The guest speaker for the Oct 26th CADS lunch will be Colonel Mark Cook OBE. Mark is the founder of the UK based charity Hope and Homes for Children. The mission of Hope and Homes for Children is to give hope to the poorest children in the world — those who are orphaned, abandoned or vulnerable — by enabling them to grow up within the love of a family and the security of a home, so that they can fulfil their potential.

Mark’s talk will be entitled “Children who are out of sight and out of mind” and he will also show a 6-minute DVD “When the Cameras Leave”. Since the charity was founded in 1994 Hope and Homes for Children has grown to become a world leading organization, working in 10 countries across Central and Eastern Europe and Africa.

I had the great pleasure of meeting Mark Cook in 2010. At that time he was visiting a school in the Middle East where my son was a pupil. The school had supported Hope and Homes for Children for some time and Mark wanted to meet the children, staff and parents to thank them in person for their continued support.

Mark’s passion for his work in trying to provide homes for orphans of war or disaster was apparent for all to see. I was one of many new supporters recruited that day and I’m sure that when other CADS members meet him for themselves they will also be inspired by this charismatic speaker, who has succeeded in making such a difference in the lives of others.