sinaia, your trek will take you through
the stunning and varied terrain that is now synonymous with the
area. You will take on a number of the Carpathian highest peaks
including 'Caraiman'. Standing at over 2500m, you are close twice
the height of Ben Nevis!
The Purpose
And, before returning home, you will visit the project for which
your challenge is raising vital funds: a halfway house for teenage
Romanian orphans, to enable them to adjust to independent living
as adults. Our 'Arc' project is located in the heart of Sinaia.
The Date
 After
the success of the first Cold Mountain Challenge, back in 2004,
the Trust has made the expedition an annual event. This year's
trip will take place in June.
For further information call Gill Dickinson on 01925 220999,
email gill@epiphany.org.uk
or drop us a line at the address below. View
a PDF with more information about the Challenge.
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Camp Romania
Camp Romania has been an annual event of the Epiphany Trust since
1991 when the idea of taking a group of teenagers for a fortnight
stay in a Romanian orphanage was brought to Epiphany by the Wigan
Youth Service. We had already been involved with Lugoj orphanage
during the previous year through our aid trips but this was a
pioneering approach to bring not material aid, but fun, friendship,
time and love which had also been denied so tragically from the
children for so many years.
 The
purpose of Camp Romania has always been the happiness of the young
Romanians but the benefits of the trip have turned out to be truly
mutual: New life experiences for both the children of Lugoj and
the volunteers who travel from England. The bonds of friendship
created in this period easily transcend language barrier and often
last far beyond the visit.
Whilst in the institution all sorts of games and activities were
organised, from football to art & craft work, basketball to
just relaxing around a camp fire. It was noticed during the first
few years that many of the orphans had never even been outside
the institution. Every effort was made to take the children out
on day trips to local towns and beauty spots. In the coming years
this idea would shape the format of Camp Romania. For the past
decade the Trust has organised groups to go and spend one week
in the orphanage, then take a dozen orphans on a holiday in the
Carpathian Mountains. For many it is their first holiday, certainly
their first trip across the country. Once in Sinaia many orphans
are given their first taste of a host of pastimes we all take
for granted; eating out, wandering around town, shopping
in a market, having parties and barbeques in the sun.
 Camp
Romania 2007 will be the 17th of its kind. Nothing could better
demonstrate the success of this project. Two groups will be making
the journey, the first leaving on 29th July, the second on 5th
August. There is still availability for both dates so if you would
like to participate in this year's Camp Romania then please contact
Gill at the office.
Read reports from previous
years
Read testimonies from Camp Romania
participants
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