News / media
90 Balloons are launched commemorating Enham's 90th Year
28 January 2009
Up, up and away for Enham’s 90th year!
With the statuesque beauty of Winchester Cathedral in the background, ninety purple helium packed balloons were released into the January sky on 28th January, floating across the city to commemorate 2009 and a special year.
Enham celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2009. Since the charity was founded in 1919, it has helped over 250,000 disabled and disadvantaged people enjoy a better quality of life, helping them to find work and be more independent. From its start in the village of Enham Alamein near Andover, Enham’s work now covers eight counties of the South of England including Hampshire, Surrey, Kent and Somerset.
The 90 biodegradable balloons were launched over the Winchester skies by The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Winchester, Councillor Michael Read and Rod Chamberlain, Chairman of Enham, to start the official Enham Balloon Race. The race offers a prize of a hot air balloon flight for two for the owner of the balloon travelling the furthest, plus a prize for the finder of the balloon that has travelled the furthest. All money raised will go directly to Enham’s 90th anniversary year appeal to help raise £90k to empower disabled and disadvantaged people across the South.
‘We are pleased that Enham chose the city of Winchester and the auspicious surroundings of the Cathedral, as the venue for their official 90th anniversary launch,’ said The Mayor of Winchester, Councillor Michael Read. ‘We wish the organisation well in raising funds to continue valuable work during 2009.’
‘Increasingly we’re developing our range of services across broader regions’ explained Rod Chamberlain, Chairman of Enham. ‘Our work is becoming more about personal choice and assisting disabled and disadvantage people in the community. Our balloon launch today is just the first of several events we are planning in 2009 to highlight Enham’s heritage, aims and achievements.’
