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On Sept 27th I'm due to participate in the Run To The Beat half marathon. Am pretty sure it's going to ruin me and would really appreciate your support......not just to help Barretstwon but also to give me that little extra bit of much needed motivation.
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I am raising funds for a charity called Barretstown (www.barretstown.org). Below are a couple of stories from parents and children to help you understand what Barretstown does for people.
Dear Vicki,I am the mother of David, the boy that was at Barretstown in July 2008.
The purpose of this e-mail is to show you my enormous gratitude for what you are doing so that during a ten day period kids can be happy and able to disconnect from everything.
Particularly I have to talk about my son David. You cannot imagine the positive change it has made in his life. Going to camp has opened to him a window to the world that was previously unknown to him. It was his first time he attended a camp, the first time he went by himself, without his family. We had tried several times before, but he never wanted to go, therefore we did not insist too much, as he was overprotected having a heart problem since he was very small.
He had always had problems to relate to others, he was very insecure, and faced every new situation with anxiety.
Very slowly he was overcoming some of his fears until cancer appeared in his life. This made him go back with his self confidence and although he faced the situation with a very mature attitude, he always showed himself sad and feeling lonely.When they talked to us about the possibility of going to Barretstown, we had never heard about it before. His doctors encouraged us to send him. Since the very beginning I had the feeling that he had to go, that it was an opportunity that he could not lose. I realized it had to be a unique experience for him.
Of course David did not want to go, as expected, but finally after resigning himself, he accepted. And, as he now says: “I have spent there the most happy ten days of my life”.David came back from camp totally renewed, feeling much more confident with himself, and most of all extremely happy. When we picked him up at the airport and were driving home, while in the back seat of the car he started telling us all about the camp: he was absolutely euphoric! He showed an energy that we had not seen in him for a long time.
He let all his emotions come out in Barretstown. I cannot stop thinking how lucky we have been and the unique opportunity that he has been given by going there.
I am probably writing too much in this e-mail, but I wanted to write to you to thank everyone who makes this possible to run. The foundation team, the organization staff, all volunteers, interpreters, “caras” that dedicate their valuable time to other people. In other words to everyone that makes this run extremely well.I feel very emotional as I have seen my son very happy. I deeply know that he has enjoyed these ten days more than anything in his life and for us, as parents, it is the best thing that can happen.
I do not have more words to tell you how we feel. Thank you again a million times Thank you.A big hug to everyone
Thank you from
When was 9 she became ill. She had flu like symptoms and severe pains in her legs. At first the doctors put it down to growing pains and flu, blood tests were taken, but came back with nothing. The pain became too much to bear and was admitted to hospital. She spent a week on morphine, whilst she had more blood tests taken. This time the blood tests showed that had Leukaemia and as Pete, her father said, then began the first week, of two and a half years of hell.
spent the next two and a half years in and out of hospital, more in than out. The treatment was incredibly harsh and suffered severe side effects from every drug that she was given. The worry and the stress never let up, during her second year of treatment Georgia’s body started to give up due to the demands of the chemotherapy, she reacted so badly to the drugs that she started to black out completely. In the last few months of treatment had renal failure and gastroenteritis. Whilst was ill she spent very little time at school or with friends and a lot of time with her parents. This summer finally finished her treatment and plans were in place for her to come to Barretstown. It was touch and go as to whether or not she would make it as she had yet another infection and a high temperature in the days running up to departure. She did make it to Barretstown and had a fantastic time. As her Dad said it was really important for to be able to go to Barretstown on her own. Barretstown is all about Serious Fun – giving children the chance to get back the confidence lost through years of illness. By taking part in challenging, fun activities, children like Georgia stop seeing themselves as sick children and are able to rebuild their self esteem. For Georgia, Barretstown was a huge success, she came back full of self confidence and enthusiasm for life, exactly what she needs as she heads back to school after two and a half years of being away. came to Barretstown at the end of June and this is the email she sent on her return:
From: Georgia
Sent:
To: BarretstownSubject: Thankyou for a brilliant time!!!!!!
Hello my name is Georgia Thompson and ive just come back from Barretstown about a week ago! i was really nervous at first because its the longest time i have been away from my family at one time. it was session 2, 2008 and there were 12 cottages and i was in cottage 2. i am from and there were 3 other girls from and 6 from . It was really fun trying to communicate because a couple of the spanish girls could talk some english but none of the english people could talk any spanish! i learnt how to say goodnight ( buenos noches ) i think thats how you spell it! and chips ( fritas), hello ( olla). and lots more. As a treat from jhonny mojo, he was a bit like santa at
barretstown we got to dress up and have a fashion show which was fantastic !!!!! We also got a barretstown t shirt and some gifts. I loved all of the activities but my favourites were high ropes, pottery, arts and crafts and film. I would like to say thank you and i appresheate all the kindness and for looking after me everyone in cottage 2, session 2, 2008 , it was one of the best times of my life and i really enjoyed it! OOOhhhh and i almost forgot thank you to Toby the lovely white horse i rode for not throwing me off , i have never been horse riding before so i was rather scared! Thank you to the kitchen staff who cooked all the meals they were all yummy and really tasty espesily the puddings!!!!!!!!!! The people in the medical shed were really nice as well when i felt a bit ill. Thank you for letting me come I really hope i can come again and i have all ready reccommended it 2 someone i know who has had cancer as well!!!THANK YOU
Lots of love and thankyousGeorgia Thompson x x
So please dig deep and donate now.
