I’m so pleased with all we achieved in 2013 – raising over £300,000 in one year is phenomenal. Thank you for your part in that achievement.
But here’s the thing – we need to do it again in 2014!
Why? Because we have been gifted land and aim to build our Retreat on it during 2014. A Retreat that young cancer patients and their families will be able to use, to spend time together. In addition to building the Retreat we will continue with our other practical support to families – providing snacks to the wards at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and at The Western General Hospital for patients and parents (and that includes treats for Christmas and New Year’s day – we were very proud to provide lovely buffets for both those days), organising monthly workshops, providing parent packs for those parents staying in hospital with their child, and giving help with ironing. We have also this year been able to help two families with some garden maintenance.
That’s why I need your help again.
Sometimes it is fun to have a theme for your year and because this year is the year that the Commonwealth Games return to Scotland we are making it the Year of Fitness for It’s Good 2 Give.
Our signature events will still be on the agenda but we will have lots of fitness events too.
A couple of months ago Balanced Physiotherapy took us on as Charity of the Year and last week the Scotsman Spa did too. What great opportunities await us!
Let’s see what we have planned so far
Fitness
- Mid-February will see the start of an 8 week Pilates course with Iain Dunn (time and dates to be confirmed but mid-morning and weekday likely for this first course)
- If there is enough demand for it we will also organise an 8 week yoga course
- again if enough demand (we would want at least 6 participants) we will organise an 8 week nutrition workshop on healthy eating – for the 8 week block cost would be £180 per person – these would be held on a Friday afternoon in Stockbridge.
- we’ll be starting a Walking group at the end of February too – limited number of participants and walks will vary – joining the group will cost £100 per person per year and for your membership you will also receive monthly offers
- Mid-May we will host our first ever 5km run/walk – round Heriot-Watt grounds at Riccarton- this run will be for all ages
- This year our late summer Pedal 4 Paul bike ride will take place on Sunday 24 August and be just for us – it will start and end at Musselburgh Race Course and we’ll cycle round East Lothian. There will be three categories of ride (full information very soon)
- and another first for us – we are going to host a 5 a side football tournament at Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton. Very early days for plans but we will be publicising them in January. (and it’s inside so not weather dependant!)
In addition we’ve got
Our signature events
Trustees Susan and Lynne at Spring Blingo
- Spring Blingo 15 May at the Roxburghe Hotel, Edinburgh- sold out but we do operate a waiting list so get in touch if you want to come.
- If I get an Event Patron and a good bit of help I might organise a cycling themed mini-fashion show in June during the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling
- Our very special Fashion Show returns after a year off – 5 October at Erskine Stewart’s Melville School, Queensferry Road, Edinburgh
- Our 3rd Ball at the Sheraton Grand, 15 November hosted by the one and only Grant Stott – tables of ten £650
- Christmas Afternoon Tea at the Caledonian- a Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Sunday 14 December – already 50% sold – it really is a fabulous festive event and great value as all our events are – for £30 you get luxurious and festive afternoon tea with a glass of Prosecco.
Challenges for 2014
I reckon we can get 100 individuals/schools/businesses to pledge to raise £1000 each for us during the year – doesn’t have to be all in one go and could be more! Already Angela Hamilton Geraghty, Susan Stewart and Marlyn Minto have signed up to this challenge. So I only need to find 97 more.
- Join our Givers Club – we have a handful of regular givers and would love to have 50 by end of 2014 – from as little as £5 per month you can really make a difference.
Doesn’t always have to be on the grand scale – Take one Smartie tube (giving away the smarties or putting them in a big jar and turning them into a challenge of their own – guess the number of smarties in the jar) and fill the empty tube with 20p pieces – started two years ago by Ali and Carol of Curves gyms, Edinburgh with stunning success and taken up by the occasional supporter we are bringing it back big time for 2014
- Save pennies in one of our collecting boxes – my dad did just that and packed it with coppers – when we emptied it there was over £10 in it. Result!
- Pound pics – a great one for adults and children alike. We have postcards that you fill in your details on one side and on the blank side do us a drawing that includes a £1 coin. Masterton Primary School in Dunfermline took on the challenge and raised £98 – could be a fun fundraiser at schools, nurseries, brownies/cubs/guides/scout groups – every quarter we will choose the best in different categories (age – up to 5, 5-8, 9-12, 13-16 and adult) and give a book prize.
- One of the requirements for taking part in Pedal 4 Paul is to wear odd socks – an endearing habit of Paul’s. What to do with the other pair of odd socks? Fill them with coins over the year and make that part of your fundraising for the bike ride!
Easy fundraising
If you are spring cleaning and come across – old jewellery and that includes costume jewellery or broken gold chains or earrings, reasonable condition clothes and shoes, printer cartridges, old mobile phones, CD’s, DVD’s please give them to us – we can get money for them
Shop online? Consider doing so via Give as You Live and once signed up to raise funds for us you will never notice doing anything – I’ve raised £138 in two years.
Return of the Wishing Tree
Our first tree in 2011 was in St Andrew Square gardens – it was bitterly cold, not busy and we still did very well. However I think a new strategy is needed and I would like to see us doing a Wishing Tree in 2014 – what is it, do I hear some of you ask? It is a tree that we hang tags from – tags that have messages of hope, love, optimism on them and the people who write the messages make a donation to It’s Good 2 Give. We need to find a new (warmer) spot this year – ideas gratefully received!
I think we have got something for everyone there – if anything interests you or you could help us with publicising events or organise one yourself for us do get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.
All that is left is for me to wish you a happy and healthy 2014
Lynne
This has to be our favourite venue – it is central, easy to get to, good sized room (though we could do with it bigger and I do beg them to ditch the horse paintings in the main function room!) but most important of all we have a cracking relationship with GM Marcello Ventesei and his team. We love our Blingo events there and in fact May sees our 10th Blingo event at the hotel. Can’t wait.
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