Week 15 - Amnesty International

I had a fabulous night last night at a performance of the Rocky Horror Show starring it's creator Richard O'Brien and I'm taking my cue from the gala performance of the show last Thursday which was held in aid of Amnesty International.

Amnesty International are a global organisation which has fought for human rights around the world since 1961.  Following thorough research they lobby governments and companies and campaign to fight human right violations in many different areas.  Following on from last week's donation for Save The Children, Amnesty International are another charity working to help the refugees fleeing from war-torn Syria.

Week 14 - Save The Children

£5 feels like such an insignificant amount sometimes.  When I started this challenge I wondered if the tricky thing would be finding charities or appeals to donate to, or maybe avoiding duplicating charities.  I never expected to feel stingy about only giving £5.  But I am going to stick to the rules.

Like the majority of you I have been viewing the plight of refugees from Syria with a mixture of emotions.  Horror that human beings are being forced so brutally from their homes.  Shame that our government has been so slow to act and so limited in it's offer of assistance.  Admiration for those who are taking things into their own hands and trying to help the best they can.  And a feeling that I should do more.

So hopefully I will be able to give to a series of charities who are currently helping the refugees, both here and abroad.  First choice is Save The Children.  The amazing Caitlin Moran and Pete Paphides were so moved by the refugees that they have embarked on a project to release a charity single.  The song is Help Is Coming by Crowded House.  Mat Whitecross has created an incredibly moving video to accompany the song which is introduced by Benedict Cumberbatch.  The song is available via iTunes, there is a limited edition 7" vinyl and yesterday the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osbourne announced that he will waive the VAT on sales.

All proceeds are going to Save The Children who are working in 17 countries from Syria to Great Britain to help children who have fled the war zone and arrived, many alone and without their parents, both in neighbouring countries like Lebanon and Jordan and along the route in the most affected countries like Turkey, Greece and Italy all the way up to Norway and Denmark.  They are providing essentials like food, water and shelter, setting up centres where the children can clean and make calls.  They are also looking forward, helping children return to school and providing psychological support.

Week 13 - Cancer Research UK

So, last week's blog was late because I was busy having fun in Scotland.  My primary reason for being in Scotland was to celebrate the marriage of two good friends, Jane Whiting and Kevin Motion soI felt it apt to ask them to choose a charity for me to support this week.  They have chosen Cancer Research UK.

Cancer Research UK focus the money they raise into four areas; prevention, early diagnosis, the development of new treatments and the optimisation of existing treatment.  They invest in scientists, doctors and nurses, developing new tests, techniques and drugs.  They are working towards a day when no-one in the UK is a smoker and campaign for the best cancer treatment to be available across the UK.

I know a number of people who are attempting a Cancer Research UK's Dryathlon for September, and the first that came up on my Facebook timeline was my friend Tracey Jakubski.  So I'm donating to Tracey's page - good luck Tracey!

Week 12 - The Foxton Centre

Late one this / last week.  I've had this one on my radar for a few weeks and this has been the first chance I have to use it.  The Foxton Centre are a Christian charity based near me in Preston and provide help, support and hot meals to homeless people in the city.  Among other things, in 2014 they helped:

• 72 homeless people find accommodation,
• 21 young people move away from the risk of being sexually exploited,
• 176 vulnerable adults with one-to-one support,
• 7 women to leave street work.

They also served over 8000 meals to vulnerable adults and their families including a Christmas dinner for 65 people.

I find it hard to believe that in a wealthy country as ours we still have people sleeping rough so I whole-heartedly support any charity which encourages and helps others to turn their lives around in this way.

Week 11 - Anthony Nolan Trust

I've chosen John Underwood's JustGiving campaign because, quite honestly, the blurb is so wonderfully written.  A few weeks ago John was diagnosed with a late-stage lymphoma and, in his own words, is currently trying not to die.  His JustGiving page is here - please read it as I can't do it justice on here.

The Anthony Nolan Trust works to save lives by finding matching bone marrow and stem cell donors.  30% of people who need a transplant can find one in their own family but the other 70% rely on strangers who may be in the database.  It costs around £100 to add each person to their database so they have to be strict on who they add  Joining is easy - sadly they only accept people under 30 so I can't join myself.  You simply register and send a saliva sample.  They do some amazing work and it really does save lives.

Week 10 - Motor Neurone Disease Association

Jez Denton's come up with an original idea for fundraising.  He's wearing a different garish shirt everyday for as long as possible.  He has a fair collection himself but he's also taking donations of unwanted shirts - the address is included on his Just Giving page.  He's not far off his target so let's help him get there!

Jez is raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.  MND is a degenerative disease that attacks the nerves in the brain and spinal cord.  Messages stop reaching the muscles causing them to weaken and waste away.  The disease and the MND Association, along with the ALS Association in the USA gained much needed publicity following the ice bucket challenge last year.  The MND Association raise funds for research and provide support for sufferers and their families.

Week 9 - Dom's Wheelchair (The Brittle Bone Society / Action For Kids)

This story came to my attention via Twitter.  Dom Hyams has a severe form of Osteogenesis Imperfecta, commonly known as Brittle Bone Disease.  He leads an active and independent life due to having a specially adapted wheelchair.  Rather shockingly, this wheelchair was stolen last week.  Not only has he lost his independence, he also can no longer drive as his van is adapted to the wheelchair.  This means he also can no longer work.

The more I read about Dom's story the more inspirational he sounds but he can only do it with the help of the equipment which makes him mobile.  The wheelchair originally cost £17,500 and his van will also need re-adapting to the new chair.  They have already reached their original target of £25,000 but all additional funds will be donated to two charities.

The Brittle Bone Society work with people who have Brittle Bones to improve their quality of life.  Osteogenesis Imperfecta is a genetic condition which affects the production of colleges.  It most often causes fractured bones, scoliosis and curved bones as well as causing muscle weakness and reduced growth.

Action For Kids have assisted Dom by funding his wheelchairs down the years.  They support disabled children to live as "normal" a life as possible.  They provide essential equipment as well as practical skills to encourage young people with disabilities to live as independently as possible.

Dom's fundraising page is HERE.

Week 8 - CICRA / Bowel Cancer UK / Pied Piper Appeal

My first blog was to donate to my friend Wenna Blewett for completing ten days drinking just water.  Another friend is going one step further!  Emma Mills is giving up all carbonated soft drinks for a whole year!  This is despite being a self-confessed cola addict!  As well as raising sponsorship (her donation page is here) she is donating 50p per day to the three causes closest to her heart.

CICRA - Crohn's In Childhood Research Association - was formed in 1978 to research the disease in children which was considered very rare at the time.  Emma herself suffers from Crohn's disease which can cause inflammation of any area of the intestinal tract from the mouth to the anus.  CICRA have since extended their research to cover other inflammatory bowel diseases in children.

Bowel Cancer UK is one also close to my heart as I lost both my grandad and my father-in-law to this particular cancer.  As well as funding research and supporting sufferers they campaign to make people more aware of the early signs of bowel cancer - early treatment can dramatically increase the chances of survival.

The Pied Piper Appeal is a local charity to Emma.  They raise money for sick and disabled children in Gloucestershire.  They help fund large projects - their initial goal in 1992 was to set up a children's centre at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital - to community projects and small, individual needs.