Bertie's Back

I've been having a rest since all the hard work of the Great North Run. I've just about recovered from this year's Santathon - running with all those Santas was hard work.
I'm looking forward to seeing you all at our next few running events - the Bath Half Marathon and Reading Half Marthon in March. There are still places for each so if you'd like to join me you'd be very welcome.
Well, I'm off for a mince pie or two - talking of Christmas, why not check out our Christmas Appeal ?
http://justgiving.com/LeukaemiaCAREChristmasAppeal

Sharon Supporters' Sponsored Silence!

Aupporter of hopeful Kilimanjaro trekker, Sharon Cherry, have completed another brilliant fundraiser to help Sharon reach her sponsorship target of £3,600.

Staff at a local hairdressing salon took part in a 6-hour sponsored silence, and between them raised an amazing £450! Sharon told us the story;

"My aunt runs the salon near to my home, and very generously offered to hold a six-hour sponsored silence to help raise funds. She said it was hard, but her customers lip read to her to decide what style they wanted to make her feel better! The total was fantastic, and I made sure to send a bouquet of flowers as a thank you for all their efforts."

At this rate, Sharon will hit her target in no time at all! If you have been inspired by Sharon's success, please visit the Leukaemia CARE fundraising website: http://www.raise4leukaemia.org.uk/ for lots of ideas as to how you can get involved with supporting the charity.

Kilimanjaro Here I Come!

Intrepid fundraiser, Sharon Cherry, has signed up with Leukaemia CARE to undertake the Kilimajaro Trek challenge, raising much needed funds for the charity at the same time! Below is a summary from Sharon about how she is busy raising the required amount of sponsorship to get her to Kilimanjaro:-

"As the amount to raise (£3,400) was quite high, I automatically set a plan in place of what I can do, who I could approach, and how much I would charge. The activities to date are; sewing trouser hems, weeding gardens, car cleaning, car boot sales, ironing, cake sales and selling car parking spaces at work. Donations have been high, largely due to a very generous contribution from my dad, plus my employers' 'Community Cashback Award' of £500.

I thought there is no point thinking you will just be handed £3,400 in sponsorship alone and I set to raising this with an urgency so that I felt it was all under control. I wrote letters to every business and shop in my large village asking for their support in sponsorship or raffle prizes. From 21 letters sent I have receieved 2 cheques and 7 raffle prizes, including a bouquet of flowers and fish & chips twice!

At the time of writing, I have about £480 to go and a few more ideas to help me achieve this. I will be selling the excess 'Old English' variety apples from my allotment, teaching someone to sew and last but not least, holding a raffle.

I took this challenge on to be an exciting thing to look forward to and aim towards and it has certainly been that. Apart from cleaning cars of my day off I've loved it!

Everyone can do something that someone will pay for, it's just your time you are giving away."

We are very proud of Sharon's effort, and her activites go to show that a bit of ingenuity and effort go a long way when settign yourself a goal such as hers. For further information or ideas about fundraising, please contact us on: 0845 521 3456

Triathlon queen update

Hi

Just to keep you up to date with my progress… I am 9 days away from doing my triathlon in Wick and I’ve just past the £1000 mark for raising money for Leukaemia CARE. www.justgiving.com/lornpearson

The triathlon is in Wick (far North Scotland) and the distances are 750m swim, 20k cycle, 5k run.

I’m resting a little now to get ready for it, and trying to collect as much sponsor money as possible!

I’ll be in touch to let you know how I get on.

thanks

Lorn Pearson

Pudding Party

Just thought I'd let you know about why I did a Pudding Party, and how it all came about...

After the birth of my first child, I became a stay-at-home mum with some involvement in school activities and always an interest in cooking. Over the years I was drawn into PTA activities and by the time my youngest child started school, I became PTA Chair. As well as organising social events, I did a lot of fund-raising and noticed that many people (myself included) could get a bit fed up with sponsored activities. At Christmas bazaars and Summer Fetes, the cake stall was always a firm favourite with everybody and I must admit that when things were a bit quiet, you could easily do a Cake Sale and it would be well-supported. Having received a few compliments on the cakes I prepared for these events, I thought the logical step for me when considering fund-raising for charity was to invite family and friends to a Pudding Party at my house. The desserts were all prepared beforehand, and served cold (no actual puddings such as jam roly-poly, crumble, apple pie; it was easier to do cheesecakes, flans, mousses, ice-creams, cakes, meringues, fruit fools, banoffee pie, etc.) Everybody was welcome to sample as many desserts as they liked, and asked to make a donation.

I tried this a few years ago, in aid of Acorns (I have a couple of friends who are associated with the hospice). I held it as a Ladies Only event and was a bit nervous beforehand, until my husband helpfully pointed out that a room full of women, wine and cakes was a winning combination! This proved to be the case and it was a big success.

Sadly, earlier this year one of the mums at school lost her battle with leukaemia and I wanted to do something in her memory. I thought of doing another Pudding Party along the same lines as the first. In retrospect, I think I should have invited blokes as well because they often have a sweet tooth and it would have raised more money.

Also, if anybody wanted to adapt the idea, it would make a lot more sense to have individuals donating home-made desserts (I made them all myself, which is obviously not cheap and takes up a fair amount of time!)

Along similar lines, I invited friends to a Soup Kitchen at my house a couple of years ago. I cooked 5 or 6 different soups and served them with bread and cheese.People could stay from 12 till 2, or they could just drop in for ten minutes.

Maybe I just have very generous friends, but I have found that people are more likely to support these events when they think they are getting something back apart from a sense of "doing the right thing". Whether that is an evening's entertainment in the form of a quiz (several of which I have organised in the last three years), or home-cooked food, it seems to work!
Best wishes and good luck with all your fund-raising,
Helen Roskams

Hi

This is just to let you know how I got on at the Glasgow Women’s 10k yesterday, and a thanks to you for sponsoring me! The photo attached is how I looked after it.

So far I have raised £650 for Leukaemia CARE and have done two events:

- the Santa Dash in December 08 (27 minutes)
- the Women’s 10k on Sunday the 10th of May.

And I have one more event to go – the Wick Triathlon in August.

On Sunday I finished the 10k with a time of 48: 33 minutes - personal best for me! I came in 287th out of 10,740 runners.
It seems like the training I’ve put in really helped. The day was good and the atmosphere was brilliant.

I’d just like to say a big thanks to you for sponsoring me and motivating me to train and complete the 10k. Now I look forward to the next few months of training and the triathlon!!

Thanks again, and if you know of anyone else who might like to sponsor me, please forward on my just giving link:

www.justgiving.com/lornpearson

Flora London marathon, Sunday April 26th 2009

Our fantastic runner from Milton Keynes Chris Worton wore the Bertie suit in Sunday's London Marathon: what an achievement! He even made it onto the bbc, to see the footage click here. Looking relatively fresh too at the post race party! Here are a few pics from the day:

Bertie, aka Chris
The party at the Naval & Military Club
The staff and volunteers
A family waiting for their runner to return

Our team of student and professional massage therapist volunteers helped ease the aches and pains of almost 60 runners who attended the party. They had a great day too and we'd like to thank them all for their time and effort. It was a long day for staff and volunteers, setting out from Worcester at 5.30am and getting back at 10.30approx. Still, it was well worth it and we loved meeting our wonderful runners and their families!


The final word comes from our runners:
Daniel Wagener:
Many thanks for your email and your and your colleagues support before and after the race.
It was a very difficult race and I really struggled after 30k but managed to finish in the respectable time of 3:57.
It was a shame that I could not make it to the post race party but I had quite a few people over to support me and did not want to swamp the venue!
Altogether I have now raised c. £4,700 which I am sure you will be able to put to good use. Most of the sponsoring was done via the justgiving site (http://www.justgiving.com/daniellondon09)...
Many thanks for giving me the opportunity to run the marathon and raise money on your behalf and perhaps if the memories about the painful run this year have faded I can do it again!
Glen Tinton:
Hi Nicky, Clare. A big thanks for allowing me to run, albeit perhaps yesterday around mile 20 I possibly was not thinking that same sentiment. I set out to raise £2000 and look like hitting £3550.
Nick Elia:
Hi Guys, Just a quick email to say thanks for Sunday. I thought the venue and the facilities were great. You made us feel like heroes
The massage students were also great so if you could send on my thanks it would be appreciated.
I limped home in 5hrs 17 mins … not the time I was hoping but at least got round in one piece. That was my fourth London Marathon on the trot and my third for Leukaemia Care – I would like to say it gets easier every year but unfortunately it doesn’t !
I have already applied again for next year’s Virgin London Marathon but would like to accept one of your allocated charity places for next year. I will of course raise funds for you if I get a place in the ballot.
Chris Worton:
Thanks very much for all the fantastic help and support provided by all of the LC team at the weekend, it is just what we need after the hard work and stress of the marathon – lots of care and pampering.
Fleur Stafford
Was a brilliant day and I will definately do another one if only to beat my time which I am disappointed with. I finished in 4.53 which is quite a bit slower than expected but the heat, crowds, dodgey tummy all contributed to that one! The first 16 miles were fab and I was on track for 4.20 and then I felt incredibly sick for a few miles (gels, heat, nerves...) and then back on track for the last 6 miles but by then it was too late to worry too much about my time so I just cruised along and had a great time for the last hour.
I felt brilliant on Sunday and even yesterday but think I have the post marathon blues today...what on earth am I supposed think and talk about now!!?? Already thinking of my next challenge!!
Nick Cochran and Natalie Bogaerts:
We had a fantastic day and are already thinking about 2010 despite the pain!
Thank you and the team on the day for being such a nice, helpful and thoughtful group of people. Every time someone saw we were with Leukaemia Care they checked we were ok, gave us water, offered to show us to the Naval and Military club and made us feel so special!
The facilities were perfect, nice and clean and private for a quick shower, then downstairs for a massage or food and drinks.
10/10 for everything. We're going to enter the London ballot this week and will run for you next year if we are successful, we are also looking to do some fund raising when we run in the Royal Parks race in October.

Wow, thank you guys!

Give us money! (Well not "us" exactly, Leukemia Care in fact, and I'd also like to add a "pretty please"

Message from Rhian Sneade

We have 20 days before the pain begins (I should say increases- having completed a 13 mile run today, everything hurts!). Firstly I'd like to say a big cheers to all that have sponsored us and helped out so far.

I am sorry to pester you all, especially due to the fact that times are particularly hard financially and for those fellow students I am aware that living off the tail end of the loan can be difficult. This is however an excellent cause and we do have a very, very long way still to go to reach our target. Leukemia Care is a fantastic charity and one which we chose for good reason.

Sooooooo...pretty please help us in any way you can. If you are unable to sponsor us but have some fundraising ideas, know people who can help us out, or have a few hours spare to sell cakes or something please contact myself (Rhi), Jen or Elle. Our Just Giving page is an easy way to donate, although feel free to donate in any of the other usual ways (I find that being handed money always feels nice, even if the money isn't actually for me!):

www.justgiving.com/coopertroopers

Exploding Home Made Wine

It's Marathon season and many fundraisers are heavily involve with their fundraising and training in readiness for the fast-approaching London Marathon.

Many have stories of epic proportions that show the heart and generosity of Team Bertie and make working for Leukaemia CARE. Here is one story sent in by Daniella di Padova.
I spoke to a nice lady from your office last Friday 27 Feb 2009, who called to ask how I am getting on with my training...

I am very much looking forward to running the marathon next month. Can't believe that it is already next month, it has gone quick... Well this is how we did it (raised my sponsorship). I say we because my whole family have been involved and helped.

We started last May, firstly my sister did "guess how many sweets in a jar" at her work place. Then our hairdresser kindly sold raffle tickets for us and the prize was a spa day. I did a poster to explain why I was raising the money and people gave willingly for this good cause.

Then the most part of the money was raised by cooking days. You see, we are an Italian family and my father does some lovely authentic home cooking, like nothing you could buy in the shops. We make "Pasta Al Forno", Italian meatballs and rice with italian sauce, tiramisu, cherry pie and at Christmas we did mince and apple pies.

So we would do cooking and sell to family, friends and work colleagues. It proved very successful. Work collegaues were even buying to take home, saving them having to good in the evening.

We would cook all weekend, then store in friends fridges; sometimes we did 70 portions of pasta. (I have included 2 pictures of the pasta dishes that we were cooking). We seemed like a little factory in our house and it looked like a military mission. Then on Monday my sister, mum and myself would leave the house with suitcases full of food in cold storage bags, to sell in our work places. People must have been thinking that we go on holiday very often! We work up London and had to traipse the suitcases on the underground which was a difficult job.

Our companies have been very kind in letting us sell the food on their work premises and my mum's company let her use the boardroom to offer sit down meals where she also served drinks.

We make homemade wine and at one particular food event while getting ready for the first diners to arrive she opened one of our homemade brews. Well the wine decided to explode (it was a 2 litre bottle) all over the place and to shield the room my mum placed herself over the bottle; she ended up soaked in wine from head to foot with the wine dripping from her chin.

But devastation had already been caused as the wine had soaked TV sets, computer equipment,
leather furniture, carpet and white walls.

It was amazing how kind and helpful her work colleagues were, who set about scrubbing and cleaning the room before the first guests arrived. They were scrubbing the walls with bleach in their office clothes; it was crazy! All looked fine except for the white walls, the stains wouldn't come off, it spread 6 feet one way and 4 feet on another wall. The boss had to be told; he wasn't
likely not to notice. Mum offered to pay for the walls to be painted, for which the money would have come from our own pocket not from the sponsorship raised. But the boss said that the company would foot the bill as it was for charity and such a good cause. It shows the kindness of people. Mum was very upset but we laugh about it now and it's a funny story to tell. The boss said that mum could still use the room for these fund raising events but to leave the home
made brew at home as it's too lively for their white walls!

So that is how we managed to raise the £1,300.00 and now I can concentrate on my training and raising more money via sponsorship.

I feel honored to be running for a charity such as yours and thank you for letting me do it.

Thank you Daniella for sharing your experience with us, we've lived through it with you!
Sponsor Daniella online: www.justgiving.com/danieladipadova

Event update

Great Manchester Run
Do you know anyone who would like to take part in the BUPA Great Manchester Run? Please help Leukaemia CARE by forwarding this invitation to be part of Team Bertie at this event to any friends or running partners who you think might be up to the challenge. We have a limited number of places in the Great Manchester Run so please email the fundraising team for your entry form. The event is on 17th May and all we ask is a donation to secure your place of £40*. We ask all runners entering this run to pledge to raise £250 for Leukaemia CARE. In order to not miss out we need to have everyone's place allocated by beginning of April - so if you are interested in this opportunity please let us know and as ever please... spread the word!
*this donation is non refundable and non transferrable however this does not affect runners deferring their place.

ING New York Marathon
Exciting News! Get your place in the ING New York Marathon through Leukaemia CARE. This is a popular event so please, if you are interested, don't delay!!! You can book your place by clicking from the event page on our website. Our tour operator is Sports Tours International and we are asking our runners to raise a minimum sponsorship of £1000 above the price of your chosen package. Packages start at £1349 per person for 3 nights or there are also flight only deals if you have more flexible travel plans. Call us for more information on 0845 521 3456.

Glasgow Events
Please let us know if you are interested in taking part in any of the many Glasgow runs - Leukaemia CARE is considering buying places but we're not sure what the demand is like. Please email the fundraising team to let us know and as ever please... spread the word!

Collecting Tins
We are running out of collecting tins and buckets because our fundraisers are not sending them back! If you have any collecting tins or buckets that you do not expect to use in the near future then please can you send them in to the Fundraising Team, Leukaemia CARE, 1 Birch Court, Blackpole East, Worcester WR3 8SG. Likewise can you pass the message on to anyone you know? Many thanks for your cooperation in keeping Leukaemia CARE's admin costs low.


For help information or support with a leukaemia, lymphoma or a myeloma call 0800 169 6680 or visit www.leukaemiacare.org.uk

Reading Marathon: one of the lucky few

John Matthews has been one of the lucky few to get one of our limited places in the Reading Marathon 2008. He wrote in to let us know how he's getting on, god love him. Good luck John!:

Training in the winter is not so much fun, having said that the crunchy light snow we had a couple of weeks ago was a bit of a novelty.

I'm glad to be able to run and grateful for the place... I will have run the Eastborne half three weeks before and will run the London Marathon a month later for DELTA a deaf education charity of which I am a director. So your place for me as part of the training is very valuable.
I had a major rectal cancer operation June 28 2007 and now have an internal pouch constructed from a bit of colon, can be interesting sometimes. I started running 10 months ago to regain fitness and because I had a secret ambition to be able to, 'take to the streets' but had failed to pluck up the courage. So now I have run the British London 10K - 1:07, the Bristol Half - 2:30 and the Great North - 2:24 and have raised around £2,500 - done two radio interviews, featured in lots of newspapers and have more being set up, possibly regional TV, before the LM.

People have been very generous but I'm running out of target groups so any ideas will be welcome, running is the easy bit, raising the cash is harder.

So I'll set up the justgiving site today ... A friend of mine in his sixties at church recovered from 'Non Hogkinsons' a few years ago and is still well I'm glad to say and I'll be 70, 3 weeks before Reading 2:10 is the target, we'll see. And still working full time.

Well that's the introduction if you can make any mileage out of the story then that's fine - cancer can be beaten - and by the Grace of God and the skill of the team at the John Radcliffe I'm here to run the race (:>)

God bless
John

For help information or support with a leukaemia, lymphoma or a myeloma call 0800 169 6680 or visit www.leukaemiacare.org.uk

Matt George and and Elaine Hancock

Thanks for the pics guys!

For help information or support with a leukaemia, lymphoma or a myeloma call 0800 169 6680 or visit www.leukaemiacare.org.uk

Departures and New Challenges

We really enjoyed having Sarah here for those 2 weeks and I really think she did get a lot out of it. We're always welcoming new volunteers, people who maybe have been out of work for a while and want to brush up their skills or who have worked in non-office environments and want to boost their confidence first. I'm really glad that the office has this positive affect on the community around it. Similarly our lovely Jen, who arrived 18 months ago as an NVQ level 2 student has just passed her level 3 (go Jen) and left us to look for a new job followed by travelling and lots more travelling. Not that I'm jealous...
Meanwhile the fundraising department has seen some changes too, Mel has had a few years here at LC and has decided that the new year was a great time to do what she'd always dreamed of: She's gone travelling in Australia! We got a postcard from her yesterday and it sounds like she's having a great time. So all you runners and fundraisers who knew her will hopefully wish her well. Then our fundraising queen Alice also decided that 3 years at Leukaemia CARE was enough and she also needed a new challenge so a few weeks ago off she toddled too!
I'm working alongside Eve and Claire and when Nicky is recuperated from an operation she will be back in too - some of you may be familliar with Nicky as she's been at LC for several years now.

It's all go here but we're glad to hear that our fundraisers have been busy too!
Soon you'll be hearing about Sarah Woods from Nuneaton who is turning 40 this year and to celebrate is organising 40 fundraisers all themed around 40. She's going to be having some crazy times in '09! On Saturday the Old Coventrians organised a dinner and auction and thanks to 13 year old Ryan (who survived leukaemia) and his mum and all their family they managed to raise an outstanding £2000 - and raise awareness of the CARE Line (0800 1696680).
Gemma
Fundraising for Leukaemia CARE

For help information or support with a leukaemia, lymphoma or a myeloma call 0800 169 6680 or visit www.leukaemiacare.org.uk

Wow I can't believe this is my last day of work experience! This fortnight at Leukaemia CARE has flown by! I have done so much here since I wrote my last blog and really feel I have got a lot out of spending time here. It has been really rewarding putting the skills I have learnt into practice - especially seeing pieces I have written appear in the press and on the Leukaemia CARE website.

As well as helping me to develop new practical skills, carrying out work experience has also developed my confidence and has meant I have met some really lovely people along the way. I would strongly recommend doing work experience to anyone, but I think it is especially beneficial to students like myself...many university or college courses do not include any work experience, yet having relevant work experience can be really useful when it comes to applying for jobs in the future. Before I started looking for work experience placements I was completely clueless about what job I wanted to do when I leave university, but I would now definitely consider a career in the PR and Marketing sector. I would really recommend that students consider applying for work experience at a charity, as, in my experience they are really accomodating and helpful, and are keen to have an extra pair of hands. I feel that this kind of work experience would benefit students from a wide range of courses such as Business, Media, Marketing or Events management.

I won't be gone forever, as I will be coming back to help out the charity when I have some spare time. I am going to be helping out on the Leukaemia CARE stand at the upcoming volunteer recruitment day at the University of Worcester. I think this is a really great way of raising awareness of Leukaemia CARE, the many fun and rewarding ways that people can fundraise, and the ways in which the money they raise hugely benefits the charity.

Sarah

Sav Neofitou - "Going through Leukaemia"

Hi..I'm Sav Neofitou, 14 years old at the moment here's my story & how it all began!...I was at primary school when it all started, in the afternoon our class was aloud to go on the adventure playground which had apparatus. i went on the slide and when i got down at the end i hit my back on the edge of the slide, i was screaming in so much pain! that my face went red and i was in lose of breath. So my friend helped me and i was sent to the medical room. They rang my mum at work to come and collect me. After once she arrived, we were on our way to A&E but i couldn't barely walk it was so painful! so my mum had to ring an ambulance, as she was worried. Then once we got there and seen the doctor they checked me and sent me home with painkillers. But the pain was just the same, and so we went back up the hospital A&E four times and they kept on sending me home with painkillers, they didn't help me at all! Then the fifth time we went up there they did a blood test, i was there until the morning i was tired as it was 2 am. We were still waiting for the blood test to come back. My mum knew something was wrong, she was getting worried. Then by the morning they took me to a children's ward where i had to stay for the mean time. i went back to sleep i was so tired, my mum had a bit of sleep but most of the time she couldn't sleep because of what's happened she was waiting anxiously for some news. Then the doctors on the ward came and saw my mum asking to speak with her privately, my mum woke me up saying i'll be back in a bit i'm just going to speak to the doctors. After that she was back & i waked up, when i turned around i saw my mum crying on the chair, i asked her what's wrong. she said everything's going to be alright Sav, i was thinking what do you mean by that she started to worry me. Then she told me i had leukaemia, she said it was a type of cancer. Then she rang my dad telling him what's happened so he came from work to see me. My sisters were wondering what's been happening and so when my dad got home he told them, they came and saw me with some presents which was lovely.So I was diagnosed at my local Mayday hospital, with Leukaemia at the beginning of 2005 when i was 10 yrs old. Then i was transferred to Royal Marsden Hospital which was a cancer type hospital, i stayed at the hospital until the doctors thought i was better to go home. I had a therapist to help me stand up and walk properly as i was hunch back,so she helped me with some exercise i had to do in the morning and before i go bed. But i had no idea what was going on until my mum and the doctors explained about what i had and what was going to happen. It was an big shock for me and my family! I had to have radiotherapy & chemotherapy which made me feel ill and so i was in & out of hospital. Also they had to put a line inside me on the side of my chest it was called a portacath. After that i was realising that some of my hair started to fall out because of the chemo, the doctors said that i shouldnt worry as it will grow back shortly. Later on in the year i had to have an bone marrow transplant as i was in an high risk of having a relapse. So the doctors found me a female donor from germany and i was all set for december 05 to have it done. I had to have another line in on the other side which was an hickman line. I was staying in a cubical for 6 weeks, also over christmas and new year which was a shame! My sisters and my dad came and visited me for christmas & new year. The bone marrow made me feel like crap! it was horrible! But When i finally got out of hospital i wasn't allowed to go back to school for about 3 months in case i caught anything. Then when i was 12 i was back in school like everyone else. Although i had some rough time, cry's now & then i still wouldn't of got through it with out my family,nurses & doctors! Also a BIG thanks to my bone marrow donor!Now that i've finished all my treatment i am doing well and in remission. Sav ..ox

For help information or support with a leukaemia, lymphoma or a myeloma call 0800 169 6680 or visit www.leukaemiacare.org.uk

Introduction to Sarah!

Hi Everybody,

I thought I'd say hello to you all, as I am currently doing work experience at Leukaemia CARE. I'm 20 years old, and I'm studying Media and Sociology at the University of Worcester, and am doing a fortnight's work experience in the Leukaemia CARE marketing department.

I decided to do some work experience for a number of reasons; the obvious reasons being that it would help me complete my degree, and obtain some work experience. I also chose to come and work here as, despite carrying out work experience in other marketing departments, I have never had any experience working for a charity. I started to research the possibility of carrying out some work experience at Leukaemia CARE, as since a close friend of mine sadly died of leukaemia a few years ago, I have always been extremely keen to support cancer charities.

On the first day of work experience, I was initially surprised that, despite being a national charity, Leukaemia CARE only has one office in England, based here in little old Worcestershire! My first morning was spent meeting everybody in the office, and finding out about the wide range of jobs that are carried out within a relatively small building. I was particularly interested to hear about the Leukaemia CARE Line, which I learnt is the only 24 hour care line like this in the UK. I thought it was brilliant that it is not just those with leukaemia who seek comfort and advice from ringing the CARE Line, but also a wide range of people who may also be affected, such as their friends, family, or employees.

This is only my third day here, and I already feel like I have gained a valuable insight, both in terms of the fantastic work this charity does, and also what it is like to work in the marketing department of a charity. I have gained some great hands-on experience, and despite intially being scared, I even wrote some press releases! The people who work here are all lovely, and really keen to help (and I haven't been told to say this, they genuinely are!). Their enthusiasm and dedication to the charity is infectious and I already have lots of ideas buzzing round in my head about how I can raise money for Leukaemia CARE. I have particularly enjoyed looking at all the fundraising stories and photos you have all uploaded onto the blog, as they are so interesting and inspiring. Last Friday I attended a meeting, where I met Chris Reed from the 'Vinvolved' team, which is a national youth volunteering programme. He highlighted how simple it is to become a volunteer, how even the smallest of fundraising activities can be a great help, and also spoke about the benefits of becoming a volunteer, such as the fact that fundraisers registered with the team can work towards certificates of acheivement.

Anyway, Bye for now...I hope to update the blog again in a few days.
Sarah

A Triathlon, 5k Santathon and 10k Run!

On the 9th of August 2009 Lorn will be taking part in the Wick Triathlon which will consist of a 750m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run. Lorn aims to complete the traithlon in about 2 hours. Lorn has been training to get fit and will participate in some other events before the main triathlon in August. Some of these include: 5k santathon in December and a 10k run in May 2009. Lorn is training up to six days a week and her training progress can be followed on lornpearson.spaces.live.com.Lorn has decided to raise money for Leukaemia CARE as she knows people who have lived with and been affected by this cancer and would like to think that she can help raise money through the exercise she does.

Lorn is doing a fantastic job and is training tremendously hard. Please sponsor her by visiting http://www.justgiving.com/lornpearson.

For help information or support with a leukaemia, lymphoma or a myeloma call 0800 169 6680 or visit www.leukaemiacare.org.uk