After last week’s Celtic Foundation bucket collection at Celtic Park, my 12-year-old, who was collecting, was amazed that someone put a £20 note in his bucket. He wanted to know why people do things like that.
There are lots of possible reasons. It’s the right thing to do, there are many in our community who are need, and who we would happily help if they were standing beside us. A lot has to do with upbringing, not everyone believes fraternal help services the common good, but for some, it’s part of their core values. More precisely, it’s part of the values they acquired when they took to do with their football club.
In the early decades of Celtic Football Club, people literally ‘clubbed’ together to build the first, and then second, Celtic Park, mostly without pay. An informal collection of labourers dug foundations and shovelled earth to create bankings. Many got involved years after Walfrid left for pastures news, but the way in which the community claimed ownership of the club, without actually owning a share, of course, gave you and me an enormously privileged heritage.
We have a back narrative which most 21st century organisations could never dream of attaining.
I know that £20 is a lot of money to put into a bucket, but this year I’ve seen many people do this, and so much more, in the name of Celtic.
A year ago the CQN community told Mary’s Meals that we would build a school kitchen for them in Malawi. We booked the Kerrydale Suite for CQ10 and hoped we could sell more than 30 tickets. The night was sold-out and you raised over £23,000. Before the night was finished the two guys from Mary’s Meals knew they had enough money to build three school kitchens!
The money was soon put to action, all three kitchens were completed by May. Each day over 2000 primary-age children eat what is often their only meal of the day in a facility you paid for, prepared with utensils you bought.
The UN reckon Malawi is the 17th poorest country on the planet, but it is fertile for development work. 93% of the money raised by Mary’s Meals reaches the target communities. The kids being fed in CQN kitchens for the last 7 months are heavier and healthier than before. School attendance has increased by over 30%, so kids who previously had to labour for food are now getting an education instead.
They will have better life-choices as adults and more of them will be alive long enough to become adults.
The CQNers who started our charity activities nearly a decade ago are the golfers, they did so again in July, then there was the runners, the badge collectors and the many who were just touched by one story or another and stepped forward.
One of the reasons many of you should be proud of yourself is the Kano Foundation. Kano – Martin Kane – was one of the original CQNers, who got up in the middle of the night in Perth W. Australia to watch his team, and argue with his pals on here. When he suffered an enormously debilitating illness a community grew up around him, which became the Kano Foundation, and has since brought thousands of kids to see Celtic.
This week we learned Kano is seriously ill in hospital, so the seasonal cheer is tempered.
Whatever your memories of 2014 are, they will also be tempered by the challenges Wee Oscar and his family went through. I know there are people who made an enormous difference to his life who first read about him here. The stories of the work they put in will never be told, because that’s the way they want it, but they made a profound impact on the world.
2015 has a hard act to follow, but we’ve told Mary’s Meals we’ll build them another school kitchen, and we’ve just told Celtic to book the Kerrydale Suite for Friday 13th March for CQ11. It’s St Patrick’s weekend, it’s League Cup Final weekend and it’s the week of the 50th anniversary of Jock Stein taking over; it has the making of a memorable night…..
Why do people put £20 into a bucket, why do thousands give anonymously throughout the year, why do hundreds go above and beyond the call of duty? If you think Celtic is a football club, you’ve not been paying attention. It is the most powerful social movement most of us will ever become involved with.
It’s an absolute pleasure to be part of the family and humbling to see it in action.
Have a great Christmas, you deserve it.
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CowieBhoy, thanks.
GerryfaetheBrig, I wish I could say it was my own gag, but as I said, mentioned it FB.
Good gag though.
G64-all the best big guy HH
Gordon, enjoy your day big fella.
To all on CQN
A happy and peaceful Christmas
‘Santa Claus is like a new signing’ Mark Hateley
Bada – :))
” you must have been the biggest boy in your class” -gene Hackman
6 days to go in 2014 and we get the best 2 posts of the year from Oldtim67 and Travellerbhoy. I can also vouch for the support and friendship emanating from CQN although my own tribulations were relatively minor.
Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2015 to one and all (even the moaning minnies :-)
Merry Christmas CQN
especially to TravellorBhoy after reading his post, although i don’t know you mhate i’m so glad to hear things are good for you this christmas
hooopy b’day to G64
have a great day everyone, enjoy the prawn cocktails, turkey and of course the
JELLY & ICE CREAM
Travellerbhoy.
I think your post has given all of us an extra present this Christmas. Enjoy today with your family.
IHappy,Hoopy Christmas to you and yours, to all on CQN.
Awerabest PJ
A happy Christmas to you all, and thanks again Paul for hosting.
not had time to read back, any hillarity come from Govan today.?
Papa J
Great to see you on, have a very merry day Bhud :-)
Hail Hail
JM- the darts scene is a classic.
The Rangers International Football Club PLC..
AGM Activity Set.. http://t.co/87uqGbFcoX
Cowiebhoy been absent due to domestic problems wee Maw not been doing well,however she seems to have turned the corner for the good, cheers for you kind words.
Awerabest pj
Merry Christmas to you all!
All the very best …
And c’mere therz more ;-)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/11312941/Rangers-chairman-David-Somers-could-face-probe-by-Stock-Market-regulators-for-his-role-in-Mike-Ashley-bid.html
HH
TRAVELLERBHOY
Great to hear yer well and in the bosom of yer family!
HH!!
Brilliant to hear from Travellerbhoy. You deserve your happiness.
Merry Christmas everyone… and wishing you all the very best, for a successful & prosperous 2015… onwards and upwards to 4IAR for the Bhoys !
Cheers, fleagle1888
(CQN naps table to follow)
Johan Murdoch@13.44
What hump?
Hail hail brothers
Merry Christmas …..
Traveller bhoy
Take friend …
Nollaig shona duit CQN.
Praise be to Jesus Christ.
http://www.joegilhooley.co.uk/celtic-park-041014/_MG_0009bw.jpg
HH.
Take care ,…even
Bloody Kir Royales .,,
CQN Saturday Naps Competition : WEEK 19 results (20th Dec)
Well done to 16 roads who napped the Ladbroke hurdle winner Bayan @14/1…
Other winners: Cosy Corner Bhoy (Habbie Simpson @17/2) and Eurochamps67 (The Yung Master @3/1)
Christmas Naps Table :
+£48.00 TheBarcaMole (5)
+£34.00 Eurochamps67 (9)
+£15.13 Che (7)
+£ 8.58 leftclicktic (5)
+£ 8.00 Zihuatanejo (2)
+£ 4.50 Bada Bing (4)
+£ 2.88 voguepunter (3)
+£ 2.00 tommytwiststommyturns (1)
+£ 0.50 twists n turns (4)
+£ 0.00 Hotel de Paris (2)
-£ 0.17 Gweedore Celt (3)
-£ 1.25 16 roads (2)
-£ 1.50 BULL67 (3)
-£ 3.50 Cosy Corner Bhoy (2)
-£ 3.69 green T (5)
-£ 4.63 PFayr (4)
-£ 4.75 fleagle1888 (3)
-£ 6.80 Nye Beavans rebel soldier (2)
-£ 8.00 Raymac (2)
-£ 9.00 hashadenough (2)
-£ 9.40 Jobo Baldie (3)
-£10.50 BMCUWP (1)
-£12.38 Burgas Hoops (2)
-£13.50 Cathal (1)
-£13.52 What is the Stars (2)
-£14.00 21-5-79 (1)
-£15.25 som mes que un club (1)
-£16.38 Rockon (1)
-£19.00 ABZMike
*No selection posted (wk 19) : ABZMike, hashadenough, Raymac
*Non-Runners (wk 19) :
Cheers, fleagle1888
(Bangalore CSC)
F64. Many happy returns.
WC. Congratulations.
Travelerbhoy. Good news.
To everyone on CQN, best wishes .
To all I’ve had the pleasure of meeting whether in a boozer,@ CQN corner , a bucket collection, or a golf course.
It’s been a pleasure. HH
Travellerbhoy
Merry Christmas and all the best for the future.
You are one of us
You will never walk alone
Thanks for your honesty
and most of all the hope and positivity within it.
Celtic.
Hail Hail.
Still a lurker only.
However I am so pleased that our very own travellerbhoy is now with his family.
Hope the Celtic family are all well and prayers to all those who have lost love ones this year,especially the families of the George Square tragedy which included a teacher who taught at my old primary school.
HH and KTF.
Ma boys got me a turntable for ma Xmas. Dug some old LP’s from the loft and now giving it laldy while getting the dinner ready. Feels like Springburn in’74 all over again. I’ll be greeting later on once the port kicks in. Merry Xmas one and all on CQN, awra best
A bit late…Merry Christmas to one and all on this site. Hope you receive all the love You deserve. From frantic07.
Just before I tuck into a Fillet Stake to those that are dear to me…
A Happy and Blessed Christmas.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Happy Christmas everyone, hope today is special for you and yours.
Thoughts and prayers to those suffering this time of year especially those in Glasgow, OZ and Bramalea, God bless you all
HH
gsu
Travellerbhoy
13:57 on
25 December, 2014
Great post, I get fed up with this blog quite a lot these days, but that made me smile and says a lot about what the blog can do at it’s best
Merry Christmas to everyone on CQN.
Let’s not forget the unfortunate people who lost their lives at George Square.
Oldtim & Travellerbhoy,
I have just spent the last wee while reading over today on CQN. Both your posts reminded me of why I have such regard for Paul’s creation: CQN. I have been addicted from almost the beginning, when I was living in England.
Quite often nowadays I only glance at too many contributions but you both touch on the essence of this site: the goodness that is part and parcel of the real Celtic supporter. Thank God for each and every one.
Paul67, you know how much I value what you have created but just to let you know that you made my Dad’s day when I gave him the latest CQN Annual. He never needs much to get him talking about Celtic but some reason he started talking about the only game we didn’t get in to: it was against Hibs at Easter Road in the Cup midweek (I think). We were in the turnstile when we were locked out. We won 1-0 thanks to the only goal John Clark scored and we missed it. Strange what Christmas Day conjures up.
Inter
6pm RAI news ( the Italian Beeb ) have reported that Inter have signed Podolski/ Perisic and are hopeful of doing a deal re Paulinho.