Friday 14 July 2017

Since we set up the charity in 2013 we have been the ones who have organised and hosted all the fundraising events. We have really enjoyed the things we have arranged and have tried to make them a variety of events to appeal to a wider audience.

It has got easier over the years as we have gradually gained experience and confidence in our abilities but at times it has been very time consuming and stressful. 
Our hope has always been that we would get to the point where other people would be holding events or taking part in sponsored events. 

Well 2017 seems to be the start of this happening.

It has been absolutely amazing being contacted asking if it was 'ok to do an event for us'. Some of them have been friends of families we have supported, some have been families who have lost a child or baby and others have been companies that have seen our website and liked what we are doing and want to help.

The first company to contact us was Touchstone, who are themselves a charity that work in the field of mental health. One of their employees had found our website whilst looking for a local charity to support. Every year they choose a charity to raise money for and luckily for us they liked our vision and plans to change the current provision of bereavement support.
They organised 2 events, one was a fun day at their offices, and the 2nd was a sponsored walk at Roundhay Park, Leeds.

                            

                            

These are a couple of pictures from their first event. The day was a great success and everyone had a brilliant time. They managed to raise a fantastic £298.53.
The sponsored run was also a great morning, I went along originally to cheer and support them all but ended up joining in and completing the walk myself. It was  really good getting to walk round with them all and get to know a bit more about them.



We are hoping that we will be able to meet up with all of them again. In total for the two events they have currently raised over £500, what a wonderful group of people they are.

 
The next event that has turned out to be a huge fundraising success has been the Leeds 10K. 
Originally we had just one runner taking part for us, Charlies Uncle Shane. In his youth Shane had been a brilliant cross country runner so I think he saw this as an event he could excel in. He has not really ran much in his adult years but he was truly determined to do it.

A couple of weeks before the race we received an email from Bevan Brittan Solicitors letting us know that there were 9 of the employees taking part in the 10K for us. They had chosen us because we have been supporting a family who are one of their employees close friends. We were really surprised but very excited and grateful.

 
In the week running up to the run we were again contacted by a lady, Ruth Childerson, who had decided to do the run for us as a close friend had recently lost a baby and we are now supporting her. It is very touching when things like this happen as it shows us how important the work we are doing is and that there are people out there who want to do something to show their support.


On Sunday 9th July several of us from the charity, along with Charlies three young cousins, went along to cheer everyone on. It had forecast unsettled weather but it turned out to be a blazing hot day. 
Charlies cousins, who are Shane's daughters, had been busy making posters to wave in support of everyone.




They were very excited to see their daddy along the route and were even shouting out 'run daddy run'. Shane excelled himself and finished the run in 1 hour 8 minutes. We are all very proud of him and know Charlie will be as well.
Lyndon Cambell from Bevan Brittan completed the run in a personal best time which in such hot weather is fantastic.
Ruth ran the race in 1 hour 21 minutes. To complete the run is good but to do it in such scorching sunshine is outstanding. 







  The current total for the money raised from the run is £4,226.46.
What an absolutely phenomenal amount, we would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who took part in the race, you are all wonderful people. 

The funds you have raised will enable us to continue to provide our services to bereaved parents and families across the UK.

We hope that it continues like this and we get many more people organising events to fundraise for us. We love getting to meet so many amazing fundraisers.

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