Three-year old Liam Smyth suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Majewski osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II (MOPD2) which means he will never 'grow up'.

His parents were trying to raise funds to take Liam to America to meet other families affected by the disorder and also to meet specialists.  When the league heard about this we immediately contacted them and offered £250 to help.

The photograph shows league treasurer Dave Buckley presenting a cheque to Liam, Robbie and Joanne at their house in Sneinton.

Click HERE to watch the family on BBC News.

The league wanted to do something to help improve Edward's quality of life and so, in February we asked Edward's parents if there was anything he really wanted.  Edward said he would really like a swimming pool so that he could play in it during the summer months.

The league purchased a 12 foot swimming pool complete with electric pump and cover (see photo). 

We then suggested to Edward's parents that they might like something to sit whilst they supervise Edward in the swimming pool and we purchased a complete set of table, chairs and sun loungers (see  photo).

You can read more about Edward and his family on his website

CLICK HERE TO BE TAKEN TO EDWARD'S WEBSITE

The league donated £50 to Fr. John McCay of St Pauls, Lenton to assist with their soup kitchen over the christmas period.  The soup kitchen has about a dozen regulars and the volunteers rely totally on donations to keep it going.

The league purchased computer software and some special switch adapters that would enable Milford Primary School pupil Kaya Jackson get maximum enjoyment from the toys and computer equipment in his classroom.

Kaya is a young boy who was born with ATRX syndrome which results in profound and multiple learning difficulties.   Kaya has no language or self-help skills and he is learning with exploration using his mouth.   He needs constant support throughout the day from a team of teaching assistants and his general health is also a cause for concern.

The switch adapters we bought for Kaya have enabled him to make full use of the educational and interactive toys in his school, providing him with the mental stimulus that is so important to someone with his needs.

We bought Kaya two pieces of computer software:

Touch Balloons - an interactive program which will help Kaya to develop hand-eye coordination skills by popping balloons as they float past.

Jigsaw Maker - a versatile computerised jigsaw program designed for use by young children and particularly those with severe learning difficulties.  The game can be played using the mouse, a touch screen, an interactive whiteboard or by using a special switch.

The league donated £100 to the Chloe Cotton Trust Fund.

Chloe Cotton was born with Cystic Fibrosis, the most common genetic degenerative disease in the country for which there is no cure. Chloe sadly passed away on 17 February 2007 at Birmingham Children’s Hospital aged just 12 years.

Chloe’s parents, Jez and Michelle, have vowed to help other children with cystic fibrosis and their families, which is why they are setting up the Chloe Cotton Trust Fund. They will use the fund to offer information, advice and support and to provide financial help to families affected by cystic fibrosis. This will help to provide important family holidays and fun days out which are greatly needed.

The fund will be totally reliant on fund raising and sponsorship and they are currently in the process of registering it as a charity. They eventually hope to set up a telephone help line.

Anyone wishing to know more or wanting to make a donation can call Jez and Michelle on 07877 784206.

Following the war and genocide in 1999, the Kosovan people are suffering from an economic war which has seen unemployment levels climb to over 80%. This has resulted in a climate of hardship, frustration and despair, with families traumatised from their war experiences and present difficulties.

The project supports six families totalling 45 people - the largest family has 11 children and the husbands or fathers of four of the families were killed during the war. The project supplies the families with 400kg of flour each month - a much needed staple food and a safety net which lifts morale - and provides other basic supplies such as food, emergency medicine, school stationary and materials. Cows, goats and chickens have also been provided in order to promote self-help and sustainability.

The project is very cost effective and our £105 is enough to support 45 people in six families for a whole month. The project is run entirely by volunteers and every penny raised directly benefits the Kosovan families.

Update - 8 June 2007

Nigel Robinson an intrepid relief project worker visited Kosovo over the Easter Holidays. With the money Nazareth House Snooker League donated (£105) he was able to buy half a metric tonne of wheat flour. This was able to provide a staple diet of bread and pancakes for 12-15 families (70 people) over several months.

With other money Nigel raised he was able to help create 4 Poly tunnels 6 metres long and these are being used to grow tomatoes and peppers which are very popular amongst locals.

Other items purchased include seeds and tools and these were put to good use in the growing season. Potatoes, onions and spinach were sown by eager hands!

Another project Nigel personally funded was helping to establish a beehive colony. 1 beehive costs £50 and Nigel purchased 11 as beehives have to be matched number to number. Through producing honey from the 22 hives as much as 3000 euros could be earned. I kilo of honey costs about 7 euros. This helps families to become self sufficient and other colonies can be developed with other families being trained up in how to look after them.

Sadly, two new families caught up in the war have high needs. A father has no legs after losing them in an industrial accident in a nickel factory and he needs a new wheel chair. Also he lost his eldest son who was killed in the war in 1999. In another family a young woman of 33 years has been unable to walk for 8 years since suffering brain damage from a beating by 8 paramilitaries. This was after witnessing her baby son and husband killed in a grenade attack at her family home.

Nigel will continue his project work returning to Kosovo in early July, and a list of fund raising activities will happen in the near future. These include a house party on the 30/6/07 (£5 admission going to the Kosovo fund) a raffle with a range of prizes and scenic calendars showing mountain ranges that Nigel has climbed on throughout Europe.

You can find out more about the project by visiting their website here.

Michael Roome and his daughter Hannah took part in the 1.5km Great Nottingham Santa Run at Wollaton Park on 17 December 2006. The event had been organised to raise money for the charity When You Wish Upon A Star so that they could take 300 children to Lapland to meet Father Christmas. NHSL gave £20 to Michael and Hannah who managed to raise £3,300 towards this fabulous cause.

December 2005

We donated toys and equipment to the Physiotherapy Unit at the Children's Centre, City Hospital. The Children's Centre works with children where there is some concern about their development. It aims to provide a "one stop shop" where the children can get the services of many different specialists in a place which is child and family friendly.

The Children's Centre brings together a number of services for children with 'special needs'. These needs range from children with chronic health needs/disabilities, both physical and psychological, to vulnerable children in need of protection and those children looked after by the Local Authority.

A donation of £200 was made to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. This was placed into the Skegness Fuel Appeal Account. Both the inshore and all weather lifeboats at Skegness were very busy during the summer of 2003. Nationally, call outs had increased 13% on the previous year.

A donation of £500 was made to Carlton Digby School, Mapperley who were raising funds to purchase a three-quarter sized trampoline. The trampoline is used to provide rebound therapy for the children.

The principle behind this therapy is that a profoundly handicapped child is placed on the trampoline and a physiotherapist gently bounces alongside. The bouncing movement, besides being pleasurable, allows the child to experience repetitive relaxing movement and thus stimulates his or her sensory awareness.