My story

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"Once upon a time, a beautiful and desperately ill young girl made three very special wishes. She left a little red box at her bedside where they were found - with messages of love for her family and her young husband - after she died on New Year’s Day, 1996. Donna Curtis had just turned 20. She had spent her last four years fighting cancer. In that time Donna saw the suffering of many terminally ill children, and vowed her legacy would help them live a little more happily in the time they had left. Her parents, Len and Barbara Curtis, have made it their labour of love to fulfil their only daughter’s fairytale dream as a lasting tribute to her courage (and if truth be known theirs). Len, chairman of the resort’s private hoteliers' association admits, ”I was ready to jump off a pier. My family businesses, it all suffered. It’s a wonder we didn’t go under.” Instead, they set about making the dream of their late daughter a reality. "
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Donna’s Dream House is a holiday home for children with life-threatening or terminal illnesses, situated in the heart of the town, on Chapel Street, Blackpool. Once a derelict hotel, which was volunteered by the Council for a peppercorn rent, the property is now a haven by which any child would be overwhelmed. The keys were handed over on Donna’s birthday, and Len and Barbara’s 35th wedding anniversary, which the couple found particularly moving. Most of the facilities of the house have been donated, and many local businesses, hoteliers, nightclub owners, cafe proprietors, shopkeepers and well meaning individuals provide help wherever possible, including raising much-needed cash which helps with the ongoing running costs of the house.
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People may have seen Donna's Dream House on the news just before Christmas. During the night, arsonists broke into the office building, stole essential computer equipment, then set fire to furniture, destroying photographs, paperwork and a lot more. Stealing computer equipment was one thing but piling personal belongings in the middle of the room and setting fire to it was plain evil.
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I couldn’t believe that someone could do such a thing, particularly just before Christmas so decided that I could do a little to help reaffirm Len and Barbras faith in humanity to raise some money to help with the renovation
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When my sister drunkenly said she wanted to do a tandem parachute jump, she didn't remember, but I did, so I decided we were both going to do one. I then decided to see what else I could challenge myself to, or get friends and family to challenge me to, over the next 12 months and at the same time raise some money for charity, I then heard about Donna's Dream House and the list below is what we came up with, Some of these are just a question of bottle, i dont like heights, so Bunjee and jumping out of plane is going to be interesting, others are going to take some training, i have never run more than 3 miles so 14 miles and a Marathon are going to take some training, thanks to Ben Reah for his coaching and help with this:
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Challenge 1
Challenge - Tandem Parachute Jump
Challenger - Claudine
Date - May 11
Completed - Yes (with my sister Claudine)
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Challenge 2
Challenge - firewalk
Challenger - Mum and Dad
Date - 5th Feb 2012
Completed - done and no burnt feet!
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Challenge 3
Challenge - bungee
Challenger - myself
Date - 20th Feb 2012
Completed - Done, brilliant!!
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Challenge 4
Challenge - Coniston 14
Challenger - Ben Reah (because Ben Cottom hated it)
Date - 31st March 2012
Completed - Done, and quicker than I thought 1hr48mins, Robbie also did it in 1hr44 and Ben managed in 1hr 22min and came 6th (think he didthe old school cross country trick and hid in a bush smoking fags then got out when he saw other people coming)
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Challenge 5
Challenge - Edinburgh Marathon
Challenger- Scott, Robbie, Adam, Ben and Kelly (they are doing it too)
Date - 27th May 2012
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Please help to support a great cause and get Donna's Dream house back on its feet again.

My updates 2

Thanks to everyone for all your support!

11/05/12 22:30

Just the Marathon left to do!

11/05/12 21:59

My charity

Donna's Dream House

Donna's Dream House

Charity Registration No. 1072888

Provides free holidays for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, and recently bereaved siblings

Donations 48

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All the best of Christian, all your hard work and training will pay off. :)

Donation by Amrita Lall on 25/05/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Good Luck Adam and his running acquaintances, I refuse to believe he has any friends.

Donation by Jon & Laura Coluccio on 25/05/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Good luck to adam and the gang, 2hrs 3mins is your goal

Donation by shea nugent on 25/05/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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You crazy northern!!! Good Luck.

Donation by Kirsty Allen on 24/05/12

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

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Good Luck!!

Donation by Kuljeet Chawla on 23/05/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Good luck! Watch out for chafing!

Donation by Ben Horner on 23/05/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

text donation

Donation by Anonymous on 23/05/12

£5.00

text donation

Donation by Anonymous on 23/05/12

£10.00

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Good luck, it looks like its going to be sunny at the weekend, so make sure you put plenty of sun cream on the top of your head....

Donation by Rob Glegg on 23/05/12

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

Donation by Jason Rich on 23/05/12

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

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Keep going Chris,you can do it! Xx

Donation by Nicola Carey on 21/05/12

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

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Well done Sait. Hats off to you.

Donation by Chas, Grace & Barney on 20/05/12

£15.00

+ £3.75 Gift Aid

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Donation by Clare Leetham on 20/05/12

£3.00

+ £0.75 Gift Aid

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Good luck mate x

Donation by Chuntz on 20/05/12

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

Donation by Ben, Sarah, Neve & Mia x on 20/05/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Great effort mate & great cause, good on yer! Bit worried about Ben Reah's comment below to be honest, but as long as you hit the target eh?!

Donation by BEN CAPPER on 20/05/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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What goes on the hill stays on the hill.....

Donation by Ben Reah on 20/05/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Sorry it's a measly student donation but I'll get my Dad to get on here and donate too :) Good luck!! Xxxx

Donation by Emily Sait on 20/05/12

£3.00

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well done pal

Donation by Alex Newton on 20/05/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

text donation

Donation by Anonymous on 20/05/12

£3.00

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Good luck Christian!

Donation by Andy Jones on 20/05/12

£5.00

+ £1.25 Gift Aid

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good luck!!

Donation by Lee Williams on 20/05/12

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

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Superhero

Donation by PAUL ROBINSON on 23/04/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Good Luck pal, this Coniston 14 is giving me nightmares and I'm not even doing it Scott, Kelly, Jay & Ollie

Donation by Scott Macadam on 22/03/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

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Good luck with your challenges! This is the least I can do to help, you helped us with MEGAHIKE in a mankini :)

Donation by Leeanne Brierley on 06/03/12

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations£613.00
  • Offline donations£33.00
  • Text donations£28.00
  • Total raised£674.00
  • Gift Aid£150.00

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