Heloise Agelou, founder of racehorse management company Hagelou www.hagelou.com – in partnership with International Thoroughbred Consultants (I.T.C) – hosted a charity event at the Royal Windsor Racecourse on Monday 10th October, benefitting the Aegis Trust.
160 guests, including Clive Owen and Sir Michael Parkinson (pictured, holding the ‘Winner’s Egg’ by Sarah Faberge, auctioned at the event), Maureen Lipman, Lord Simon Devine and Carlos Acosta joined with the 24-year-old Parisian socialite to raise critical funds for the charity.
The Aegis Trust is best known for its work in Rwanda, where it is responsible for the Kigali Genocide Memorial; a place of remembrance and education at a site in the nation’s capital where some 250,000 victims of the 1994 genocide lie buried. Aegis works to prevent genocide through education, campaigning, providing advice for policy makers and support for international justice. Last year the charity secured a change in UK law to close loopholes on genocide suspects entering or living in Britain.
Speakers at the event included Carl Wilkens, the only American aid worker to remain in Rwanda during the genocide, during which he helped to save hundreds of lives; Freddy Mutanguha, Director of Aegis Rwanda, himself a survivor; and Clive Owen, who visited Rwanda with Aegis last year.
“It’s a real privilege to be associated with Aegis,” says Clive Owen, an Ambassador for the charity. “I’ve witnessed its hugely positive impact on the lives of widows and orphans in Rwanda, but massive challenges remain to be addressed by a new generation in that country. Particularly through its education programmes, Aegis is uniquely placed to help Rwanda’s young people rebuild the trust that was destroyed in their parents’ generation – so we should give it all the support we can.”
Heloise Agelou commented, “I was thrilled to host this event for the Aegis Trust, and pleased to have support from people like Sir Richard Branson. I’m very fond of and keen to support the Aegis Trust, due to their amazing work. Both myself and the guests are looking forward to the next event.”
Dr James Smith, Chief Executive of the Aegis Trust, commented, “We at the Aegis Trust are absolutely delighted that Heloise Hagelou and her team have been able to put on this incredible event, with all these amazing people, in such a wonderful atmosphere, to support the cause of genocide prevention – something so vital to the future of so many lives.”
