Bertie's Blog

Trash to Cash

2010-02-19T11:01:00.001Z

I'm a very tidy blood cell but I know that not everyone is as neat and tidy as me!

The BBC programme Trash to Cash is looking for people who are hoarders or have overly cluttered homes. The show will help them recycle, refurbish and repair the clutter in order to raise money for themselves and a charity of their choice.

If you are in the West Midlands, London or just outside the M25 then programme would like to hear from you. Filming would take place in February or the first week of March.

Interested? Contact my fundraising team for details

Bertie

Bertie's Back

2009-12-10T15:13:00.002Z

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!

2009-08-24T09:59:00.006+01:00

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!

2009-08-20T11:50:00.003+01:00

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

2009-08-04T09:58:00.000+01:00

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

2009-07-31T16:19:00.002+01:00

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

2009-05-11T13:45:00.001+01:00

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

2009-05-01T10:18:00.006+01:00

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"

2009-04-07T10:28:00.002+01:00

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

2009-03-10T17:06:00.004Z

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

2009-02-15T15:49:00.003Z

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

2009-02-11T15:19:00.003Z

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

2009-02-11T13:19:00.002Z

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

2009-02-03T10:45:00.005Z

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

2009-01-29T13:45:00.003Z

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"

2009-01-26T10:17:00.003Z

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!

2009-01-19T11:50:00.002Z

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!

2009-01-12T16:17:00.006Z

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

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T09:23:00.009Z

Well its a great big hello from all the team in Fundraising; Alice, Mel, Nicky S, Dean Jen and myself Gemma and of course from Bertie too. Wishing all our fundraisers a wonderful and happy new year celebration and a fabulous 2009. Good luck with all your training, your plans and your promises, and let's make the 40th anniversary of Leukaemia CARE one to remember!

As ever, for help information or support with a leukaemia, lymphoma or a myeloma call 0800 169 6680 or visit www.leukaemiacare.org.uk
"Happy New Year Everyone! Remember to keep supporting Leukaemia CARE on its 40th anniversary year and let us know your plans!"

Update on the Santathon

2008-12-22T09:36:00.005Z

Congratulations Santas! Even though we don't organise the Santathon as a race there are those of you who have a competitive streak. We aren't able to take note of individual times but a special congratulations must go to the 1st and 2nd place adult runners Jason Howell and Hannah Train and the 1st and 2nd place child runners Scott Law and Lewis Roberts. If you didn't pick up your prize please let us know so we can post it out to you!

Last year the event raised £26,000 with 480 participants, which was wonderful! But, only 40% returned any sponsorship. The entry fee only covers our costs so it is really important that people remember Leukaemia CARE over the Christmas period and send in their sponsorship. The deadline is 31st January.

Happy Christmas and Happy New Year!

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

Santathon 2008

2008-12-05T16:18:00.004Z

This week has been a very very busy week here at Leukaemia CARE as we have our 5k Santathon on Sunday 7th December. We have had lots of people visiting the office to collect their Santa suit and entering the run making the total of 569 runners.

We will update the Blog after the event with photos of our Santas running the streets of Worcester, Evesham and Dagenham.

Will let you know how it goes.

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

Something in the water in Water Orton?

2008-10-31T15:58:00.004Z

Helen Louisa says:
"Small world. Just read the blog about fundraiser Lisa Borland from Water Orton. Im from Water Orton Road just up the hill. (where i lived for 19 years) It is a small world. Or maybe there is something in the water that makes us fundraisers in the area!"
So answers on a postcard please... who else is from Water Orton and who likes fundraising? Do we have a top 5 sites in the UK for fundraisers?
Gemma

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

2008-10-28T10:17:00.004Z

Lisa Borland recently sent a cheque for over £270, money which she raised for Leukaemia CARE at her 40th Birthday celebrations last weekend at the Dog Inn in Water Orton, Birmingham.
Lisa: "My mum was diagnosed with Myelodysplasia in Oct 02 so the search then began for a bone-marrow donor but mum took a turn for the worse and at Christmas we were given the devastating news it had developed to AML. It was too late for her to receive a transplant so she started a trial of an intense course of chemotherapy but caught an infection which she was too weak too fight. Mum passed away on 26th Jan 03 aged 55. I decided to do this for Leukaemia CARE in memory of my mum as I needed her to be a part of my celebrations somehow and this was the perfect answer. I set up a just giving web page for donations and my local pub (where I was having the party) and I organised a raffle and then the darts team organised a knockout tournament with player’s paying to enter. Money was also raised by the darts team asking people to play a lottery type card with the proceeds being donated but most of the winner’s donated their prize as well. The Leukaemia CARE website provided me with a lot of information and even though I could not find the words to post on the forum or phone the CARE line I took great comfort reading the forum and felt that others understood and were there to help if I needed. I hope this donation will play a small part in Leukaemia CARE being able to carry on with their great work."

Leukaemia CARE would like to say a great big thank you to you and your supporters, including everyone at the Dog Inn. We hope your journey gets easier with time, we'll be thinking of you. Please remember to call on us whenever you need to.

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

Santathon in Worcester, Dagenham and Evesham!

2008-10-24T09:54:00.004+01:00

Look out!
The Leukaemia CARE Santathon is coming!

Every year since 2003 there has been a fantastic Christmas Fun Run in Worcester and more recently in Dagenham and Evesham too. But this year we're calling it the Santathon because it's for all ages, all levels, runners, non runners... basically you can Stroll it! Walk it! Run it!

How to take part

To find out more about this event download your entry form and return it quickly. We will make sure you get a sponsorship form in the post/by email. Or you can telephone the Fundraising Team on 0845 389 2409.

Picture gallery

Check out the pictures from last year's event at our Picture Gallery here!

Children and adults can take part for £5 and £10 and businesses are invited to challenge each other to a bit of friendly competition by entering a team; everyone gets a free santa suit upon entry

Your nearest Santathon

Look out for a Santathon at Worcester City Football Club, Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club and in Evesham. More information to follow.

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

Helen Louisa's 100 mile quest - update

2008-10-24T09:42:00.004+01:00

God love her, Helen Louisa is past the quarter stage and going strong!
We're all thinking of you Helen!
To see how she's getting on visit her blog and don't forget to sponsor either by visiting her just giving site.

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

London to Paris Cycling Challenge

2008-10-02T11:51:00.006+01:00

Taken from an email received from Tammy Felstead on 25th September, who completed the London to Paris Cycling Challenge for her sister Jessica.

If you want to see kindness in others, do an event for charity!

I recently completed the London to Paris Cycling Challenge so I could raise funds for Leukaemia Care, at first I thought the £1,100 target was going to be impossible, but with the help of my family, friends and work colleagues I managed to raise over that amount.
Doing an event such as this one requires a lot of work, there is the fundraising, the training – which the English weather didn’t always make pleasant, and then there is your own personal fight with your inner doubt and lack of self belief that you can actually do it.
All the hard work aside, the rewards of completing such a task are worth every single effort.
More importantly knowing that the money you have raised is going to help people who need it the most, is an overwhelming feeling.

Why did I choose Leukaemia Care? My sister Jessica was diagnosed with a rare type of the disease when she was just 9 months old, the years which followed were extremely difficult for the whole of my family, especially for my parents, who had to learn how to put feeding tubes into a crying baby who just didn’t want the tube to be there, they had to deal with her not eating, not sleeping, then all the visits to the hospitals, on top of that the uncertainty of whether or not she would eventually be free of the illness. Luckily as a family (Jessica is the youngest of 7 siblings) we all managed to support each other and stick together. The older children would do the babysitting, help with the housework and cooking, and the other small toddler seemed to have a sense that something was wrong and was always on her best behaviour; in fact it was this same toddler who is now 13, who was imperative in the fundraising campaign, managing to raise £100 with an event she organised and had held at her High School. Other people who were equally paramount in helping me raise the funds were my Mum and one of my other sister’s Laura, as well as all my work colleagues and my agency APL.

To know that the money is now being used to help other sufferers and their families is an immensely gratifying feeling and I am happy that I have been able to contribute in this way. I would advise anyone who is looking to do something of this scale to first make sure they train, so they can really truly enjoy the experience, but, mostly I would advise them to have fun and really enjoy what they are doing.

I plan now to try and do some volunteering work with the charity and hopefully be able to do the Paris to Geneva cycle challenge next year.

Pictures are taken of the event, Tammy with her sister Jessica and sister Donna who helped with the fundraising.

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

Helen Louisa's 100 mile quest

2008-09-26T16:34:00.004+01:00

Fellow blogger and fundraiser Helen Louisa first contacted Leukaemia CARE about a year ago to recycle stamps at her workplace The London School of Economics. She has now set herself a much bigger challenge. She says:

In May 2008, I said I would run 100 miles (160KM) in organised races over the next year, ending with the FLORA LONDON MARATHON 2009 to raise money for the fantastic charity Leukaemia CARE.

I am not built like a runner and the longest distance I've ever run was 10K in 2005, but I do love a good challenge and this sure beats watching TV all day!

You can sponsor her at http://www.justgiving.com/helenlouisajordan or you can visit her blog http://www.helen-louisa.blogspot.com/

You can read about her recent runs (the Dulwich 5k, Blackheath 5k, Vision 5k Hackney, Beckenham Trail 10k) and her training on her blog. With another 84.5 miles still to clock up we're all wishing you the very best of luck Helen! As someone who ran my first 5k last month I'm absolutely amazed by that kind of commitment: Go Helen! Let us know how you get on ok?

Well done Helen for passing the quarter way stage of your 100 mile quest. Have a look at Helen's blog to see the latest photos.

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

2008-09-22T11:39:00.005+01:00

Here is a story from our fundraiser Linda Rowe and her team of sailors Malcolm, Liz, Rod, Paul, Helen and Mark.

Greenwich to Edinburgh Sailathon 2008

21st June - Left Hoo with strong winds expected
23rd June – We made our way across River Thames. Sea lions came to see us off Grimsby and puffins along the coast.
27th June - Left Whitby at 20.30 hours to Blyth. Arrived at Eyemouth 15.00 hours. After 12 hours we arrived at Port Edgar. We looked around Queensferry. Saw real Scotsman, kilts and bagpipes playing in Princess Street, Edinburgh City Centre.
1st July - Set off back to Eyemouth at 13.45 hours where we meet Eve Martin from Leukaemia CARE. Enjoying the nice weather unfortunately it didn’t last. Eve wasn't enjoying it. Helen reiterated, “I told you, it never stays nice, always rough, always raining, always cold! Do I have a jumper on? No, I have all my jumpers on! ” and the ranting continues. The sea built up and waves became uncomfortable. We finally arrived at Eyemouth 21.00 hours.
2nd July – Arranged for Eve to climb the mask as her sponsorship task unfolds. ‘The men slowly heaved at the rope and she began her assent. Gulping noises could be heard as she slowly went up higher …. and higher … and higher still. Finally she reached the top to cheers of jubilation from the crowd that had gathered. She had succeeded in her quest to raise funds for the charity; now she could come down.’
3rd July - Left Eyemouth at 04.00 hours feeling unwell as we reached Sunderland so we pulled up for the night.
4th July – Left Sunderland at 07.00 hours to leave Grimsby. Decided not to leave due to bad weather.
11th July – Everyone is feeling wet and cold. We turned the boat back to the Humber and headed for Grimsby. It looks like were not getting the boats back home this weekend.
13 July – Up and away by 04.00 hours. The weather changed we had sunshine but it was a very long day. Arrived at Lowerstoft at 21.30 hours.
15th July – Left Lowerstoft at 05.00 hours for Harwich. The sea was lumpy so we decided to go to Brighlingsea rather than stopping at Harwich. One day to go!
16th July - Left at 04.15 hours and the wind was in the right direction so we were able to sail all the way back to Medway. Finally arrived at Hoo 10.45 hours.

Our three boats raised over £5000 for Leukaemia CARE. Mark returned St Jarna II to its berth in Chatham the following weekend.

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

Introducing Leukaemia CARE's blogger

2008-09-17T15:57:00.012+01:00

Hello there fundraisers!
I thought I should introduce myself as I'm your resident blogger. My name's Gemma and I'm the PR & Marketing Officer here at Leukaemia CARE. I'm in a few of these pictures below but now as we're starting to hear a bit more from you hopefully you'll see less of me..! That said you'll still hear from me! I studied Spanish at the University of Birmingham and went on to work in Marketing. I live in Birmingham with my husband and our cat and earlier in the month I ran my first race for Leukaemia CARE... eek!
I'm not a runner, never have been, hated school PE lessons, but I must admit I got a great deal from this event and I'd recommend it to anyone. You can also have a lot of fun fund raising. It's no fun just asking for money but a friend of mine is a big fan of house parties and is struggling to raise her sponsorship monies for the Great North Run so she's planning a fancy dress hallow'een party where everyone pays to dress up. Pub quizzes, car washes, sleep overs, dress down and cake sales are staples of the fundraiser's itinerary but loads more can be found at www.raise4leukaemia.org.uk
Our other blogger here is Jen who started as our apprentice and is now our administrative assistant. You'll start to hear from her soon. So I hope we'll get to know each other as time goes by; until then bye bye from all at Leukaemia CARE
Gemma

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

Countdown to the Santathon 2008

2008-09-17T15:57:00.011+01:00

We now have 4 venues agreed for the 2008 Santathon (previously, the Christmas Fun Run)

Dagenham & Redbridge FC
Worcester City FC
Evesham
Newcastle University

Thanks to everyone who's involved in organising these events; they're some of the most important of our calendar! This year the big event will take place at all 4 venues on Sunday 7th December. More info can be found on our website.
Why not watch our video?!

Leukaemia CARE Santathon: Stroll it... Walk it... Run it!

Why Douglas Swam

2008-09-16T12:12:00.006+01:00

An email from a cherished supporter, Mr Douglas Osborne, received on the 10th September, in memory of his beloved sister in law Frances Spall.

Douglas swam the English Channel to raise money for Leukaemia CARE, with Frances' name printed on his swimsuit. He asked us to print their story in our magazine for Frances to read but unfortunatly his sister-in-law passed away before we were able to. Our most sincere thoughts go out to the Spall family and our very best wishes and sincere thanks go to Douglas for his huge fundraising achievements.

I was sitting on the bed of my sister-in-law who was dying of cancer, stroking her hand. My mobile rang, I was told its time to swim the channel to france. She was fading, I kissed her head and said "I will see you tomorow! I have to swim the channel now, for you." We exchanged glances and smiled, I set of from her home in Guildford to my home, grabbed my things and headed to Dover. I set off about 4am ish in the dark of night. Around 08:40 whilst I was swimming she died, I pictured her in my mind whilst swimming, no way would I stop. I had this 1 chance to do this for her, after several hrs I could not picture on the bed fading anymore. I could only see her smiling like she always did with her grin and big brown eyes. I knew she would not make it into Tuesday. She died whilst I swam :-(I did not know till after I finished. Even though they knew on the boat, they just kept encouraging me. This swim has taken me 2yrs to become equipped and ready, but the hardest part is mental strength; that part I learned from Frances, she never once gave up hope, and when she knew she was going to die, she hid it from her kids as long as possible never complaining, always effervescent. I hope to God I meet another Frances Spall, and we become friends. every one needs someone like that.

To sponsor Douglas after his massive swim visit: dougie osborne's just giving website (http://www.justgiving.com/jellyfish)
To sponsor Douglas for any of his many runs visit: dougie runs
(http://www.justgiving.com/dougieruns)
or his raceforlife site (http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/helenshreeve)

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

Adidas Women's Challenge

2008-09-16T10:43:00.007+01:00

Thank you to everyone who took part for Leukaemia CARE, whether you simply ran and donated your entry money or actively fundraised! Remember to send us your stories and photos for us to publish here or in Inspire

Leukaemia CARE's marketing officer Gemma ran the Adidas Women's challenge in Birmingham - she said: "It was a brilliant atmosphere and we were pretty lucky as the rain held off until I was over half way; by then it just made me want to get back extra fast! I just ran as much as I could and did it in 39 minutes - not bad for a first attempt! I'd recommend it as an event for anyone like me who doesn't do much running. I had a great time!"
Click here for OFFICIAL PHOTOS

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

Gemma runs for Leukaemia CARE

2008-07-15T12:05:00.004+01:00

Leukaemia CARE's marketing Officer Gemma is attempting to do a run for the charity, the 5k Adidas Womens Challenge in Birmingham. An individual usually committed to avoiding running wherever possible the 5k will seem like her own personal marathon. To sponsor the running-allergic Gemma use the link below:

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

Great North Run places available!!!

2008-07-08T17:27:00.002+01:00

Can you help Leukaemia CARE to fill its Great North Run places? Please let your club know of our last minute places! The most important thing is that interested parties call us on 0845 521 3456 asap. We need all runners to have signed up by the 15th July.

We require a £40 donation along with the application form to secure the place; we can take payment from a card over the telephone. This £40 is non-refundable and non-transferable but does go to the minimum we ask you to raise which is £300 – the deadline for sending us your sponsorship money is not until 30th January 2009, this is to give you plenty of time to collect from those who are donating money to support you! We will also send you an official entry pack which contains a wealth of useful information, if you let us have your address a pack will be put in the post to you.

In return for running for us for this we offer you:
· Running vest to wear with pride during the BUPA Great North Run
· Reflective wristband to keep you safe whilst training
· A water bottle for you to use during your training
· Personalised fundraising posters
· Monthly ‘Team Bertie’ newsletters packed full of both fundraising ideas and training tips to help you in the run up to the BUPA Great North Run
· Exclusive access to our new online running community where you can chat with other runners, and share your running experiences at www.raise4leukaemia.org.uk
· Invitation for you and all your friends and family to the ‘Team Bertie’ Post-Race party where you can relax, have a bite to eat and a complementary massage to ease your aches and pains
· Commemorative BUPA Great North Run Team Bertie t-shirt
· Unlimited advice, tips and support from our fundraising and running experts
If you have any problems or questions regarding The BUPA Great North Run, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at events@leukaemiacare.org.uk or call us on 0845 521 3456.

Leukaemia CARE is a small national charity that provides care and support to patients, their families and carers during the difficult journey through the diagnosis and treatment of leukaemia, lymphoma or an allied blood disorder. Leukaemia CARE provides the only dedicated free, staffed 24 hour phone CARE Line for patients and their families that enables people to discuss their feelings, concerns and emotions at such a difficult period of time. In addition, Leukaemia CARE is heavily involved with patient advocacy and provides information, holidays, discretionary financial support and has a network of Volunteers throughout the United Kingdom to ensure that there is local support wherever a patient and their family live.

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

Sailathon

2008-07-08T17:24:00.003+01:00

Sincere thanks to those of you who kindly sponsored me on a recent Sailathon.

My very nerve racking task was to be hoisted in a small nappy like thing up a mast 100 feet. I did it but it was truly awful. However, the worst part of the event was the actual sailing from Port Edgar to Eyemounth. The sailing was in awful weather and it was just the pits.

My fellow sailors are still on their way back, in fact Linda Rowe, her husband Malcolm and the skippers mate of the Goodwill Valerie are stranded in Scarborough due to gales in the North Sea. Mark her son had to leave his boat in the dock at Scarborough hire a car and head back to work at Barclays bank as he had a meeting in Maidenhead today and up to Leeds tomorrow. Mark hopes to return on Friday night to try to get his boat a little nearer to the Medway before going back to work on Monday.

The forecast in the North Sea is not sea to change until next week, so I really feel sorry for them.

The pics can be viewed at http://markroweuk.googlepages.com/sailathon2008

There is a video of the event but you will have to wait a little to see that one!!
Eve

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

New Fundraising website!

2008-03-10T11:20:00.004Z

WE NEED YOU!

The Leukaemia CARE team have been hard at work
to put together a really fun resource for all you fundraisers out there!
The new website is being launched TODAY on the address
http://www.raise4leukaemia.org.uk/

Proms Concert a Resounding Success

2008-01-21T18:19:00.001Z

January 08 saw the first ever Proms Concert in aid of Leukaemia CARE.

Local media covered the Kidderminster and the night helped to raise £10,000 for the charity.

http://archive.worcesternews.co.uk/2008/1/15/502656.html

http://archive.malverngazette.co.uk/2008/1/9/501721.html

Performing on the night was Russell Painter (tenor), Beth Dunn (Soprano) and Sara Weaver (accompanist). Also on the bill weresingers, David Stout, who is currently touring with the Welsh National Opera and Cath Fish.

Wish you were here, Chamonix, near Mont Blanc

2007-11-13T10:32:00.000Z

A fundraiser has just returned from a holiday with a difference. He enjoyed an active, challenge-filled week in Chamonix, near Mont Blanc, and got to climb mountains and cycle across some amazing terrain. Here are the photos Paul Higgins sent us.

Paul raised an AMAZING £1163... thank you so much Paul! If you're interested in experiencing something similar Paul used a tour operator called Crystal Holidays. You can find out more at www.crystalholidays.co.uk/

Great North Run 2007

2007-10-04T11:31:00.001+01:00

Alice, Gemma and Mel made the long trip to Newcastle last weekend to support our fabulous runners in the Great North Run 2007. They met lots of the amazing people who run to raise funds for us as well as the volunteers who joined them to help on the day, and to give massages to the runners.

Thank you to everybody who took part in the run or who helped us to support them. You're all stars!

Well done Alice!

2007-09-18T13:28:00.000+01:00

Alice, our fantastic fundraising officer here at LC ran the Hydro Active Women's Challenge at the weekend with her sister Hannah raising money for LC in the process. She very kindly wrote about her day - I'm full of admiration for her!

I’ve worked at Leukaemia CARE for nearly two years and met hundreds of runners and given advice to them but personally, I’ve never taken part in a race.

On Sunday that all changed as I took part in the Hydro Active Women's Challenge, a 5km run around Hyde Park. It is organised by the London marathon office and involved 15,000 women running for all sorts of good causes.

I was running with my sister and as we lined up at the start at 11am the nerves kicked in but as we counted down and started to shuffle forwards to the start line the nerves turned to excitement. Waved across the start line by Linda Robson, my sister and I ran hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. We ran past some of the slower runners and people who were walking the whole distance, waved on by the crowds (and some very bemused tourists!).

As we passed the 1km mark my sister gave me the thumbs up. I grinned with pride. I hate running but here I was one fifth of the way through a race. At about 1.5km I needed to walk for a bit but told my sister to go on ahead of me. I power walked for a while then just after the 2km mark started to run again. At half way there were a lot of crowds and other charities supporting their runners which again was a huge pick up. Just after 3km I saw my brother-in-law who was our one man support team! I high fived him and jogged off around the corner feeling a new life in my legs.

The rest of the course was a mixture of walking and running, I’d developed several blisters on my feet and was feeling quite dehydrated. There was quite a big hill about 500m from the finish which might as well have been Mount Everest but once I was past that I could see the finish. My legs picked up, I started to run and with 100m to go I sprinted to the finish as the announcer said ‘Well done, Alice’ over the loud speaker. As I crossed the finish line I expected to feel jubilant and excited. Actually I felt like I was going to die and nearly crashed straight into Jonathon Davies and a BBC camera crew! I soon recovered, especially as I was handed my finishers medal and goodie bag and the elation kicked in.

I completed the run in 45 minutes which I am SO proud of. I am not a runner. I hate running. I used to cheat at cross country! But I did it and I’m glad I did. I think that it just goes to show that you can do anything if you put your mind to it.

Thank you to everyone who sponsored my sister and me, if anyone else would like to sponsor us you can do it online at www.justgiving.com/aliceandhannah or you can do it in person.

The things we do for LC !!

2007-09-03T12:45:00.000+01:00

We had this photo done for a newspaper article highlighting Leukaemia CARE's need for the loan of a van for a charity event - poor Gemma wore the Bertie Bloodcell suit on what seemed like the hottest day this year !!

Climb every mountain.....

2007-07-30T15:40:00.000+01:00

The first mountain that Sarah climbed

Sarah and her 3 day rucksack - still smiling !

During the trek

Amazing scenery

These are photos that Sarah Healey kindly sent us from her recent Thai Trek - I have to admit the scenery is gorgeous!

Sarah's Thai Trek

2007-07-16T12:01:00.000+01:00

Sarah Healey has just returned from a sponsored trek in Thailand, during which she raised a great deal of money for LC - thank you Sarah !

She's kindly given us a summary of her adventure, it's fascinating reading.

Thanks again for all your sponsorships - I'm home with a charity challenge medal!! The trip was an eventful adventure and I'm so glad I did it.

Here is a day-to day summary of my trip;

Day 1: Thursday 5th July
10am flight to Bahrain from Heathrow. Kedra one of the group stayed with me overnight and I meet Matt & Paul, then Alice at Check in followed by Sheridon, Adrian, Pheona and Kristy in the departure lounge, Elaine, Chris and Zina on the plane and Fiona at Bahrain. Delayed departure gave us less time at Bahrain airport, where we waited for about 4 hours for onward flight to Bangkok.

Day 2: Friday 6th July
00.15 flight Bahrain to Bangkok. Spent ages on tarmac at Bahrain so further delay led to arriving 12.45pm at Bangkok airport. Here we were met by Jean-Dan our Swiss group leader who has been in Thailand running such trips and other less challenging sightseeing tours for 20 years and his second in command Oh a Thai from Bangkok. Both spoke excellent English. It took about half an hour/forty minutes to transfer in two mini-buses to our Hotel in Bangkok in the lively Banglamphu district. After a small briefing meeting Kedra and I headed off to narry.com tailors over in the centre of town. As it was Friday night the traffic was horrendous and we were over 2 hours in the taxi before it dropped us off at the skytrain - an overground transport system where 10mins later and 3 stops we arrived at the tailors. Spent about 2 hours in there 7-9pm being measured and choosing suits. I had a package which included 2 suits 2 shirts 1 dress and 2 scarves for approx £110. As we had missed the group dinner we headed to the Hard Rock Cafe for my pin collection and decided to eat there too. A taxi back to the hotel followed by a bedtime beverage and we were off to bed!

Day 3: Saturday 7th July
Drive by mini-bus up to our starting point for the trek so today was a travel/sight seeing day. We stopped first at a war cemetery for those mainly English but some Dutch who lost their lives in the Second World War as prisoners of war forced to build the railway from Thailand to Burma. Then it was the Bridge over the River Kwai itself where the other side was in Burma. Note the film was shot in Sri Lanka and the story a different one. Other stops were a restaurant lunch stop and another stop at a Dam with a floating village and some tropical trees. We reached our destination of the Burmese Inn at Sangklaburi. Dinner was provided by our host followed by a few beers.

Day 4: Sunday 8th July
All set for the first day's trek. As well as our English speaking guides we had about three Thai guides who were assisting everyone and cutting jungle debris from out route. It started off flat but soon began climbing and after a cave with bats flying though we were well on the way up. After a quick break at the top of the first climb it started to pour with rain - as we had seen this coming raincoats and rain covers for the rucksacks were already on. After a further steady climb and a couple of falls we had lunch of rice and chicken wrapped in bamboo leaves. After this followed more muddy inclined terrain with which I struggled. There were a few falls by various members of the group and one which resulted in a bamboo tree nearly hitting one of us. Eventually after the guides trying to work out the best route we met the road and after about 10 hours walking we got to our destination in the dark. We were all put up in a barn type building with several sleeping areas under mosquito nets. Washing facilities were the nearby river. Dinner and a dance by some local girls before everyone went to bed shattered.

Day 5: Monday 9th July.
A less difficult terrain saw trekking through rice fields, streams, villages, rubber plantations and a wade across river to our freshly built bamboo hut bedrooms with campfire outside, where we were greeted by a can of Chang beer.

Day 6: Tuesday 10th July.
A circular walk around the jungle following road and then down to follow a stream sometimes wading in it other times walking around it. This was followed by rafting down the river to our lunch destination. This took longer than expected due to first my raft capsizing (which resulted in several bruises, a cut on the head ,a lost bandana and despite fishing them from the river a screw missing from my sunglasses!) followed by a second raft hitting the side of river and one member of the group trapped underneath the raft for a bit. After our late lunch were driven back to the Burmese Inn via Three Pagoda's Pass on the border with Burma. It was here that I started to feel weary. By the time I got back to the Burmese Inn I was shivering and getting hot and cold. However after some hot water and a shower I felt better. After dinner though having already had a little diarrhoea the weary feeling came back and having got ready for bed I felt very hot and cold. I spent the night trying to sleep sweating a lot, drinking a lot and passing water so not really replacing any fluids followed by vomiting in the middle of the night.

Day 7: Wednesday 11th July
A relaxation day following the 3 day trek. Whilst the others went of on a local boat trip, temple and market visit Oh took me to the hospital. I had woken up feeling not quite as rough as when going to bed but we felt I had better get seen to. The doctors gave me some tests which were negative and some antibiotics and energy giving beverage salts. After a little rest back at the accommodation the rest returned and we headed off to our next accommodation. Upon arrival I had a little sleep again and then tried to join everyone for dinner but again vomited. So got into bed for the night.

Day 8: Thursday 12th July
Hell Fire Pass trek/Kayaking. As I felt a lot better the next morning I participated in the morning's hike along the remains of the death railway built by the prisoners of war. The day was hot and whilst I was thinking, "oh no, I am sweating so much I'm feverish again" but everyone else was too so it was just the heat. The walk finished with some steep stairs up to the Hell Fire Pass Museum and by that time I was feeling sick. I saw a bit of the horrific videos in there but came outside. I couldn't stomach lunch and sat in the van whilst everyone else ate. I therefore gave the kayaking a miss and was taken straight to the nights accommodation where I had a sleep with a nightmare that I was getting up walking about not knowing what I was doing and behaving rather mentally!! When my room mate arrived (The kayaking was all the way down river to the accommodation) about a minute after waking up I went across to the swimming pool with her for a quick dip and mainly stayed in the circular bit to the side sitting in the water. I managed to eat dinner this night and then just went back to the room for a rest and started the book I had purchased at Heathrow, just managing one chapter!

Day 9: Friday 13th July
One of the highlights of the trip we did a trek - this time on elephants with them using their feet!! I was in one on my own which meant I spent longer at the front on top of mine. He did keep stopping to munch on the greenery around though! Then a morning of Kayaking followed by the drive back to Bangkok. As I had not done this the day before or anything like this for over 20 years I seemed to be quite a way at the back. Then the rest stopped briefly so I could catch up and then I went past and remained in the front all the rest of the way. I was expected some of them at least to over take but I didn't realise that they were not paddling all the time. I took about 3 or 4 brief rests the entire journey whereas they were having longer rests! After lunch by the river bank mini-bus back to Bangkok. Upon arrival back to the hotel took a taxi and the sky train back to the tailors. Just a couple of alterations to do and upon finishing these they would drop them back to the hotel. After a quick visit to a nearby shop selling fake football shirts and a purchase of the new Arsenal away strip for someone at the cost of 840 bahts £13, I took the sky train back to national stadium station where I took a couple of pics of the sporting facilities upon deciding the station and then taxi to the hotel. A quick look at the nearby shopping street and check of e-mails in the internet cafe and then our group celebratory meal. After the meal we were awarded a charity challenge medal by the guides. Then we went on to a karaoke bar which was tucked away and the only other people in there were locals. After that it was a night club til that closed at 2am. Although I wasn't drinking the lads get a little drunk and Alice tried to steer Matt the short journey back to the hotel!!

Day 10: Saturday 14th July
Those of us that were not too hungover or shattered took a tuk tuk journey at 8.30am to the Grand Palace with a guided tour by Oh. Then back to the hotel by tuk tuk and Alice and I went on a brief shop before leaving the hotel at 11.15am for the airport and the long journey home with a six hour stopover in Bahrain.

Sarah

Trivia Quiz

2007-07-05T12:44:00.000+01:00

We now have our very own trivia quiz!

http://my.funtrivia.com/tournament/Berties-Brain-Teasers-73107.html

It's quick to do, lots of the LC staff have already registered and played, and I can sense a lot of good natured teasing about scores and results coming up !

Please spare a few minutes to register - the quiz itself takes on average less than a minute.

Clare

Meet Bertie....

2007-06-18T14:58:00.003+01:00

Bertie Bloodcell is our mascot, who we feature in a great deal of our fundraising activities. We are lucky enough to have two Bertie costumes available for runners or other supporters to wear - one has even been worn around the entire London Marathon course !! We have photos of Bertie 'in action' on our fundraising website www.raise4leukaemia.org.uk

Welcome !!

2007-06-18T14:58:00.001+01:00

A warm welcome from everyone at Leukaemia CARE !!

We're glad you found your way to our blog. Hopefully through these pages we'll show you a bit more about the people who work here, the fundraising events we've run, and we'll share the amazing stories about what our supporters do to help those with Leukaemia and allied blood disorders.

We would love the blog to be really interactive, so please - leave us a message, an idea for a fund raising activity, or even just an hello !