'˜God wanted me to go to India'

It was hosted by a local BFG, Dave James.

I met Dave, 38, at the trades club in Lees Lane back in the 1990s.

When I used to wash the glasses, he was a barman but he also worked part-time as a six-foot ‘carrot’ in the High Street giving out leaflets for a local fitness club.

Ever since then I have called him ‘carrot’.

I hadn’t seen carrot for many years until one Sunday when I went to Brune Park School to visit family church and Dave was there as large as life with his beaming smile.

He went on stage to tell everybody about his life and how he did many things he regretted when he was younger.

He had turned into a nasty bloke, in his words, with anger issues.

He was lucky enough to find God in 2013 after he hit an all-time low.

Dave said: ‘Jesus loves us all and he helped me to help everyone in need.

‘God wanted me to go to India to help the less fortunate.’

When he asked me if he could hold a fundraising coffee morning I was only too happy to help.

Carrot and his friends enjoyed tea, coffee and hot chocolate at Tammy’s One Stop Party Shop, while raising money to help on his mission to India on February 22.

Dave said: ‘This is the first of many trips I have planned, I love helping Gosport family church with lots of fundraising.

‘My grandad is my inspiration for this mission trip.

‘He worked for 22 years changing many people’s lives in lots of towns and villages.

‘I’m hoping this trip will change my perspective on the world and change me too.’

Other coffee mornings coming up include ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ on behalf of the Stroke Association on Wednesday, February 17 at 2pm hosted by Jeanette Perry.

The Big Match will be raising money and eating cake for the Brain Tumour Charity and Action For Children on Thursday, February 25 between 10am and midday.

Marvels and Meltdowns ADHD help and support group in Gosport are holding a coffee morning on March 12 from 11am.

Everyone is welcome to any coffee morning and any local groups are invited to come and host a fundraising event.

Contact me on 078 0176 0969 to book a date.

To keep up-to-date on what is happening, go to facebook.com/TammysOneStopPartyShop/.