...WHO IS KEEGAN LANGLEY?

Keegan Langley, 19 years old, was born on 4 February 1991, and has two younger brothers, Drew and Bryn. All three boys are pupils at Falcon College, Esigodini, Zimbabwe, a secondary boys’ boarding school.

Falcon College is a highly reputable educational institution in Zimbabwe. It was founded in 1954 on the site of an abandoned gold mine and its ethos is based on enduring Christian values and morals tempered by relevant 21st century education. Many Falcon Old Boys have achieved notable successes in life, including Rhodes’ Scholarships, national colours in numerous sporting disciplines (notably cricket with 15 test players) leading engineers, academics, scientists and even Members of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom! This is a proud school with strong traditions, where standards are maintained as an ‘oasis of excellence’ in a troubled land.

Keegan in full flight - March 2009

Keegan has grown into a fine young man with considerable potential. Having achieved promising ‘O’ and ‘AS’ Level results with Cambridge, he is now studying Physics, Biology and Geography for ‘A’ Level. His ambition is to study Environmental Science at University. His interests include natural history, fishing and falconry. He is also an avid hockey player and was destined to play his part in the 1^st XI tour to South Africa, which tragically he has now missed.

Keegan’s parents, Adrian and Sally Langley, reside at the College, where Sally teaches full time. Whilst Adrian’s work as a professional Safari Guide often takes him away from home, this is a close-knit family now facing an undeserved, unexpected and traumatic catastrophe. They need and deserve our help.

For on the night of 4 April 2009, ten teenage boys were involved in a horrific road accident, caused when an owl flew into the windscreen of their vehicle. The driver lost control and the vehicle overturned. All the boys suffered injury to some degree, and were taken to the Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo, some 60 kilometres away. With the limited medical facilities available in Zimbabwe, and in view of Keegan’s serious head injuries, he was transferred by air ambulance to MilPark Hospital in Johannesburg, where he remains in a deep coma.

Whilst doctors and specialists are hopeful of a full recovery, the family has been advised that this will be a very long process, with the earliest outcome at 6 months possibly running into 18 or 24 months. Meanwhile his parents keep vigil at his bedside.

The costs to date (mid April) amount to almost US$50,000. This includes the air ambulance ($11,500) and the deposit required at MilPark Hospital ($25,000). Other costs are made up of ambulance services in Johannesburg, and payment required for drugs, doctors’ attendances, scans and x rays, etc.

Keegan has no medical aid or insurance cover to meet these costs.

The current situation in Zimbabwe, where health care has collapsed together with the economy and the Zimbabwe dollar, means that only those with external financial resources can afford meaningful medical aid cover. The Langley family is not in this privileged position, and therefore the absence of adequate cover has not been entirely of their choosing. Their personal balance sheet, being Zimbabwe-based, does not in any way allow them to meet this huge obligation, but nevertheless, in accepting that they cannot sit back and leave this all to others, they are committed to raising whatever funding they can, from their own resources and from their family.

In order to ensure that Keegan does not want for any medical requirements, Falcon College Trust has advanced all required funding to date. However as the Trust is a non-profit making body, and this money is allocated for special needs at the College, it must be re-paid.

Accordingly, this Trust has been registered in Zimbabwe. The Trustees comprise three members of the Falcon College Board, the College CEO, and Keegan’s uncle, resident in Harare. The objective of the Trust is to raise the necessary funding to meet Keegan’s requirements.

An honorary auditor has already been appointed and in terms of the Trust Deed, quarterly accounts must be published. All contributions to the Trust will be acknowledged and payments out of the Trust will be strictly verified prior to authorisation.

A copy of the Trust Deed is available upon request, or alternatively on the Trust’s web site.

The Trust is now appealing to Donors, Benefactors, College Old Boys, Current Parents and Friends of Falcon, to support this noble cause and assist in ensuring that Keegan continues to receive the sort of medical care that will improve his prospects of a full recovery. The Langley Family is an integral part of the wider ‘Falcon Family’ a concept we hold most dear, and which binds us together.

Thank you for reading this. Please support us. We really need your help.

AJW LAING chairman Falcon College Board of Governors

Keegan Langley Trust

Contributions can be made to any of the following:

• Keegan Langley Trust, Premier Bank, Suburbs Branch, Zimbabwe: US$ a/c 01056533010207 Rand a/c 01056533010407 : Branch Code 007 : Swift Code PRDCZWHZ

• K L TRUST, Absa Bank, Rivonia (RSA) (branch code 509955) (account no. 922 4011 806) (Swift address ABSAZAJJ632005)

• In Australia: ANZ Bank, Acc. Name R Jerrad – Falcon College Account, Acc. No. 570656167, BSB 016112

• In the UK: Royal Bank of Scotland, Acc. Name Falcon College, Acc. No. 10127688, Sort Code 16-33-16

• Payments can be left at the Falcon College offices in either Harare (79 Bishop Gaul Ave, Milton Park) or Bulawayo (129B J. Tongogara Street)

In case of any queries, and in respect of direct deposits, please contact the Trust, so that your contribution can be acknowledged. The Trust’s office is situated at: 129B J Tongogara St., Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, tel. 00-263-9-64364 or e mail falcontob@netconnect.co.zw