Week 25 - Sands

This one has been nominated by my friend Rachel Cole.  Sands are a charity that supports anyone who has lost a baby either before, during or just after childbirth.  The provide bereavement support as well as practical advice on what parents need to do when their baby dies.  As well as supporting parents they also help grandparents, siblings, friends and family through what must be a devastating time.

In 2013 over 100 babies every week were stillborn or died within the first four weeks of birth.  That is an average of 16 every day.  Sands also campaign to improve maternity care and research into why babies die to try to reduce the number of deaths.  I know a number of people who have lost babies either before or just after childbirth so this one is for all of them.

Links
Sands Homepage
Sands JustGiving Page

Week 24 - The Trussell Trust

Nothing obvious jumped out at me this week so I asked my friends on Facebook to give me a nudge.  Lots of great suggestions which I will work through over the next few months!  However one stood out as it was a charity I particularly had in mind when I started this project.

One of my motivations for wanting to donate more to charity is the frustration that charities are having to pick up the pieces of people's lives which are being ruined by the policies of our current government. I shall try not to make this a political post but suffice to say I feel the very poorest in our society are being treated inhumanely by the very system that is supposed to support and protect them.  I would happily pay more taxes.  However, our government insist on actually reducing my taxes (and quite honestly I wouldn't trust them to spend my money wisely in any case).

No-one should have to live in poverty in a modern country in the 21st century, however 13 million people in the UK live below the poverty line.  The Trussell Trust has been providing emergency food to people since 2000, started in Salisbury by Paddy and Carol Henderson.  They were working at the time to aid poverty in Bulgaria but on discovering the "hidden hunger" on their doorstep they started the first, innovative foodbank.  The idea was simple; the public "deposited" non-perishable food which was redistributed to those in urgent need, referred to the foodbank by health and social professionals such as doctors and social workers.  In 2004 the project was expanded to encourage churches and communities throughout the UK to start their own foodbanks.  In 2014/15 over 1 million food packages were provided.

The reasons for people needing emergency food are many and varied.  Less than 5% of food parcels are provided to the homeless; many are working families who have suffered redundancy, a reduction in hours or health problems.  Other reasons may be domestic violence, increased or unexpected bills (perhaps increased heating costs in the winter) or due to a delay in the payment of benefits.  49% of beneficiaries only require a single food parcel - it serves to provide a little breathing space to those is dire need.

Link
The Trussell Trust

Week 23 - Children In Need

Now this is where things feel a bit weird.  I usually give £20 to Children In Need but the idea of this project was to spread my donations across lots of charities rather than occasionally (and rather guiltily) giving a larger amount to just a few.  So I've stuck with it and just given a fiver.

Not that the appeal suffered.  This year saw them raise a record breaking £37 million on the night with more donations to come over the coming weeks.  The BBC has a long history of charity appeals.  The first was a five minute radio appeal on Christmas Day in 1927 which raised £1,143 18s 3d, money which went to four children's charities.  The first television appeal was in 1955 presented by Harry Corbett and Sooty.  These Christmas Day appeals continued until 1979 and raised a total of £625,836.

The first TV telethon event was in 1980, hosted by the appeals mainstay Terry Wogan with Sue Lawley and Esther Rantzen.  Over the last 25 years they have raised over £740 million.  Every penny is spent on projects to help disadvantaged children and young people around the UK with grants provided to both small and large projects.  Their vision is that every child in the UK should live a childhood which is safe, happy and secure and which allows them to fulfil their potential.

Links

Children In Need - Donations

Children In Need - Home

Week 22 - Royal British Legion

I'm sure many of you have donated to the Royal British Legion over the last few weeks.  Formed in 1921, the British Legion brought together four national organisations that were set up after the First World War to care for those who suffered as a result of service in the armed forces.  The annual Poppy Day was launched the same year to raise funds for those in need.  They were granted Royal status in 1971.

The Royal British Legion continues it's work to support those in need in many ways.  They help those  who have been injured during service, aiding rehabilitation back into civilian life.  They campaign for improved governmental support to ex-service personnel and help people claim the pensions and welfare they are entitled to.  They also help families of those in the services, supporting those who have relatives currently serving and those who sadly do not see their relatives return home.

Links
The Royal British Legion

Week 21 - Movember Foundation

It's the first of Movember!  Yes, for the next month men will be sprouting moustaches to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer.  My friend Craig Lawton was the first to ask for a donation on this one so he gets my fiver.

The first ever Movember was in 2004 where 30 men in Melbourne, Australia grew moustaches for 30 days to raise awareness for prostate cancer and depression in men.  This grew into the Movember Foundation, an international movement which has raised $677 million for men's health and funding over 1000 health programmes around the world.  Although often associated with prostate and testicular cancer, they also focus on mental health issues in men.  Three quarters of all suicides are men and poor mental health statistically affects more men than women.

As much as I'm no fan of the 'tache it is a fun event.  If you don't know a Mo Bro then maybe you can also donate to Craig's page (it's in Canadian dollars so I've donated 10CAD which is roughly £5).

Links

Movember UK
Craig's Movember Page

Week 20 - Parkinson's UK

I'm sure it won't have escaped your attention that this week that it was Back To The Future day - the day that Marty McFly in the second film travels to from 1985 - on Wednesday.  To celebrate Nike produced a pair of self-lacing trainers, one of the predictions of the future in the movie.  They sent them to Michael J Fox with a note detailing that they are going to produce a line of them to raise money for research into Parkinson's disease.

Watching the video of Michael J Fox trying on the shoes, along with the skit he appeared in on the Jimmy Kimmel Show reminded me of how much Fox has been affected by Parkinson's.  So this has inspired this week's donation.

Parkinson's is a progressive neurological disease where the nerve cells in the brain are damaged, reducing the production of the hormone dopamine.  The most usual symptoms are tremors, stiffness and the slowing of movement but it can cause many other symptoms around the body including speech problems, fatigue and pain.  One in 500 people in the UK has Parkinson's.

Parkinson's UK provide support and information to sufferers of the disease.  They fund research on treatments, discovering the causes and working towards finding a cure for Parkinson's and have invested over £70 million on this research.  Finally, they also campaign to raise awareness of Parkinson's, changing attitudes and combating the myths surrounding it as well as working to ensure those with the disease are treated fairly and have access to the care they need.

Links

Parkinson's UK
Michael J Fox Foundation
Michael J Fox tries on the first self-lacing Nikes

Week 19 - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

This is brilliant.  Despite suffering from anxiety, OCD and claustrophobia Jack White set himself a task this weekend imprisoning himself in a hotel room and remaining silent for 75 hours to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).  Doesn't sound too difficult right?  How about removing all luxury items - no TV, no iPhone, no books, no luxury food?  How about then asking people to nominate a song to be played on repeat for the full 75 hours?  Jack got himself well and truly Rick-rolled as the nominated song was Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley.  Sounding pretty horrendous now!

The hotel room has been set up with video cameras live-streaming the event on YouTube.  Sadly in the first few hours internet trolls posted so many nasty comments rotates his family, particularly his young nieces and nephews.  This provoked an anxiety attack and on medical advice he decided not to continue.  However his brother James has stepped into the room and is continuing the challenge.  I think this deserves a donation!

The JDRF raises money to fund research into type 1 diabetes. Over the last four decades they have invested £1 billion into scientific efforts to improve treatments and ultimately find a cure for the condition.  They also provide support to sufferers and their families.  Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease which attacks and kills the insulin producing cells in the pancreas.  Insulin allows glucose in the blood to be moved into the cells and converted into energy so a lack of glucose leads to an imbalance - not enough energy and excessive glucose in the blood.  Those with the condition have to closely monitor their blood glucose levels and control it using both diet and insulin injections.

Links:

Jack White's JustGiving Page
James In A Box Live Stream
Jack In A Box Facebook Page
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Week 18 - Reuben Bear Campaign

A late one as I've been on holiday and this is slightly outside of my rules as it isn't a registered charity.  It was referred to me by my sister who is an occupational therapist specialising in burns.  I wasn't sure about including it but following my donation to Aspire last week it made sense.  After all, so many of these successful charities begin from small, personal stories.

In July of this year, young Reuben Harvey-Smith suffered a minor burn.  Three days later he was in intensive care, fighting for his life with Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).  He lost parts of his fingers and had to have both legs amputated below the knee.  The campaign was started by his mother Lou to help raise money for the prosthetics Reuben will need as he grows up as well as other adaptable equipment.

Lou Harvey-Smith is also spearheading a campaign to raise awareness of the link between a simple sure and TSS and sepsis.  As well as Reuben's teddy bear stumps, this is where the BEAR comes into the campaign:

B - Burn.  Has the person recently suffered a burn?
E - Examine.  Are there signs of sepsis?  These can include a fever, flu-like symptoms and nausea.
A - Advice.  Attend A&E immediately as Toxic Shock Syndrome can be fatal.
R - Referrel.  If you are concerned about a burn that may be infected ask for a referral to a specialist burns unit immediately.

The fundraising link the the Reuben Bear Campaign is here.