To celebrate the news that we can look forward to a new album from Robbie this year, RWFU decided to make its next appeal more personal to our man, and to the children and their families who so desperately need our help.
Based in Robbie's home town of Stoke-on-Trent, The Donna Louise Children's Hospice (known as "Treetops" to its children), provides respite and end of life care to children with life threatening conditions and support for the whole family.
2009 marks the tenth birthday of the Donna Louise Children's Hospice Trust, but the celebrations of ten years of wonderful work are being overshadowed by a desperate need to raise money just to keep the doors of Treetops open.
As a patron of the trust, our boy has naturally thrown his support behind them - this is what he had to say back in February 2009
"Ay up! Being a Stoke lad I am very proud to be a patron of the Donna Louise Children's Hospice. It is a very special place for which we should all be proud and grateful.
"The whole place was built through the generosity of the people of Staffordshire and South Cheshire and now it is really struggling and needs our help. The hospice can't exist without your support... every bit helps so please do what you can"
It costs around £2 million a year to run Treetops. At the moment, just fifteen percent of this comes from statutory funding. The rest of the money has to come from charitable donations. Which is where you come in.
In previous appeals RWFU have raised almost £2000 for UNICEF and the British Heart Foundation, so we know we can do it. If we can do the same again for Treetops, for the charity which is so close to Robbie's heart, we will be making an enormous difference.
Remember, donations start at just £2, and as Robbie said, every bit helps, so please do what you can.
On behalf of RWFU, Treetops, but most importantly those children and their families - thank you.
*We have tried to get the message across in the now obligatory video! but to learn more about how much your donation will mean to everybody involved with Treetops, please visit the charity's website at http://www.donnalouisetrust.org/
Robbie Gets Behind Treetops Again
Following on from his statement in February, Robbie has now narrated a short video in support of the Treetops appeal. RWFU hopes to bring the video to you very soon, but in the meantime, please visit www.robbiewilliams.com to watch the video - and we defy you not to come straight back here and donate...
Friday, May 15, 2009,
Determined teen raises over £8k for hospice in memory of best friend
A TEENAGER has raised £8,500 for the Donna Louise Hospice Children's Trust in memory of his best friend.
Izaak Bailey, age 14, of Winnothdale, Tean, has raised the money for the trust, which runs the Treetops Hospice where his friend Saim Khaliq found comfort.
Saim died in January this year after losing an 18-month battle against bone cancer.
Before he died, Izaak made a promise to Saim that he would help raise money for the hospice.
And the total money raised has been boosted to £10,000 after Izaak's schoolmates raised £1,500 at various events including a sponsored bike ride, non-uniform day, sponsored walk and sponsored leg wax.
Izaak said Saim, of Werrington, was his "very best friend."
The Painsley Catholic College student said: "We shared a friendship that was unique and Saim was very special to me, someone I was proud to call my very best friend.
"We had so much in common.
"Before he died, he asked me if I would help to raise money for the hospice and told me he could rely on me to do that.
"As soon as I got home that night, I started researching what I had to do.
"I had originally aimed to raise £3,000 and thought I would struggle to do that.
"So to raise so much does give me a sense of disbelief."
As part of Izaak's fund-raising, he has completed a gruelling 10k swim with friend David Hannah, taken part in a sponsored walk, sold special ribbons and held a raffle.
He added: "The sponsored swim was one of the most difficult things I have ever done.
"It was a huge challenge, but one I was so determined to complete.
"The thought of Saim helped to push me through until the end."
Izaak is now looking at becoming a full-time charity worker when he finishes school.
He said: "I don't think before I met Saim I would have considered doing something like this.
"But it is now one of the options open to me when I leave school.
"In the meantime, I am going to continue to keep raising money for the hospice."
Izaak is now planning on planting a tree in Saim's memory later this year.
His mum, Yvonne, said: "What Izaak has done for his friend has astonished us all and we are extremely proud of him.
"Saim was Izaak's best friend and after he died, I've never seen him so low.
"The boys' friendship was a great one and Izaak was devastated when Saim died.
"But raising this money has helped him to focus and cope with his loss."
Melanie Mills, head of fund-raising at the Donna Louise Children's Hospice Trust, said: "We are absolutely taken aback with the success of his fund-raising. It is an inspiration and fine example to us all to see someone so young committed to helping others."
Source - The Sentinel
This is ONE BOY. Just one boy who raised EIGHT THOUSAND POUNDS. Just imagine what thousands of Robbie Williams fans could do...
18th May 2009
Another week, another video! If you still haven't made up your mind, have a look at this
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=57571081
Tuesday, May 26th 2009
The Media Pick Up On Our Appeal!
Robbie fans back hospice
FANS of Robbie Williams are raising money for the Donna Louise Children's Hospice Trust.
Members of Robbie Williams Fansites United, which was formed last year, are backing the Trentham Lakes-based hospice after hearing their idol talk about the charity's 10th birthday, which was celebrated earlier this month. The group has set up on an online sponsorship page and is promoting the work of the hospice in Robbie forums.
Last year, the fansites raised almost £2,000 for Unicef and the British Heart Foundation on Robbie's behalf.
Geraldine Knott , of Bristol, said: "The fansites wanted to do something specific for Robbie and with this being in Stoke-on-Trent, it seemed a good cause."
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Robbie-fans-hospice/article-1020447-detail/article.html
30th August 2009
Treetops Forced To Close Its Doors Two Nights A Week
As the credit crunch continues to squeeze, the Donna Louise Trust has seen a drop off in the level of donations. The trust relies on charitable donations for its very survival, and the direct impact of the drop in donations is that Treetops has had to close its doors for two nights a week.
We can't allow this situation to get any worse than it already is - please do everything you can to help us keep Treetops open 24/7 for the children and their families who rely on this important and wonderful place so much.
18th September 2009
Robbie Says Thank You!
So it's official - Robbie knows just how hard you are all working to help Treetops, and has used his blog this week to say thank you - which is nice!
Keep up the good work, you proactive buggers!
20 September 2009
CONGRATULATIONS - YOU DID IT!
As of this morning the total raised for Treetops stands at £1100 - you did it, the first target has been smashed!
But we're not the kind of people to quit while we're ahead - we're going to roll with this new momentum which Mr Williams himself kick started.
We've set a new target of £2500 - can we kick it? We're hoping the resounding answer will be "YES WE CAN!"
Robbie Williams has the BEST fans!
