Dan Hogan
The Wizzy Appeal
Fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Story
STOP PRESS – the annual Journalism ball at Rubyz raised £150 for the cause. Thank you to the stripper, the man who attacked his groin with an angle grinder – bringing a whole new meaning to organ grinding – Miss Kitty, all the staff and students – but above all the Norse God that is Ben Aston. Ben did an incredible job in making the ball the best social event in the history of mankind. The spirit and generosity of Ben, and all our level three guys, will abide.
Sean and Fat Danny did the London Marathon – but you can still sponsor us if you want
Thank God that's over. Thanks for all the sensational people who backed the appeal. You guys are the real heroes. We salute you. If you like all the dreary technical stuff here goes.
Sean did an amazing 2.45.22 and came 322nd overall – 233rd in his age category.
Fat Danny, running his last ever marathon, did 3.56.33 and came 9,171st overall – 567th in the 50-90 age category. Quite a gap.
By backing the wizzy you'll join a multitude of
supporters including:
* The stars
at AFC Bournemouth – if you do only one thing today make sure you click on
the video link on the left to see Wizzy Appeal – The Movie
* The world
class students and staff at Bournemouth and Cardiff Universities
The appeal is inventive in the ways
it raises money to help sufferers of cystic fibrosis:
*We staged
BAMMjam – an incredible night of music by the mega talented students at
the Winchester in Bournemouth – with a capacity crowd of more than 200. If it helps you to part with your money you can see embarrassing video of Fat Danny singing with musical genius Dan Duke, of Bandbridge, County Down, at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPyskmmk6k8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KpnWMzDdns&NR=1
*Comedy
legend Phil Jupitus gave his support to the gig – see his promo video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EchIxTPCixc
If you don't like that video look at one of Tommy Hill shaving off his beard for our Christmas appeal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDtGwx2SJ20
*Ben Martin
raised £200 by having his head shaved in front of 200 gawping strangers.
If you want to re-live the experience a special
BAMMjam CD is going on sale in a few days.
Check out our story archive:
* http://buzz.bournemouth.ac.uk/?p=23280
* http://buzz.bournemouth.ac.uk/?p=20634
Last summer, I ran the Race for Life for breast
cancer. I finished the five-kilometre run in under half an hour – on one
of the hottest days of the year. Considering the thousands of women that I
ran with, this accomplishment does not seem that extraordinary. For me, it was
pretty huge.
I was discharged from hospital the day before the run,
having spent two weeks as an inpatient, after my lung function dropped to 50
per cent – a capacity that could be compared to a 50 year-old smoker. Much to
my doctor’s dismay I completed it whilst still on IV antibiotics with a 20cm
tube in my arm!
Yes, I have Cystic Fibrosis, but I am living proof
that sufferers can live a normal life. My sheer determination aside, my illness
affects me everyday. Someone once asked: “How long have you had that horrible
cough?”
I replied: “Well, I’m cystic – so around 20 years.” It
came out a little more blunt than I had anticipated – but the condition is
frustrating.
Some days I awake to find that I am struggling to walk
up the stairs. While on others I’ll be up for taking on a run – like the
Race for Life. My treatment routine involves 50-odd tablets daily, along with physiotherapy
morning and night, nebulisers twice a day and trips to hospital every few
weeks.
Never one to succumb to the restrictions that come
with being cystic, I enrolled at Bournemouth University to study BA Multi-Media
Journalism. A year on, I am a fully-fledged BAMMJ, who hates shorthand as much
as the rest of them and dreams of making a name for herself.
On paper, CF reads as an incurable illness with a life
expectancy that is far from optimistic. Optimism is, however, something that I
do not lack. CF can be crippling, but, with developments in research
funded by the CF Trust, they will find a cure and sufferers will live well into
and above their 50’s. Where there is a will, there is a way.
Laura Visick
The Wizzy Appeal would also like to thank the following for their time and generosity:
Mark, Conrad, and all the sensational staff at the Winchester for their world class support. The legendary Mik Parsons, Jo Tyler, Cllr Guy Montrose and the team at Fat Bob’s, Winton, The players at AFC Bournemouth, Phil Jupitus, and Oscar nominees Dan Thomas & Max Fitzgerald. The stars of BAMMjam: Daniel and the Lion, Sabre Tooth Dream, Liam Hofflay and Alex, Calum and Laura of Rhythmic Vibrosis, Jack Chuter and Amber Phillips, Mr Retro and Izzy Smith – plus those cheeky crowd favourites – The Dum Dums. A big thanks also to everyone who attended BAMMjam and those who have given anonymously. That's enough thanks.