Week 52 - Cuerden Valley Park Trust

I'm finishing my £5 for 52 we is challenge with a charity that is very close to home.  Indeed, it's about 5 minutes walk away and it's a place me and husband Darren enjoy a lot.  Cuerden Valley Park is a beautiful bit of green space that runs between the M6 and M61 here in Lancashire.  The park is maintained by Cuerden Valley Park Trust almost entirely aided by volunteers and funded through donations, car parking and the cafe and by various fundraising events through the year (our particular favourite is the Beer and Cider Festival!)

The trust are currently constructing a new visitor centre and cafe.  The centre is being built to very highly ecological specifications, using recycled tyres, straw bales and sheep's wool.  Much of the wood used in construction has come from fallen trees in the park itself.  Once built, they are expecting to become the first building in the UK to obtain certification from the Living Building Challenge, and internationally recognised environmental programme.

Darren and I are hoping to donate some of our time to the park as well over the next few months (and maybe even years!)

Link
Cuerden Valley Park.

Week 51 - Greenpeace

It's been a busy few weeks and I'm a bit behind.  I should have finished this by now so but there's only two left to do!

Glastonbury Festival is approaching so I've chosen the third charity that are heavily involved (Oxfam and WaterAid being the other two).  Greenpeace were formed in 1971 and has grown to be one of the biggest environmental organisations in the world with offices in over 40 countries.  They use direct action and campaigns for many environmental issues including:

• Stopping climate change.
• Protecting forests.
• Defending the oceans.
• Saving the Arctic.

In the UK they also support campaigns to halt fracking, reduce air pollution and work towards nuclear disarmament.

Link

Greenpeace

Week 50 - London Legal Support Trust

My friend Paul Stagg completed a 10k walk to raise money for the London Legal Support Trust (LLST).  They raise funds to help provide free legal advice and support throughout the South East and London for those who are otherwise unable to afford it.  The money they raise goes to legal advice centres, citizen's advice bureaux and law centres.

They have many fundraising events but the London Legal Walk is one of the biggest, where legal teams across London get together to raise money.  The first was in 2005 where 300 people took part.  This grew to 9000 people last year with £700,000 raised.  This year 618 teams took part with Paul representing his practice at 1 Chancery Lane.

Links

London Legal Support Trust
1 Chancery Lane Fundraising Page

Week 49 - Kidscape / Stonewall

This is one monumental challenge that I'm sponsoring this week.  Ben Smith grew up in boarding schools where iphe was subject to years of physical and mental bullying.  The abuse was so bad he attempted to take his own life on two occasions.  In his early thirties he came out as gay and got into running as a way of reducing stress.  He started running marathons, then decided to attempt a world record to raise money for anti-bullying charities.  He is currently 258 marathons into a challenge to run 401 in 401 consecutive days.

The two charities he is raising money for are Kidscape and Stonewall.  Kidscape was started in 1985 and works to reduce bullying among 9-16 year olds.  They provide advice to young people, parents and professionals, run anti-bullying projects in schools and assertiveness workshops for those who have been bullied along with their parents or carers.

Stonewall have been campaigning since 1989 for equal rights for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.  Among their successful campaigns are those to repeal Section 28 (which prevented schools from talking freely about homosexuality in case they were accused of "promoting" it), lifting the ban on LGB people serving in the military and securing first civil partnerships, then same-sex marriages.  In 2015 they added campaigns for trans people to their remit.

Links
The 401 Challenge
Kidscape
Stonewall

Week 48 - Refugee Action

My friend Sofia is a week away from the end of a month-long sugar famine in aid of Refugee Action.  As someone who has cut out a lot of sugar (but never actually managed to go more than two weeks without any sugar or alcohol) I know how beneficial but frustrating it is (try buying any processed food without added sugar, it's almost impossible!).

Throughout this project the plight of refugees - particularly from Syria - has been ever present in the news.  Refugee Action have been working with refugees for thirty years, helping them establish new lives in the UK.  The majority of asylum seekers arrive with little understanding of the process and Refugee Action provides support and advice to aid them.  They also campaign for justice for refugees, working with legal advisors to help them better understand the needs of asylum seekers.

Their work is absolutely vital right now in a time where millions are being displaced from their homes and running from war and persecution.  Refugee Action helps to make these refugee's a more promising future.

Links
Sofia Hogarth's JustGiving Page
Refugee Action

Week 47 - Robin House Children's Hospice

So while thousands of runners where pounding the streets of London last weekend, a friend of mine was completing his own 26 mile endeavour.  Kenny took part in the Glasgow Kiltwalk, walking from Hampden Park to Loch Lomond despite having major surgery just 10 weeks ago!

Robin House was the second hospice opened by the Children's Hospice Association of Scotland (CHAS).  The hospice houses eight children who require palliative care with their families.  They can anything from short breaks - allowing the family to relax and spend quality time together in a suitable environment - to end of life care.  CHAS also provides in home help and bereavement counselling as well as research projects into care for children with life-limiting conditions.

Links
Kenny Graham's Fundraising Page
Children's Hospice Association of Scotland

Week 46 - Teenage Cancer Trust

Another one where there was something in it for me.  Felix Gill bought a box at the Royal Albert Hall for David Gilmour's Teenage Cancer Trust gig there on 24th April and has raffled off the ten tickets to raise more money for the charity. (This was actually a week ago and I didn't win!)

The Teenage Cancer Trust was started by a group of women who first raised money for a children's intensive care heart unit in 1989.  They met the mother of a 13-year old with cancer and were struck by the fact that he had to face cancer in an adult ward away from the company of similar young people who were going through the same thing.  The first Teenage Cancer Trust specialist unit was opened in 1990.

As well as opening a network of care and support units in hospitals across the country they also promote a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of cancer among young people and fund research into care and treatment of young people with cancer.

Links

Felix Gill's JustGiving Page
Teenage Cancer Trust

Honourable Mention

My friend Ben Stanhope runs the London Marathon tomorrow.  I can't include him in the project as he is raising money for Parkinson's UK who I have already donated to but it felt a bit churlish to not donate at all so I've put a fiver into his pot too.

Links

Ben Stanhope's Donation Page

Previous Donation to Parkinson's UK

Week 45 - Eliana's Wish To Run

Another one I've had saved up but can't remember where from.  Eliana was born prematurely with brain damage which has caused her visual impairment and Diplegic Cerebral Palsy.  This in turn has caused her muscle spasms and tightness in her leg muscles, restricting her ability to walk.  Now 2 years old, she is eligible for a spinal operation in the US, Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy and her family are raising money for the operation and the physiotherapy she will require.

Link

Eliana's Wish To Run

Week 44 - Breaking Barriers

Apologies but I've forgotten where or who I've got this one from!  It may have been Twitter.  Anyway, if you read my first £5 for 52 weeks blog you'd know that this whole project started as a reaction to politics.  There will be some people who don't agree with this charity but the motivation behind it is absolutely in line with my social and political beliefs.

I think refugees - those who are fleeing war and persecution - should be made welcome in this country.  Unfortunately we have a government which is running scared of political opponents and media rhetoric which is spreading fear and xenophobia among the general population.  Many refugees are highly qualified, intelligent and wish to contribute to our society.  This is where Breaking Barriers comes in.

Breaking Barriers works to aid refugees in finding work and settling in the UK.  They run workshops to educate people how the British system of job seeking and application works, English language lessons and assistance with the writing of CVs.  They also do mock interviews and presentation training to enhance confidence and improve the person's chance of gaining employment.  They also work with businesses to place refugees in suitable positions.

Getting a job is a key part of helping a refugee integrate into society and restart their lives after whatever horror they have left behind.  I think this is vital to us being an inclusive and diverse society.

Links
Breaking Barriers

Week 43 - Charlie Mortimer Fund

In 2009, Davine and Steve Mortimer became parents to a third child, Charlie, seemingly completing their family.  This joy however was short lived when Charlie stopped breathing two days later.  He was rushed to hospital but died two days later.  It transpired he suffered from a rare metabolic genetic condition, MCADD.

Since then Charlie's parents have been raising money to support others that find themselves in the same position.  The money raised goes to three charities:

• Care In The Family - a support organisation for bereaved parents
• CLIMB - Children Living with Inherited MetaBolic diseases.  Among other things the money raised has allowed for the creation of a MCADD website and an annual conference for nurses, doctors and researchers.
• Leeds Children's Intensive Care Unit - this is where Charlie was cared for.

Full disclosure - I have another incentive for this charity as this is another raffle run by Marillion for an exclusive prize!  My £5 also buys me a raffle ticket into their prize draw which closes next week.  You can also donate for a chance to win a mint condition Fender Stratocaster signed by the band.

Links

Charlie Mortimer Fund

Marillion Raffle Donation

Week 42 - The Jeckyl Foundation - Stages For Success

I've been in New York over the weekend so I've chosen an American charity this week.  Bette Midler has been campaigning for this one and pledged to match every donation 2:1 - they reached their target but I like this one anyway!

The Jeckyl Foundation was started by Bette Midler over a decade ago to provide funding to various projects in the US and around the world.  They have provided funds to healthcare organisations working in Haiti, supported homeowners of storm-damaged houses, renovated parks and gardens, and worked with theatre, dance and music programs in state-funded schools.

The Stages For Success program which Bette has been recently promoting raises money to renovate the auditoria in Fort Greene School, Brooklyn.  The program chooses a school in New York each year to raise money for improved lighting, sound, curtains and sets, and to modernise the schools performing art space.  As someone who loved to sing and dance as a child I can really relate to how much a professional staging can make performing so much more rewarding.

The minimum donation was $10 so I've given a little more than the usual £5!

Links
The Jeckyl Foundation
Stages For Success Donation Page

Week 41 - Sport Relief

I'm a great admirer of the BBC's charity fundraising programmes.  Sport Relief is a spin-off from Comic Relief which has been raising money for charity projects since 1985.  50% of the money raised is spent in the UK, funding projects such as support groups for those with mental health issues, disabilities or dementia.  The other 50% is spent in the poorest communities around the world, helping people out of poverty and providing life-saving but often simple healthcare.

I'm sure many of you know someone who has been raising money for Sport Relief.  My friend Innes completed a 5km swim this week so I'm sponsoring him!

Links
Sport Relief
Innes Chalmers Fundraising Page

Week 40 - St Columba's Hospice

This week's donation is in memory of my friend Elaine's father Owen who passed away a few weeks ago.  Her family are raising money for St Columba's Hospice.

St Columba's is a hospice in Edinburgh.  They have beds for 30 inpatients and provide palliative care for both day patients and in people's homes and communities.  They also have an educational facility, providing a wide range of training from day study to undergraduate and post-graduate courses.

Links

West Highland Way Donation Page
St Columba's Hospice

Week 39 - National Eating Disorders Association

This week I've sponsored my friend Jane's daughter Sam who is completing a walk in Philadelphia to raise money for the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) in the USA.  Sam and her friends are walking and raising money in memory of a friend who died from an eating disorder in 2012.  I have donated $7 which is roughly £5.

NEDA was formed in 2001 following the merger of two long-standing charities supporting people with eating disorders in the United States.  It is estimated that 30 million people in the US will suffer an eating disorder at some point in their lives and anorexia has the highest mortality rate of all mental illness.  NEDA provide a variety of programmes to support and help those with eating disorders and their families including:

• Telephone and online chat helplines.
• A database of treatment providers and support groups.
• Access to and advice for participating in research studies.
• Advice "tool kits" for families, teachers and sports coaches.
• Networks of support to help friends and families of those suffering from an eating disorder.
• Ongoing support for those recovering from an eating disorder.

Links

Sam Schultz's Fundraising Page
National Eating Disorders Association

Week 38 - CARE International

I know of Dan through a Glastonbury Festival forum and he is running the London Marathon this year.  He's hit his original target of £1,700 but has promised to run it dressed as Jesus if he reaches £2000 so I'm helping him to that target!

Dan is running in aid of CARE.  CARE were established in 1945 in the USA, sending aid packages tot food and basic supplies to those facing starvation in a post-World War Two Europe.  Over the next 20 years over 100 million packages were sent (the final CARE packages were sent to Britain in 1955).  The focus shifted first to Asia and in the 1970's Africa, responding to the famines there with both short-term relief and long-term assistance.

In more recent times they have focused on human rights, recognising that poverty is often caused by discrimination, marginalisation and social exclusion.  In particular they have worked on female empowerment.  CARE are now involved in projects in 70 countries around the world.

Links

CARE International

Dan Tastic's JustGiving Page

Week 37 - Rays Of Sunshine

Rays of Sunshine was formed in 2003 to grant wishes to children with serious and life-limiting conditions.  Their wishes can include meeting a favourite celebrity, making a trip to a special location, being a ballerina or a fireman, or maybe a special gift to improve a child's life.  They pull out the stops to give children a chance to experience happiness and put their illness on hold.

Links
Rays Of Sunshine

Week 36 - Stroke Association

On Friday I said a final goodbye to my Grandma.  She lived a long and fairly healthy life but at 96 had a stroke and died a week later.  We collected money for the Stroke Association at the funeral so I contributed to that this week.

Around 152,000 have a stroke in the UK every year and it is apthe third biggest killer in this country. The Stoke Association has been at the forefront of advances which mean that there 40% less strokes than 20 years ago, along with a doubling in the survival rate.  They fund research to improve treatment and care for those who have suffered a stroke.  They provide support to those who have had a stoke along with their families.  They also campaign to raise awareness of the symptoms of a stroke - early treatment can help with survival and reduce the long-term effects.

Links

Stroke Association

Week 35 - Nordoff Robbins

I was having so much fun on my birthday that I forgot my donation!  I'm a huge music fan so I've chosen the Nordoff Robbins.  They use music therapy to help people with a range of problems such as autism, mental issues, dementia, depression, stroke and life-threatening conditions like cancer.  They work in care homes, day centres, hospitals, schools and their own centres.  As well as improving physical ability their therapies use music to improve mental and emotional wellbeing and assist with communication skills.

Nordoff Robbins also train music therapists, from short courses and workshops right up to Masters level.  Their extensive research into the benefits of music therapy is at the heart of the work begun by Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins back in 1959.

Links

Nordoff Robbins

Week 34 - St Catherine's Hospice

Four years ago on Friday my father-in-law died after many long battles with cancer.  During his final few years he spent time in St Catherine's Hospice.  This gave him time in a peaceful place to recuperate and come to terms with life in a wheelchair.  Most importantly he became well enough to attend our wedding.

St Catherine's Hospice is the only adult hospice serving the Preston and Chorley area.  They have 19 beds to provide the most intensive care and therapy.  They also have a day centre to provide support and community services including home support.  As well as cancer patients they also care for those with other life-shortening conditions such as motor-neurone disease, heart failure and Parkinson's disease.  Although they help many people at the end of their lives, 50% of patients admitted to the in-patient unit return home.

Having had personal experience of the hospice I'm very grateful of the good work they do and the extra time they gave to my father-in-law.  I didn't know him for long before he became ill so the extra three years are very precious indeed.

Link
St Catherine's Hospice

Week 33 - British Heart Foundation

A friend's daughter is giving up chocolate for March - no mean feat!  I tried to give up chocolate for Lent in my teenage years - got all the way to 39 days and had a hot chocolate, completely forgetting that it did count as "chocolate".  I seem to remember eating a lot of Caramac...

Anyway, Eileen Brown is raising money for the British Heart Foundation.  Founded in 1961 by a group of medical professionals, they fund pioneering research into the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of coronary heart disease and other heart diseases and defects.  Over the last 50 years their research has reduced the size of pacemakers from a bulky, external device to one that can be implanted, explored genetics and how heart disease can be inherited and led to new and safer surgical techniques.

The British Heart Foundation leads campaigns to keep the public informed and the dangers of heart disease and preventative measures such as diet and exercise.  They also take these campaigns to governments, schools and workplaces - among other things they have been at the forfront of many anti-smoking campaigns.

Links
British Heart Foundation
Eileen's JustGiving Page

Week 32 - Shelter

I've just realised I've completely forgotten a donation for last week!  As the cold begins to bite here in the UK my mind turned to Shelter.  Shelter help millions of people with housing problems in the UK every year.  Not only the homeless - they also advise people facing repossession or eviction and try to prevent people from losing their homes with legal representation.

They also use their expert knowledge and experience to campaign for fairer housing laws in the UK.  Among recent successful campaigns are a change in the law to prevent "revenge evictions" and a u-turn on government spending on Local Welfare Assistance.

Links

Shelter Homepage

Week 31 - Youth Upliftment International

This one was forwarded by my friend Lucy Jordache.  Youth Upliftment International are a Canadian charity who work in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic with street children.  The charity was started in 2008 by Katelyn Bateman who visited the region on a holiday and left wanting to help the children she had seen begging and shoe-shining on the streets.  And first she raised money and collected donations of clothing and basic medical and school supplies and eventually led to them opening a school to educate the street children,Collège Amélioration Jeunesse.

Towards the end of last year they ran a fundraising campaign to keep the school open for this educational year.  They hit their target but funds are always needed to provide a safe, high-quality education to these children who would not be able to afford one otherwise.

I find Katelyn's story remarkably inspiring.  How one person's will to change lives is making a difference.  I'm sure we can all take something from that.

Links
Youth Upliftment International
Buy A Square, Save Our School

Week 30 - Child's I Foundation

I have been enjoying comedian and TV presenter Richard Osman's "World Cup Of Chocolate" on Twitter over the last few days and he has asked for donations to this charity.  Child's I Foundation was started in 2009 by Lucy Buck.  Based in Uganda but hoping to extend to other countries, the foundation works to place orphaned children into loving homes.  They provide short-term life saving care and aim to resettle the children within six months.  They firstly attempt to trace family members but if no extended family can be found they then place them in foster or adoptive care.

In 2011 they started the Ugandans Adopt campaign and have so far found homes for over 140 children.  This is sadly just a drop in the ocean however in a country where it is estimated 50,000 children are currently living in orphanages.

Links

Child's I Foundation
Richard Osman - Twitter

P.S. Dairy Milk won.  A travesty I tell you!