THANK YOU FOR VISITING OUR FUNDRAISING PAGE.

Well, we did it!!! We completed the London Marathon (together as a 3, holding hands to the end!) in 5 hours, 12 minutes and 40 seconds!!

If you'd like to hear a summary of our 'adventures' in London - please listen to the link below;

www.paulandkatiecollins.com/bliss/RadioShropshire.mp3

Thanks to everyone who has sponsored us and believed we could do it. We had a few doubts around the Canary Wharf section but used our 'Archie power' to get us to the end. It was an amazing experience. Thanks to everyone for their support. 

ALSO, THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SPONSORED US AND/OR COME TO ONE OF OUR EVENTS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS - YOU HAVE HELPED US RAISE OVER £12,000.00. WOW -THIS IS TRULY FABULOUS. THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE. XXX  

Please scroll down to see all the fundraising activities that we have been involved in for BLISS...(most recent events are near the end)

Meanwhile, here's a little bit about us....

We are 3 friends that are doing a variety of fundraising activities to raise money for BLISS. This is a charity that works with the Neonatal Units in UK Hospitals and supports sick premature babies and their parents in lots of different and very helpful ways.

In October 2006, Dan and I had twins; Earnest and Archie. They were born very early (at 24 weeks!) and so needed lots and lots of special care from the Neonatal Units at both Shrewsbury and Liverpool hospitals. Both Neonatal Units were absolutely marvellous and we are so grateful for all the care and attention they gave our beautiful boys.

Unfortunately, Earnest passed away after just 1 day but Archie found amazing strength and enjoyed Christmas, Mothers Day and Easter. 

At just over 6 months old, Archie passed away 1 day after the last London Marathon. Some of our friends were running the London Marathon to raise money for the Neonatal units that helped Archie, and he waited to hear the results (they all finished and raised over £1500.00) but then he passed away the next day.

Among other charity events, we ran the London Marathon this year in memory of our boys. Katie our best friend ran with us too. We made a great team. 

We want to be able to help others that may find themselves needing similar support. Archie and Earnest would have wanted us to say thank you and to help others. 

If you would like to donate to BLISS, please do so on-line.  

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: BLISS will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer (and you tick the Gift Aid box) an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

Archie, Earnest, ourselves and BLISS will be very grateful for all your support.

Thanks again, Jenni Jones

FUNDRAISING THINGS WE HAVE DONE SO FAR with lots of help from family and friends

December 2007

* Auctioned some CIPD books to CIPD students - raised @£100

* Sent notes/emails telling family and friends our plans - raised @£250.00

* Donated what we would have spent on Christmas cards to friends - raised @40.00

January 2008 

* We wrote to over 300 local businesses for sponsorship and/or items to raffle or auction at our May Ball. Thanks to Katie for sending off all her letters and to my Mum and Dad for helping us send off ours too. XX

* The University of Wolverhampton Business School mentioned our fundraising efforts in their monthly newsletter, to help raise awareness of what we were doing and to encourage sponsorship. Also, a University-wide newsletter is to follow in March.

February 2008

* Lettie, our wonderful 8 year old niece, did a sponsored swim to help us raise money. She planned to swim 60 lengths and did 61 - almost a mile! Lettie has raised £132 for BLISS. Thank you and well done Lettie. XX

* Helen (Dan's sister) had a 40th birthday party and asked for donations instead of presents. She raised £247.37 in total. Fantastic. Thanks Helen XX.

* Thanks to Dan for doing a few neighbourly electrical jobs and asking for donations.

* Thanks to Doris as she collected £75 from the Leetbotwood Whist Players. We have also been given £50 from the Church Stretton Inner Wheel too. So kind. XX

* We've started to receive replies from local businesses and we must say a BIG THANK YOU to the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust for donating 2 adult tickets to each of the 10 Ironbridge Gorge Museums, Telford Ice Rink for donating a family skating pass, OEM/part of NBC Group who donated a LED Flash Light and Wilkinson's who have given us a £20 gift voucher for us to raffle or auction at the May Ball too. Waitrose in Newport have also agreed to give us a hamper for our auction too. THANK YOU all so much.

* We would also like to say a big THANK YOU to Lloyd’s (Animal) Feeds Ltd and Bischof & Klein (UK) Ltd who have given us cheques for BLISS and CJ Wildbird Foods Ltd who gave us 6 RSPB Birdfeeders for our raffle or auction. THANK YOU.

* Also, we have had a letter from Frank Galliers Ltd in Shrewsbury offering their on-site joinery workshop to make something for the Neonatal Unit in Shrewsbury Hospital. THANK YOU.

* Thank you to the Shropshire Star too, who published an article about our 'marathon effort for baby charity' on 13th Feb 2008 and also publicised the website too. Thanks. 

March & April 2008

* Helen organised and ran a 'Felt Art workshop' at All Stretton Village Hall on Saturday 1/3/08. Over 30 children came and made a card for Mother's Day or other family members or friends. Thanks to everyone for coming - all the cards that were made were fabulous. Special Thanks to Helen, for raising £90.

* We sent out letters to all local shops within Shrewsbury and wrote out to all Football teams, Rugby Clubs and Cricket teams in the UK asking them for sponsorship or items to auction at our Bliss Ball. Thanks to Rodders for helping us to create our list of addresses. Thanks to all the organisations and clubs who replied - more details below.

* Thanks to Motorola and Paul Collins who have organised a pair of Oakley sunglasses and Bluetooth stereo headset all in one - a fabulous item for our auction. Thank you.

* Thanks to Twycross Zoo too for donating a family day pass for our auction and Matthew Dugdale from Merevale Hall for his personal donation too. Thanks to Tesco Extra (Wellington) for donating a £10 gift voucher for our raffle and Morrison's for donating a bottle of Morrison's best Rioja, for our raffle too. Thanks to Sainsbury's, in Shrewsbury too for donating a voucher for a box of chocolates (for the raffle).

* Also thanks to Walsall Football Club who have given us 2 tickets to a Walsall FC Home League game for the raffle. Thanks to Waterstones (Shrewsbury) too who have donated a signed book by Marcus Sedgwick (aimed at teenagers) called My Swordhand is Singing. Thanks too to Rackhams, in Shrewsbury for donating a fabulous collection of perfumes and lotions for our auction - a great gift. THANKS.

* A big THANKS to The Rotary Club of Church Stretton for donating £100. 

* Thanks to Adam Phillips and his friends in the cricket world; Shane and Adam Shantry, who have given us two cricket bats (signed by the Warwickshire squad) to auction. A Warwickshire County Cricket Club (125th anniversary) cricket bat signed by the 2007 squad. Also, Warwickshire CCC County Champions 2004 cricket bat signed by the squad too. Thanks Adam and friends for sorting this out.

* Thanks too to Surrey County Cricket Club who have donated a mini-cricket bat signed by the 2008 squad, for our auction too. Thanks too to Durham County Cricket Club for donating 4 tickets to one of their home games this season. Much appreciated. Thanks to Steve Reese (Beacon Cricket Club) for sorting out dinner, bed and breakfast for 4 people (2 x double/twin rooms) in the Grafton Boutique Hotel in Durham to go with the tickets. A great package.    

One of Warwickshire cricket bats and the Durham package was auctioned at the Beacon Cricket Club evening (Friday 11th April) and raised £205 for Bliss. Thanks to Steve and Ad for organising this. Really generous of you. Thanks to all the Cricketers.

* Thanks to The Albright Hussey Manor Hotel (venue of our Bliss Ball) for donating a night in their honeymoon suite for two as an auction prize. Thanks too to the Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury for donating a dinner for 2 in their Sam Hayward Restaurant. Thank you to The Clive Bar and Restaurant, Ludlow for a £20 voucher to dine in their Restaurant too. Great prizes. Thank you so much. 

* Thanks to Starbucks in Shrewsbury too for donating a collection of items for our raffle, including some china mugs, a selection of whole bean coffee and some vanilla syrup. All the ingredients for a perfect cup of coffee! Thank you. Thanks too to Portsmouth FC for donating a signed photo and mouse mat for our auction/raffle.

* Thanks to Katie for giving her £20 next vouchers for the raffle and also thanks to Attingham Park for donating a family day pass (2 adults, 3 children) to their house and grounds. Thanks too to West Midland Safari Park for 2 tickets to their drive through safari, thanks to Secret Hills (Craven Arms) for a family ticket (2 adults, 3 children) to their exhibition and Little Mammoth trail and also to WELTI health and fitness/tennis club for 4 day tickets. Thanks to Hawkstone Park too who have donated a family day ticket to the Follies. Thank you all so much.  

* Thanks to our good friend Cai who has now completed the Rally Aicha des Gazelles. Before she went, she sent our website details onto her friends and asked them to donate money to Bliss. Thanks Cai and thanks to all your generous friends. For more info, please check out the Rally website (they are team 147.) www.rallyeaichadesgazelles.com Thanks to Cai and all her generous family and friends, she managed to raise over £1000! Wow. Thanks Cai. You are all so kind.

* A HUGE THANKS to Rob Smith who has sponsored us £500! Wow - Thank you so much. Also, THANKS too to my Grandma Green and Aunty B who have donated £200. Also THANKS to our amazing Grandma and Gramps for donating £100 and our wonderful neighbours Griff & Hazel who have donated £100 too. So kind of you all. Thank you. 

* Thanks too to Tony at ARH Electrical for sponsoring us £100 and for helping us collect some further sponsorship too.  The ARH collection totalled £115.50. Thanks to everyone at ARH.

* Thanks to Paul and Nick at Inovar-Communications, Shrewsbury who have donated a Nikon Coolpix L14 7.1 megapixel compact digital camera for our auction too.

* Thanks too to Drummond Outdoor Kayak and Canoe Centre for donating two vouchers for day canoe hire for our auction or raffle too.

* Thanks to Harry for organising a round of golf for 4 at the de Vere Carden Park Nicklaus golf course (worth approx. £220) for our auction and to Fiona too for donating a gorgeous leather Tiffany jewellery roll for the auction too. Thanks Mr & Mrs Foster!

* Thank you to the Shrewsbury Chronicle too, who published an article about our 'poignant appeal' on 3rd April 2008 and also publicised the website too. Thanks. 

* A BIG THANKS to Steve for organising the pleasure flight over Shropshire as one of our auction prizes. You've been really helpful. THANKS.

* Thanks to Boots, Shrewsbury for donating so many gorgeous bags, lotions and gift packs for our auction and raffle. So kind of you. Thanks. 

* Thanks too to Barclays Bank, Shrewsbury who have offered to buy a bottle of Champagne for our raffle. Thanks for helping us set up our charity account with you too.   

* Thanks to Ian Collins too for organsing a brand new KONA Blast mountain bike for our auction too. Wow, what a prize!

* Thanks to Warrington Wolves for donating a Match Day Programme, signed by all the players - this will be part of our football/rugby package in the auction (more details below.)

* Thanks to BBC Radio Shropshire and the Jim Hawkins show for letting us talk about the fundraising that we are doing and for helping us to advertise the Bliss Ball too. If you'd like to listen to it, here's the link;

http://www.paulandkatiecollins.com/Bliss/JenOnRadio.mp3

* Thanks to Steph at www.adventureropecourse.co.uk for donating gift certificates for 3 groups of upto 5 people to have an activity day on The Adventure Ropes Course Experience, in Shrewsbury on either May bank holidays (5th or 26th May.) Activities could include a go on the zip line, the abseil platform, the parachute simulator or the giant swing! Thanks Steph for such a generous donation. 2 of the gift certificates will be auctioned and 1 will be put in the raffle. 

* Thanks to the OMH (Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury) for donating 2 tickets to a film of the prizewinners choice. We have put this great prize in the raffle. Thanks to the OMH.

* Thanks to the Tamworth Snowdome too for donating a tobogganing session for a family of 4 on their real snow slope - we are adding this to our 'Wild Days Out pack.' Thank you for this kind donation.

ALL ITEMS DONATED BY LOCAL COMPANIES WERE AUCTIONED OR RAFFLED AT OUR BLISS BALL ON 25TH APRIL 2008. 

* Thanks to Paul and Katie for designing, printing and sending out the invites. They're fab!  

* Thanks to Moss Bros (Suit Hire) who agreed to give everyone hiring a suit for the Bliss Ball, a 15% discount. 

Thanks again to everyone who has helped and donated so far....you are all wonderful.

The Bliss Ball (25th April 2008)

This was at The Albright Hussey Manor Hotel, Shrewsbury. Bubbly on arrival, 3 course meal with wine, entertainment (disco and casino) and fabulous auction and raffle. We auctioned and raffled all items donated by local companies. More details below.

Through ticket sales, the auction, the raffle and the casino, we raised a grand total of £3015.06 at the Bliss Ball.

Absolutely fantastic - we have now beaten our target of £7500, with lots and lots of help from family and friends!

OUR AUCTION at the Bliss Ball

Many prizes mentioned above were auctioned at our Bliss Ball. Prices paid for each items are listed below;

* One hour pleasure flight, for 1 person over Shropshire (aerobatics on request) £175

* Round of golf for 4 at Carden Park (near Chester) on the Nicklaus golf course £220

* KONA Blast mountain bike £250

* Night in the honeymoon suite at Albright Hussey £110

* Oakley sunglasses with bluetooth stereo headset £80

* Nikon Coolpix L14 7.1 megapixel compact digital camera £90

* Dinner for 2 at the Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury £70

* Day out pack - family ticket to Attingham Park & all Ironbridge Gorge museums £70

* Activity packs - a family day at The Ropes Course Experience, plus canoe hire and day tickets to Welti health and leisure for 4 people £90

* West Midlands day out - West Midlands Safari Park tickets and Twycross Zoo tickets (with 2 cuddly toys for the kids - a lion and a monkey!) £85

* Football/Rugby pack - Portsmouth FC signed mouse mat & poster, Walsall Football tickets and signed Warrington Wolves Match Day Programme. Plus Cricket pack - 2 signed cricket bats - Warwickshire & Surrey CCC. Plus Mens pamper pack - Givenchy sports bag and Fahrenheit (Dior) deodrant and shower gel (all from Boots.) £200

* Family pack - family trip to the Hawkstone Follies, the Secret Hills exhibition and a family day at The Ropes Course Experience £85

* Ladies pamper pack - Collection of perfumes and lotions (from Rackhams), some Max Factor summer essentials (from Boots) and a leather Tiffany jewellery roll (beautiful aqua marine coloured leather). All in a cacharel summer handbag! £75

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR BIDDING FOR ALL THE AUCTION PRIZES. OVERALL WE RAISED £1600.00 JUST THROUGH THE AUCTION! FANTASTIC!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU X

THANKS TO DAVE PHARO TOO FOR BEING AN ABSOLUTELY FAB AUCTIONEER.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO BOUGHT AN ITEM IN OUR AUCTION. YOU ARE FAB!We ask that if you have bought an auction item, that if possible you pay within 7 days of the auction, either through this website or cheque made out to 'Jenni Jones re Bliss Ball'.

CASINO PRIZES (for the person winning the most money at the Bliss Ball Casino)

1st prize - Waitrose hamper (Winner: Maria Whittaker)

2nd prize - £20 vouchers to the Clive Bar & Restaurant, Ludlow (Winner: Geoff Bond)

3rd prize - Bottle of red and bottle of white wine (Winner: Roger Firth)

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK PART IN THE CASINO - WE RAISED £130.00 THROUGH EXTRA MONEY SALES ON THE NIGHT TOO! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH X

OUR RAFFLE

We sold 446 raffle tickets at the Bliss Ball too and prizes included;

* Family day at The Ropes Course Experience

* Family day ticket to Telford Ice Rink

* 2 tickets for the film of your choice at The Old Market Hall, Shrewsbury

* Starbucks gift pack

* Signed book (for more details see above)

* Bottle of Champagne (to be donated by Barclays Bank, Shrewsbury)

* Collection of high street vouchers (including Next, Tescos & Wilkinsons)

* Max Factor black satin sparkly and beaded evening bag

* ROC Limited Edition Complete Skincare Gift Set

* RSPB Birdfeeders with a British Birds Identification Guide & Gardeners World DVD

* LED torch

* Bottle of Morrisons Best Rioja, bottle of Gin and many more....

THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE WHO BOUGHT RAFFLE TICKETS - WE RAISED £446 JUST ON RAFFLE TICKETS. FANTASTIC! WOW, WHAT A GREAT NIGHT!!

May 2008

* Helen organised the fantastic 'Selfish Giant' Theatre Puppet Show at All Stretton Village Hall (Saturday 10th May). This was a chance to watch this fabulous show and then meet the puppets afterwards. Thanks for organising this too Helen - infact Helen and Lettie have managed to help us raise over @ £1000 between them. Thanks to you both. You are both stars XX

* We also stood outside the Co-op in Church Stretton with BLISS collection tins on the 9th & 10th May. THANKS to the very generous people of Church Stretton, we managed to raise over £340! Thanks to Roy for organsing this and for organising the 'collection team' XX 

* A big thank you to everyone in Class 5, St Lawrence's Primary School in Church Stretton for donating £64 from their 'Bake Sale' last week (mid May), to BLISS. So generous of you all. THANK YOU too to Lettie and her classmates for suggesting BLISS and THANK YOU to Miss Owen for making it possible. You are all very kind.

It was nice to meet you all and to receive the cheque - we have added your £64 to the total at the bottom of this page and have sent the cheque to BLISS today. Thanks again!  

June 2008

* Thanks to Sharon for having a book and DVD/CD sale at work on 5th June and for raising £87 for BLISS. I would like to say a special THANKS to my best friend Sharon for getting all the books together, lugging them in boxes to and from work and for going in on her day off to sell the books, all day! What a star.

* Thanks to Christina and all the fabulous children at Martin Wilson School, Shrewsbury for running over 7 marathons between them on Friday 27th June and for helping to raise £128.22 for BLISS too. The target was 3 marathons and to raise £100 but they managed to beat both targets! Well done to them all. They all had to find creative ways of covering the distance including some running, some dribbling of footballs, some rollerblading, some 3 legged running, some fancy dress etc. Someone even cart-wheeled continually for 2 miles and someone else managed to run over 4 miles too. Wow! What a fab idea and such energetic children! Thank you to them all.

* Thanks to Louise and Martin for organising 'The Frank Martin Evening' at the Mount B&B, Sandford Avenue, Church Stretton on 28th June. Louise and Martin hosted an evening where friends came and visited their B&B (see www.themount.biz for further information) and had a good look around our joint collection of Frank Martin pictures (a mixture of Art Deco type sketches and proofs), whilst sipping wine and eating canapes. Thanks to Louise and Martin for suggesting such a great venue. Thanks to Martin for creating the fab invites, the cards for each picture and all the leaflets and to Louise for creating all the tasty food and hanging the pictures. Thanks to their son, Daniel too for all his help with the food and balloons!! What a great team. Altogether they raised £283.00 for BLISS. Fabulous.

August

* A big THANK YOU to Vikki at PositivePeople Consulting Limited for sending a £100 cheque for BLISS. Very kind of you. Thank you so much. 

September

* A massive THANK YOU to Catherine Maye for sending us a cheque for £500. Catherine heard what we were doing through family and friends and sent us this very generous donation today! So kind of you. Thank you so much. We have now reached our £12,000.00 target!!! AMAZING - THANKS AGAIN.... 

October

* A big THANK YOU to Helen (Dans sister) for organising another childrens evening at the All Stretton Village Hall on Saturday 4th October based around the story of Peter and the Wolf. Thanks too to Lettie and Poppy for helping us get the hall set up and for helping with the refreshments. Helen managed to raise £70.00. Thanks Helen for organising such a great event for the kids.   

* We have now raised over £12,000! Great news. Thank you to everyone for their very generous help and donations. 

Our final (?) activity

* Finally (?), we have taken some photographs of Shrewsbury and the Shropshire hills (the Long Mynd etc) and have framed these. We are hoping to display them in various shops around Shrewsbury and all proceeds will go to BLISS.

If you or you know of anyone who would like a framed photo (or more than one?) of Shrewsbury and the surrounding area, please do let us know and we can send you some proofs and you can choose the photo, the size and the frame too! The perfect brithday, wedding, or even early Christmas gift!? Also, if you have a place in mind that you would like us to photograph for you, then let us know as we would be happy to do this too.  

Also...

If anyone (that we know or don't know; we're always happy to make new friends) would like to do something to help raise money for BLISS, please do let us know and we will help you in any way that we can. Our email address is danandjennijones@tiscali.co.uk and if you put BLISS in the title of the email, we will ensure we read it quickly and reply asap! Thanks XXX

THANKS ONCE AGAIN TO EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED US FUNDRAISE AND GIVEN US THEIR SUPPORT. EARNEST AND ARCHIE WOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOU ALL. XXX