Thank you for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

Welcome to Changing Hearts…Transforming Lives the exciting sponsor challenge for 2010.

    What’s coming up?

Bob Graham Challenge

   23^rd July 2010

 Giles Inglis-Jones, Simon Webb, James Beardall and Chris Royle are attempting a Bob Graham Challenge relay.  Another challenge that will need grit and determination - all set in the Lake District.

·         24 hours

·         42 mountains

·         All peaks over 2000 feet

·         Approximately 70 miles in total

·         27,000 ft ascent and descent

This challenge is divided into five gruelling sections (each a substantial trek of its own) with each participant doing one section apart from Simon who is doing two, and Chris who will also be joining James for the final leg.  An event that will need stamina, strength, will power and sheer guts and determination.  The team will run this event like a relay and will be using one of John’s carabiners as the ‘baton’, passing it to the next team member at the end of their Leg.  Each Leg involves an ascent and descent of  approximately six to seven thousand feet over various well known Lake District peaks in a time of about 4 to 6 hours depending on the Leg.  The pressure will be on for each team member running their Leg and knowing that the team relies on them to keep to time to allow for the next team member when they receive the ‘baton’.  Months of training has included several ‘recce’ weekends in the Lake District team building and going over the entire course.  The actual event will start at midnight on Thursday 22^nd July and conclude hopefully no later than midnight Friday 23^rd July (less than 24 hours later!) in Keswick for a well earned rest and massive breakfast on the Saturday morning.

 To support Giles and Simon, James and Chris go to:

To donate to BHF go to: www.justgiving.com/changingheartstransforminglives

To donate to Oasis go to: www.justgiving.com/changingheartstransforminglivesoasis  

Three Peaks Challenge

18^th June – 20^th June

What an adventure!

Climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowden our team of 16, ageing from 9 to 67, drove 1000 miles, ascending the three highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales.  The team was fantastically led by Ollie Mills and Rich Spink our two mountain leaders, and every member of the team achieved what they set out to do, some exceeding their own expectations.

The youngest of the team Diddy (9), climbed Ben Nevis and Snowden while Noah (12) and Hope (11) climbed all three peaks. The two 360 students from Oasis Academy Bristol, Emily Banks and Vicky Green did an amazing job climbing all three peaks, along with Andrea Rea from Bristol and Ruth Chalke, Dan Chalke, Rob Candy and Joe Dilger from Oasis Central Office. Many thanks to our drivers Jill Rowe and Richard Avery who both also managed to squeeze in an ascent of Snowden as well as getting us from A to B and to Elwyn Welch for driving and preparing the food en route to keep everyone going and to provide much needed energy

What promised to be a gruelling but memorable experience lived up to our expectations but the weekend was one of fun and team spirit.  In fact that was the most memorable part of the weekend and what will remain when all the aches and pain have subsided.

 

Reaching Glen Nevis at 3am on Saturday morning we set off up Ben Nevis watching the sun rise as we climbed, over the Scottish hills.  The summit was blisteringly cold and we made a quick descent.  Upon arrival at Wasdale Head to ascend Scafell Pike in the early evening on Saturday this climb was much more pleasant but the tiredness was starting to set in.  The driving was long and sleeping fitful on a minibus floor and so we set off for Wales at 11pm to start the ascent of Snowden at 5am.  In what was a miracle there was no rain on Snowden and some of the team were able to enjoy a swim in a lake on the way down to alleviate the aches and general aroma!

Oasis Academy Bristol and Church Stretton School kindly agreed to lend us their minibuses for this event.  We are extremely grateful for their support and generosity.

The team

Rich Spink     Ollie Mills   Jill Rowe    Richard Avery    Elwyn Welch    Karen Williams      Noah Williams      Hope Williams    Gabriel Williams    Andrea Rea     Emily Banks     Vicky Green     Ruth Chalke     Dan Chalke    Rob Candy  Joe Dilger

To support the team in this endeavour :

To donate to BHF go to: www.justgiving.com/changingheartstransforminglives

To donate to Oasis go to: www.justgiving.com/changingheartstransforminglivesoasis  

         

Launched in February 2010 we have now had a number of major events.

News on our most recent events

8^th May 2010       Comedy Evening

A night of great fun with some outstanding stand ups!  All ticket sales go to Changing Hearts.. Transforming Lives and this raised a total of £750.

Thank you to everyone who supported that evening making it such a success.  The money raised from this event will be split equally between BHF and Oasis Uganda.

Supported by Barnabas Community Church

A recent message from Gillian Olaaka, Director The Beersheba Project, Oasis

The 30 current girls were able to go on a weekend long camp recently, sponsored and led by a team visiting from Aylesford school UK, and it was wonderful – the excitement of having individual beds (most sleep on the floor), good food – 3 times a day! - lots of games! It was a truly special time.

Virgin London Marathon

Colin Streets ran the Virgin London Marathon and raising support through Changing Hearts ..Transforming Lives.  He specifically raised funds for Oasis raising a total of £ 1600 and you can visit the websites to see photos of him. He completed this challenge despite a severe migraine at 16 miles making it impossible for him to run.  However, determined not to fail, he completed the race after a stop of one and a half hours.  A courageous and determined effort.

www.justgiving.com/colin-streets   or

www.justgiving.com/changingheartstransforminglivesoasis.

What’s happening over the year?

February Ben Nevis Ascent

             Challenge Launch

Noah Williams, Chris Royle

March   Cake Sales Longden School

            Oak Class

April     London Marathon

            Colin Streets

May      Comedy Evening

Barnabas Community Church

June     Three Peaks Challenge

            Oasis Academy Bristol

staff and students

            Oasis Central Office staff

            Shrewsbury based team

June     Bob Graham Challenge

            Giles Inglis-Jones

Chris Royle, Simon Webb, James Beardall

Summer

            Kayak: Ireland – Anglesey

            Gareth Caldwell

Shropshire Lad’s Walk

Diddy Williams and boys under 9’s

Autumn Hog Roast

            Rea Valley, Shropshire 

Other Events and Ideas happening over the year

CD                   Hope Williams

Cake stalls        Longden School

If you would like to be involved or have any ideas however small or big please do get in touch.

All money raised will be given through JustGiving.com, an independent web based organisation who will distribute 100% of the sponsor money donated to the British Heart Foundation, Oasis Uganda and Oasis Academy John Williams.  Or you can choose to help fund one of the specific projects.

Oasis Academy John Williams

One of the 11 Oasis Academies in the UK, Oasis Academy Bristol will be known as Oasis Academy John Williams from September 2010. 

The catchment area is one of the most deprived in the country and certainly one of the most challenging in Bristol. 

Through its work in the Academy and the wider community Oasis seek to serve the whole community. To keep updated with what’s happening at the Academy go to www.oasisacademybristol.org.

Visit www.oasisuk.org to find out more about Oasis. Telephone 0207 921 4200 or email fundraising@oasisuk.org.

Oasis Uganda; The Beersheba Project

An informal school, set up for vulnerable girls in Uganda, aged 13 - 16 who, for various reasons, are unable to attend school.  The Beersheba Project gives the girls and the wider community the opportunity and skills to lead full, positive and healthy lives.

Changing Hearts ..Transforming Lives is raising £1100 over the year to specifically support 30 girls in their formal academic studies for 2010.  We will fund their school fees, uniforms and school materials.  This will give opportunity for them to receive a more formal education that will be an investment for their futures. 

It seems appropriate that any schools and young peoples’ sponsor events will fund this particular project through Changing Hearts.. Transforming Lives

For more details go to www.oasisuganda.org

British Heart Foundation

Heart disease is the UK’s biggest killer, every year heart and circulatory disease claims 200,000 lives. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is the nation’s heart charity, dedicated to saving lives every day –through pioneering research, caring for patients and families, campaigning for change and providing vital information to help people care for their own heart health.

 

You will find a lot more information about their work on their website www.bhf.org.uk

To receive this newsletter every month or to discuss how you can take part contact: Karen Williams via email: jpwilliams624@btinternet.com

 

To donate to BHF go to: www.justgiving.com/changingheartstransforminglives

To donate to Oasis go to:

www.justgiving.com/changingheartstransforminglivesoasis

If you would like your donation to go to the Beersheba Project please put BEERSHEBA in the comment box along  with any other comments you wish to make.

 

If you would like your donation to go to the Bristol project please put BRISTOL in the comments box along with any other comments. 

 

This will help Oasis allocate your donation correctly.

Thank You.

 

To donate to BHF go to http://www.justgiving.com/changingheartstransforminglives

 

Thank you for your support.