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