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