Hello Everyone,
Here I am, back with another project! Only this time I bring a great team with me.
Please welcome...........................
(you have to click and watch!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AI3wkl0IAY
And for some brief details about Surrey SANDS and to view my last fundraising venture...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1_YCTeZN9g
A message from Lorna Bland, Chair of Surrey SANDS
SurreySANDS, Who are we???????
Most of you will have never heard of Surrey SANDS. The charity provides invaluable empathic support to parents whose babies die during pregnancy or soon after.
Sadly I was introduced to SANDS (The Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society) following the stillbirth of our first child, Micky. I had what can only be described as a wonderful 9 month pregnancy. We knew we were expecting a little boy and spent our time decorating his nursery and making plans for our future.The shock of him dying was something which still devastates me to talk about today. There was no reason, it was described as 'one of those things'. A baby who became distressed and simply wasn't born in time.
The week following his death was spent in two places. Firstly in Mayday Hospital with him and then at the chapel of rest. Whilst in the hospital we were both saddened and upset that the staff had nowhere to place us. We wanted Micky with us, so obviously the labour ward was out of bounds! We therefore ended up in a disused wing in a far corner of the hospital, alone in the dark, just the three of us, we felt like it was us against the world and totally alone.
Well things are starting to change! Mayday have been fantastic and thanks to Lorna, Helen and Wendy at Surrey SANDS, we have been given a wonderful new room for bereaved families to spend precious time with their baby.
Long ago we decided that we would take on the challenge of Mount Fuji and try to raise some invaluable funds for Surrey SANDS. Now that time has come and as July looms before us, its time to start rallying up the troops and bringing in the funds.
Andy Goodall has set himself up with series of summer challenges for Surrey SANDS. Andy writes...
"Rather than investing in expensive and effeminate anti-aging Serums I am channelling my money and efforts to beat the aging process into series of challenges this summer.
I have set myself a bit of a punishing schedule starting on Sunday 31 May when I will be running the Edinburgh Marathon with 5 mates – as I’m no natural athlete this is going to take a massive effort but training is going well and I’m hoping to complete it in under 4 hours.
Just under 2 Weeks after completing the marathon I’ll be doing the 3 peaks challenge with a couple of other mates. We’ll be setting off from Glencoe in Friday 12th June to climb the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales in 24 hours (Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon). I’ve climbed them all before but to do them all in 24 hours has been an ambition for a while so I’m looking forward to the challenge and hopefully the training I’ve done for the marathon will see me through.
On 19th July my girlfriend Nancy and I are cycling the London Bikeathon 52 mile challenge route in an effort to get our legs working enough to complete the final test of the summer – climbing Mount Fuji on 26 July with Nancy and a group of friends. The Fuji climb has been organised by our friend Karen Docherty to raise money for the Surrey SANDS charity.
This is a charity that is very close to Karen’s heart and I am undertaking all of the events this summer to support her cause. As I am funding myself to complete all of the events every penny donated will go to the charity.
Please donate whatever you can spare – every pound counts – to our group justgiving site"
But also thanks to YOU. The half marathon raised just short of £700 with gift-aid. Its thanks to this money that we have the resources to start furnishing and maintaining this room. We still need a further £2000 though and thats where you can help. By passing this page address on to all your friends, family and colleagues, I can guarantee that it will sadly reach someone who has suffered a tragic loss just like me. Remember: 17 babies a day die in the UK.
Upon reflection of our own experience, we know that the environment in which you spend those few hours with your baby impacts significantly upon the memories created. For these to be special it is vital that this brief time is spent in comforting and peaceful surroundings. It is our wish to create a tranquil space in which parents can grieve quietly and alone with their baby, something we would have valued for our all too brief time with Micky.
I hope that you have found this page and the video informative and helpful. I chose to share the pictures of my son with you because not only am I proud of my son, but also because I believe raising awareness and altering peoples opinions and perceptions of stillbirth is something which still needs to be changed. I apologise if anyone found them distressing but as Lorna once said to me......
"Ask anyone to put themselves in your shoes for a few minutes. Tell them to imagine that you've just been told there is no heartbeat and now you have to deliver your baby. Now you have to say goodbye to your baby and go home to tell everyone what has happened - all you have left are your photos and hand/foot prints. Now ask them how they would feel if someone told them that those photos of their precious child are distressing to others when that is all they have left of them? Trust me, asking people to stand in your shoes for a few minutes is very powerful"
If you have recieved this link and have already donated, then by no means is this suggesting that you donate again. YOU have already helped to create the SANDS room and I simply want to keep you updated on how we are doing, where we are, and what needs to be done. I also want you to pass this link on!!!!!
Also, please don't let Geography put you off. I know that some of you have no dealings with Surrey whatsoever, but please think of the families. I also believe that the more hospitals that implement these rooms can only be a good thing. Hopefully more hospitals around the country will sit up and take notice.
As so many of us are fundraising through one page it would really help us if you could let us know who it is that led you to this page. You can do this by popping that persons name in brackets after your own when you donate online.
For example: If you are Nancy's uncle then you would put...
'Don Vito Corleone (Nancy)' in the display name section.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and secure, and the most efficient way to sponsor me. SANDS will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
These are self funded events; all monies donated will go directly to the Surrey SANDS Hospital Support Project. Any monies raised in excess of the £2000 target will stay with Surrey SANDS and be used for future projects in supporting bereaved families. Gift Aid will be retained by National SANDS towards the charity infrastructure costs.
Please help us to create a dedicated bereavement room so that other parents are left with some precious memories.
Thank you all for your support.
Warmest wishes and thanks,
Karen, Nancy, Andy, Louise, Dafydd, Claire, Gemma, Denise, Jacqui, Emma, Katie, Ben, David and Kerry.
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If you wish to learn more about the work of the charity please visit
http://www.surrey-sands.org.uk/
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: SANDS gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
Thank you for your support.
