Udayan kids await “Steve Uncle”

Apart from inaugurating the Girl’s Wing of Udayan, Waugh will also raise funds for the project through various programmes, including a charity dinner and auction of cricket memorabilia.

“Some of the programmes have not yet been finalised but he is definitely coming on April 19,” said Rev JJ Stevens, the Founder Chairman of Udayan.

Waugh, who evinced a keen interest in the activities of Udayan during the Australian team’s tour of India in 1998, will inaugurate the girls’ wing ”Nivedita Bhavan” on April 20.

The Australian captain had returned to the city shortly after the completion of the tour to lay the foundation stone for the building. He had also taken the initiative to raise funds for the project through various fund-raising programmes.

Waugh, who has led Australia to a record number of consecutive Test victories, will also spend some time with young cricket buffs at the Calcutta Cricket and Football Club (CCFC) on April 21, in a unique awareness-building and fund raising programme.

For a fee of Rs. 200 each, the school children can get photographed with the star cricketer and also procure his autograph. The snaps will be taken in groups of 30 and they will later be handed over to the respective schools.

Funds will also be raised through sale of T-shirts and caps autographed by Waugh on the club ground. The proceeds will go to Calcutta Girls Foundation (CGF) which raises funds for Udayan and other such organisations.

A fund-raising dinner, called U Nite with Steve, has been organised on April 19 at a city hotel where the Australian captain will also auction cricket memorabilia brought from down under.