Digging for the future

.

Duncan Hames, prospective Liberal Democrat MP for Chippenham and the surrounding area, has joined local volunteers in a community tree planting project in Bradford on Avon.

Volunteers sponsored and helped to plant hundreds of saplings during the event at Barton Farm Country Park which was coordinated by the Bradford on Avon Climate Friends, the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Wiltshire Council’s conservation team.

Duncan said: “This was a fantastic event and everyone who came to help had a great time. It will be wonderful to see these young trees grow up over the years. I would like to congratulate everyone who helped to make this project happen. It’s good to know that at a time when some people seem hell-bent on building over our countryside, there are so many more committed to nurturing it”.

On Sunday 15th March, Duncan Hames, prospective Lib Dem MP for Chippenham, took part in the Bath Half Marathon, raising £2000 in aid of the Parkinson’s Disease Society.

He finished the race in 1h 54m 23sec and coming in 4729 place out of 10699 finishers.

Duncan explained his choice of charity:

“Late last year my grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and as well as the invaluable support they give people with Parkinson’s and their families and carers, the Parkinson’s Disease Society also support research. I’m convinced that one day we can consign this terrible disease to the history books, as we did with childhood diseases in the last century.”

After the run, Duncan said:

“I’d like to say a big “thank you” to everyone who sponsored me and to all the volunteers who make the Bath Half such a success. Knowing I had the support of so many people really helped me to keep on going until I reached the finish-line.”

Duncan is still collecting sponsorship from his run for Parkinson’s using the JustGiving website: http://www.justgiving.com/duncanhames-bathhalf.

Duncan Hames, prospective MP for Chippenham, met with Governor Howard Dean, former US Presidential candidate and Chairman of the US Democratic Party, at the Liberal Democrat national Spring Conference on Saturday. Governor Dean, who was a key architect behind President Barack Obama’s election victory last November, spoke with Duncan about how best to promote their shared values and offered his encouragement and advice.

Duncan said: “I’m very grateful to Governor Dean for taking the time to speak with me about my campaign for our area. We discussed the importance of taking the time to meet with voters face to face; something that my team and I try to do as often as possible. He also stressed the importance of asking former Labour supporters to lend us their vote this time so that, together, we can choose a better future for our area.”

Last Saturday 28th February, Duncan Hames, the prospective Lib Dem MP the new Chippenham constituency, joined local people at the ArtHouse café in Melksham to support Fair Trade fortnight.

Duncan said: “Fair Trade events, like these, are a fun way to support an important cause. As consumers we have the power to make a great difference to the lives of producers across the world. I’d like to congratulate Marieke Guy and her colleagues in the Melksham Fair Trade group on securing Fair Trade Town status for Melksham for another year. It’s a terrific achievement and it should be a matter of pride for all Melksham people.”