FP fan charity fundraising 2010

[harembee]

Those who participate regularly on this forum may have noticed that I posted a similar topic a while back then removed it. This was due to us receiving a series of unwelcome e-mails by scammers, asking for money. Well, with a Policewoman on the team, they were soon traced and stopped! So, I am posting again now in response to the more welcome 'what's happening with the fundraising?' type e-mails. Seems many are interested in our antics.

The team have been as busy as ever, raising cash for The Alzheimer's Association/Alzheimer's Society, Save The Children, and The Rainforest Foundation. We each organise our own individual events but also team up on many. We are enjoying the benefits of friendship alongside the satisfaction of helping these worthy causes. It often brings out the daredevil in us too, encouraging us to face our fears and take on personal challenges. FP certainly have some awesomely dedicated and adventurous fans! ;D

I'll post a team summary sometime soon but in the meantime will ask anyone who feels inclined to update you themselves on their activity this year so far. Thanks as always to everyone who has joined, sponsored or supported us in any way. Please ask for info about fundraising yourself or feel free just to join in the chat with us here if you'd like to. You don't have to actually fundraise yourself to be a part of things. Fundraising suggestions and words of encouragement are always welcome!

What have I been doing? Well, leading the usual guided countryside walks and giving rainforest talks, I also led a guided birdwatching tour in The Gambia. I hosted a summer solstice champagne breakfast - we all watched the sun rise over an ancient stone circle in Shropshire then had a celebratory breakfast at my house. I have learnt to waltz in order to take part in a fundraising dance competition later this year, and tomorrow my partner and I will host a garden party to raise a few more pennies. Oh and I learnt to paraglide. I know it's not the best of shots but the 'blob' in the sky soaring with birds of prey in the photo below is me on my first solo flight. It was AWESOME!!!

[hermione]

In March, for Save The Children, my theatre company gave a performance of Abigail's Party and raised £1055.00. Then in June, for Rainforest Foundation some friends and I hired and took charge of a full-size Victorian carousel on a seaside promenade. We made £920.00. For September I am planning to organise a murder mystery afternoon with the help of friends including some of the FPers, with the intention of raising a similar amount for Alzheimer's Association. Fingers X!

[francesca]

Well done Bee, well done Hermione! I've been doing a bit for our charities as well. I hosted an Auction of Promises to raise £775.00 for Save The Childen and an Evening with Michael Palin netted £900.00 for Alzheimer's Association. I also organised a bridal fashion show to raise £1435.00 for Rainforest Foundation. Thanx to everyone who came along to my events.

[lily]

I found the perfect designer for my own wedding dress at Francesca's fashion show and can't wait to wear the lovely gown later this year. In readiness for our life together Jez and I sorted through all our unwanted posessions and held a garage sale. We made an amazing £3035 which we have divided and donated to our three charities. A duck race allowed me to raise £200 for Save The Children and a ladies' pampering day resulted in a £335 donation to Alzheimer's Society. Some Police force colleagues and I organised and took part in a fun run for The Rainforest Foundation. We made £450.

[lily]

If you are reading this in the US I would like to ask you to join us in helping The Rainforest Foundation by signing a human rights petition. Please folow the link and click on TAKE ACTION.
Thanks!

www.rainforestfoundation.org/

[Sapphire]

My sister and I made cakes and sold them on a stall at an indoor market. We did OK and sold £150.00's worth. This was forwarded to Save The Children. I enjoyed my first fundraising attempt and will definitely be doing more. ;D

P.S Just forwarded that link to my cousins across the pond. Thank you Lily.

[principessa]

Those cakes look yummy! No wonder you sold so many! ;D

I too have been making some cash for our causes. First I arranged a private guided tour of Kew Gardens for which included the temperate and tropical houses, the gardens and the impressive new treetop walkway. Next a trip to Chelsea Flower Show, once again with a behind the scenes look. I have been growing and selling plants and helping people with their gardening also. So far I have the following to declare for adding to our totals: for RFF £520.00, for STC £385.00 and for AS £265.00. More to come, but Ciao for now.

[saxman]

Has anyone ever set sail in a coracle? It's quite an experience! Some friends & I built coracles and took part in a race on the River Wye last month. We all managed to finish and raised some charity cash. Two gigs on Richmond Hill added a few £'s to the pot, as did a climb to the summit of Mount Snowden. I have decided to split all the cash I make this year equally between our charities.

[yvie]

You built your own coracles? That's pretty impressive Saxman!

If you've noticed my new avatar you may have guessed that I make and sell ice-creams. I've been setting up at festivals, carnivals, county shows etc this summer and have made just over £800.00 for AA so far .

To brighten up my neighbourhood I also organized a scarecrow competition. It was so amusing to walk around and see all the scarecrows standing in the front gardens. My niece's school joined in too and one of the pupils there won first prize with a female scarecrow who looked uncannily like her teacher . I donated the £445.00 I made from this to STC.

This weekend friends and neighbours will be gathering at a local village hall for an African themed evening with traditional African foods, music and dancing. All money raised from this event will be for RFF. Fingers crossed for a good turn out .

[jezmondjez]

It was gr8 nite Yvie. Nice one!

The team have been helped me to throw different era music nites at my club, 70's, 80's & 90's nites, one for each charity.

Paintballing is on the agenda in a fortnight but today we went quadbiking.....

[violetvixen]

Wooo, I love quadbiking!
Im running a series of design and sculpture workshops to bring in some £'s.
Will Save The Children be involved in flood disaster relief in Pakistan do you think?

[yvie]

They are Vixie, STC have been working in Pakistan for many years and so already had teams there ready to step up. Here's a link to the appropriate page on STC's website.

www.savethechildren.org.uk/en/response-launched-for-pakistan-flooding.htm

Friends and I will be out and about collecting for STC's Pakistan disaster fund this week. Please join us in doing this yourself if you possibly can. Shake a bucket in local pubs, clubs, stores, visitor attractions, wherever. Just remember to ask the owner's permission first. Keep those donations coming people. Every penny helps.

[hermione]

Have just been watching a heartbreaking television news bulletin about the Pakistan disaster. Apparently it has taken until now for emergency aid to reach the remotest parts of the Punjab due to so many bridges being destroyed by floodwater, but today Save The Children were able to distribute emergency supplies. They are working in partnership with other major charities to do as much as the possibly can. Good to see US chinook helicopters arriving to rescue some of the stranded victims too. I gathered donations from colleagues at work today and will be out collecting on Friday and Saturday night. Good luck to everyone else who will be bucket shaking for any of the aid charities around the world this weekend.

[hermione]

September is fast approaching so I thought I'd remind everyone that this is the prime month for Alzheimer's Association in the US and Alzheimer's Society in the UK to host their Memory Walks. Here are the links to both websites. Check them out to see if there is an organised walk for you to join in your area. If not you could organise one of your own of course!

Alzheimer's Society
www.memorywalk.org.uk/site/index.php

Alzheimer's Association
www.alz.org/memorywalk/overview.asp?memory=join_cause_events

[woody]

I could devise a walking route around London's financial district (which I know it like the back of my hand) and beyond. Might be able to call in a couple of favours and get a small group into some of the buildings if anyone's interested.
I like to play on the stockmarket and recently came up trumps on an investment made with our charities in mind. I also have a few quid from a bunjee jump last weekend to throw into the pot.
Hope the bucket shaking went well.