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