Fundraiser update

Just over five weeks until Christmas and while most of us are worrying about our Christmas shopping, some tenacious fundraisers are more concerned with raising more money for their charities.

Kiefer Shea-Godden is taking on a challenge for BBC Children In Need Appeal and will perform a sky dive on Saturday 21st November.

On Sunday 22nd November, Graham Clarke from Middlesbrough will be doing a 170ft bungee jump from the Transporter Bridge in Middlesbrough in aid of The Child Care Action Trust. He says he knows the stunt sounds crazy, but the Trust’s ‘Step Together’ local centres do excellent work for children with cerebral palsy and dsypraxia and he would like to help raise money for them.

Colleagues from the firm Pro Doncaster will spend the 24th November in Doncaster jail where they will not be allowed to leave until they have each raised £500. Andy McKenna, Daniel Fell, Liz Dickson, Paul Goel and Kelvin Fitton have agreed to be arrested and incarcerated in aid of the charity AHS Foundation. Andy McKenna had so far raised £600 – we would like to know if this means he gets a Get Out Of Jail Free card!

Create you fundraising page on Everyclick for your winter fundraising challenge.

And don’t forget you can now send your Christmas cards online in return for a donation to your favourite charity. Up to 121% of your donation will go to your charity¹. You can send them today or set a date for them to be sent up until Christmas Day.

1. For UK tax payers who claim Gift Aid on their donation.

Everyclick provides a charity boost this Christmas

Everyclick has launched our online Christmas card campaign ‘Considerate Christmas’, after last year’s charity Christmas e-card scheme was such a success.

Users can buy greetings with a donation to their favourite charity, which can then be sent immediately or on a set date, to friends, family and colleagues. Companies can use the facility to send ethical greetings to their associates and customers.

And unlike traditional charity Christmas cards where on average only 10 per cent of the cost goes to good causes, with Everyclick up to 121 per cent of your donation goes to charity¹.

It’s the quickest way to send greetings and be both green and ethical this Christmas. You don’t even have to worry about the post! Just go to www.everyclick.com/christmas to send your cards.

Buying and sending Christmas cards is both time consuming and environmentally unfriendly; every year the environmental impact of the production, distribution and disposal of traditional paper cards, not to mention other Christmas waste, is huge².

Two billion Christmas cards are sent in the UK each year³. That’s an average of 42 cards for every adult in the country. Put another way that’s 50,000 tonnes of cards, the equivalent of 2,500 lorry loads every Christmas (and another 2,500 rubbish truck journeys to the landfill site in January)⁴. All that carbon dioxide (CO2) just to say Merry Christmas!

Polly Gowers founder of Everyclick says, “We want to help people stay in touch and send a gift that really counts this Christmas and at the same time raise valuable funds for all Britain’s best loved charities. Let’s make this Christmas about making a difference for those that need it most.”

The scheme offers an easy way to donate to over 200,000 UK charities. The sender or the recipient can choose the charity that they would like the funds to be donated to.

Every card and gift can be personalised and there is the option to add a video and image. And if you want to see who is sending what to whom you can search on the Festive Wall of Fame to find out, or find lost contacts and get in touch again.

1. As a UK taxpayer reclaiming Gift Aid. Please see Everyclick terms and conditions
2. www.recyclenow.com
3. “Greetings Cards”, Mintel International Group Limited, Consumer and Market Report
4. Estimate based on 25g per card

Pyjamas on parade in Stafford this Saturday

On Saturday, 14 November, Stafford High Street will be the setting for an unusual sort of fundraising event.

13‐year‐old Ellie Gilmore and her mum, Suzanne, are holding a sponsored Pyjamas Parade in aid of the charity Postpals. Ellie attends Newport Girls High School and has persuaded 30 of her fellow students to stay in pyjamas in public with her all day.

Ellie is arranging the fundraiser in honour of her 8‐year‐old brother, Harry, who suffers from Lennox‐Gastaut Syndrome and receives help from Postpals.

The pyjama parade is not the first event the budding fundraiser has organised; in 2008, Ellie put together ‘On Wheels for Postpals’. This event originally started as sponsored rollerblading but on the day she was joined by a big team of people on all different kinds of wheels, led by a police car and followed by an ambulance!

‘On Wheels for Postpals’ raised over £800 for the charity and its delighted founder, Vikki George, said “This is the biggest amount a single person has raised for Postpals.” Ellie hopes that the pyjama parade will be as successful.

Ellie with Fearne Cotton

Ellie recently met with Fearne Cotton, the patron of PostPals. Ellie and a friend from school put forward Postpals as Charity of the Year for their school. The girls recorded an interview with Fearne and with Vikki George, which they then played when they presented Postpals to the whole school during school assembly. The vote was a joint choice of PostPals and Teenage Cancer.

Ellie started fundraising at the age of 7 when her brother required an enclosed bed for which there were no funds.

Postpals provides children who have life‐limiting conditions with post from volunteers, with cards and presents at Christmas from reindeer and elves, and with the occasional ‘Extra Smile’ – a day out, a wish granted or tickets to a concert.

They currently send post to 120 sick children and are always looking for volunteers.

If you would like to sponsor Ellie, please go to http://www.everyclick.com/suzannegilmore

Pets charities offer advice for bonfire night

Many pet charities have published good advice on how to help your pet cope with the noise of fireworks this year.

An estimated 60% of pets are frightened of fireworks and get stressed at the noise. Some basic techniques are highlighted here:

On the night of a display, make sure your pet has been out before the fireworks start and that dogs have been for a good walk. Shut all doors and windows and close curtains.

Don’t leave your pet alone in the house unless you are certain they won’t be frightened.

Move your pet to the middle of the house and create a ‘den’ for them to hide in. If they go into a corner or under a bed, leave them there. For dogs, plugging in a DAP diffuser or using DAP spray should help comfort your pet.

Turn on the TV or stereo to mask the sound of fireworks outside. Music with a repetitive drumbeat is useful.

You could try to keep them occupied by playing games or training, but if he starts showing any signs of stress at the noise, stop giving him attention.

Don’t offer your pet treats or fuss when he is stressed, try to behave as if you cannot hear anything and that there is nothing untoward happening. Fussing, comforting or telling your pet off will reinforce that there is something to be frightened of.

If your pet is badly affected by the noise of fireworks, consult your vet well in advance.

An unusual fundraiser in Ewell

An imaginative fundraiser is holding a fundraising dinner at a tapas bar tonight in order to help raise money for her charity.

Bess Harding invites supporters of the Epsom Medical Equipment Fund to attend a dinner at Aroma d’Espana Tapas Bar and Restaurant in Ewell.

The event has been advertised in her local paper. If you would like to attend, please get in touch with Bess.

Epsom Medical Equipment Fund is currently trying to raise £200,000 for a new diagnostic machine for the Radiology Department of Epsom General Hospital.

Felicity Paton – an incredible year of fundraising

For one inspiring Everyclick fundraiser, every weekend of 2009 has been spent fundraising, or thinking about fundraising, for her charity the Bognor Regis and Chichester District Samaritans.

Felicity Paton has so far run an impressive 20 races throughout the UK since March this year, mostly comprising of half marathons and 10k courses. For a break in August, she decided to climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

This truly selfless samaritan started volunteering for her charity two years ago. She is part of a 17,000-strong force of volunteers who man the phones for all the Samaritans’ branches across the UK.

Felicity says: “I started volunteering with the Samaritans as I wanted to do something worthwhile with my spare time. I enjoy doing something where you can actually make a difference in a matter of minutes.

“It is a privilege to be able to pick up the phone when someone needs you most or they simply have no one else to talk to. It has opened my eyes to the amount of people in our community that do not have anyone to turn to in a time of need, most of us take our friends and family for granted but sadly not all of us have this good fortune.”

Felicity, better known to her friends as Flick, decided to embark on her year of fundraising as each branch of the Samaritans, including her own, need to raise £26,000 a year just to keep running.

“My district really needs a boost so the money I raise will help so much in keeping the branch running day and night 365 days a year, recruiting and training new volunteers and increasing public awareness of our services. The more we can recruit and train, the more we can help the local community. “

Flick has one final challenge to complete – the Gosport Half Marathon on the 15th November. She hasn’t quite yet reached her fundraising target so is looking for a last boost from her supporters.

She says: “I can’t quite believe that it is almost over; this year has been very hard work. I have run well over 1000 miles and run 20 races ranging from 5 miles to half marathon distances. It has been tough, the training has been unrelenting, the races challenging but ultimately the most amazing thing I have ever embarked upon! I am almost at my target; people have been so supportive and really overwhelmed me with their kind generosity.”

If you would like to help this ambitious fundraiser for the very last event of her incredible fundraising year, please go to Felicity’s page at http://www.everyclick.com/felicitypaton.

If you would like to create your own fundraising page, we have provided lots of tips and ideas for your event on Everyclick.

Fundraiser update

Prepare yourself for some spooky goings-on for fundraising events around the country this weekend!

Everyclick fundraiser Rose Smith wants people to know about a Hallowe’en Charity Auction night with games and a buffet, and whacky prizes for those arriving in fancy dress. The evening will be held at Fountain Inn, Newbridge near Penzance in aid of Cornwall Hospice Care. She asks that if you can’t attend, maybe supporters would like to make a donation through her page instead.

On 14th November, sixteen college prefects of Cheltenham College are taking part in a 24 hour Charity Relay. Students will be running individually around College Lawn for an hour and a half each. The distance covered should be close to the width of Great Britain. They will start at 7.45pm and continue for 24 hours, running right through the night of the 14th. The energetic prefects are taking on this challenge of stamina for the college’s charity of 2009, the Emthonjeni Trust.

The following week, on the 24th November, Andy McKenna and four other offenders will be put in Doncaster jail and not allowed out again until each has raised at least £500 for their charity, the AHS Foundation. Andy begs that supporters might give generously so he can escape in time for the next West Ham game!

2009 has been a busy year for Everyclick fundraiser Felicity Paton. She has taken part in no less than an incredible 20 events this year to raise money for her charity, the Bognor Regis Chichester and District Samaritans. Most of her events have consisted of 10k or half marathon runs, apart from a break of 8 days in August in which she walked to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. She travelled all over the UK to take part in the events. The first one was the Hastings Half Marathon on the 15th March and she has one more left to do – the Gosport Half Marathon on November 15th. Best of luck Felicity, you must be super-fit by now!

Many fundraisers are already gearing up for 2010 – putting in their entries for major events such as the London Marathon and planning treks in remote and beautiful parts of the world.

Matthew Simms has already signed up for the Three Peaks Challenge for his charity Lifelites. The challenge will take place on 28th July next year, and he will be tackling the three highest peaks of England, Scotland and Wales all within 24 hours.

Jose Veiga is taking part in one of the first events of 2010, the Lisbon Mini Marathon on 21st March, in aid of Manor Gardens Welfare Trust.

Nicola Milne will be walking the trek of a lifetime in April 2010 and has started her preparations already. She will be undertaking a high altitude trek in the Lares region of Peru, ending at Machu Picchu and expects it to take 11 days. Her supporting charity is the Multiple Sclerosis Trust, a cause she says is close to her heart. Nicola also encourages everyone to shop for their Christmas goodies through Everyclick to help raise even more money!

You can support any of these worthy fundraiser’s causes by visiting their pages.

Everyclick exceeds £900,000 raised for charity

Everyclick fundraisers have raised more than an impressive £900,000 for charity! Well done to everyone and a special thanks to those fundraisers who have been most active this week.

The Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon was held on Sunday 11th October, therefore some of those fundraisers feature in our most active this week.

Hayley Kasperczyk exceeded her target for The Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts. Jane Clarke also ran to fundaise for The Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts, but she started a little late! See her page to find out why.

More fundraisers for the same charity included Scott Stroman, Chris Stratton, Annabel O’Connor Fenton, Thomas MacAndrew, Clare England and Katy Tucker. Congratulations to all of them for completing the race. The donations are still coming in.

Retired health professional Fran Reader undertook quite a trek in support of Suffolk Young People’s Health Project in September. Starting at Carlisle and finishing in Wallsend, she walked along Hadrian’s Wall; 65 miles over 5 days from the 24th September. But she didn’t have to complete the journey alone. Accompanied by friends Dee Hall, Sue Readhead and Sally Payne. They admit to all being “mature ladies aged between 49-59!” Donations are also still coming in for Dr Fran.

Create your fundraising page with Everyclick.

Who won the small charity car draw?

The FSI are delighted to announce that the winner and the new owner of the beautiful Fiat 500 is Adelle Coakley, who bought a ticket to raise funds for Seaham & District Training Trust. Congratulations Adelle!

The small charity car draw, run by the Foundation for Social Improvement, sponsored by Zurich and online services provided by Everyclick, was a resounding success. In total, £72,559.54 was raised for 400 small charities in the UK.

Online sales:
Tickets sold: 13,222
Funds raised for small charities: £ 25,174.69

Offline Sales:
Tickets confirmed as sold: 24,887
Funds raised for small charities: £47,384.85

Total tickets sold: 38,109
Total fundraising for small charities: £72,559.54

If you work for a charity which took part in the small charity car draw, the FSI have a survey available to complete to help them present the importance of supporting small charities in this way.

Two men, two temperature extremes for charity

Ed Chapman, 55, from Bude, and Phil Howells, 62, from Ledbury, are taking on two monumental challenges in aid of their favourite charity, COCO. The business partners chose two of the hardest and most extreme physical challenges on the planet.

They have already taken part in the 6633 Extreme Ultra Marathon – a race through the Arctic in the wintertime. Competitors must carry or drag on sledges all the supplies they need to race 350 miles through the Arctic Circle. ‘6633′ is the latitude in degrees and minutes of the Arctic Circle where the race takes the athletes.

Unfortunately the 2009 race didn’t go quite as planned for the two men. Ed was pulled out with frostbite and, although Phil managed to go further, he was forced to withdraw with hypothermia.

Only 20 people are allowed to take part each year. Most of the previous entrants had already competed in winter races in the Yukon, Alaska and North America. Without exception they said the 6633 Ultra was the toughest race they’d taken part in. Not many complete it.

Ed is happy to try again however: “This is truly the toughest race on the planet, minus 40 degrees centigrade has to be experienced before you can have idea of how cold it is. Next time we will know what to expect.”

Their second challenge takes them to the opposite end of the temperature scale; 40 degrees centigrade in the Kalahari Desert.

The Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon consists of running 150 miles in six stages over seven days. This race is limited to 100 entrants and will take place on the 2 to 11 October 2009.

Ed and Phil have been training hard running with rucksacks weighing 10kg over distances beyond the standard marathon. The Cornish Cliffs and the Malvern Hills have been great training grounds; however the poor weather over the summer hasn’t helped them to acclimatise to running in very hot conditions.

Ed and Phil’s chosen charity is COCO, a children’s charity working on closely monitored education and healthcare initiatives that make a big difference to the lives of children living in poverty throughout the developing world.

The charity was founded by former Olympic athlete Steve Cram in 2000 and has since raised over £1.3m.

The two men say they have seen COCO at work in South Africa and Tanzania and know that what they do actually helps people. Both Ed and Phil started to support the charity when they ran the Comrades Marathon in South Africa and saw the extreme suffering of AIDS orphans and the help that COCO was providing.

Laura Elliott, Fundraising and Marketing Coordinator of COCO, said: “Ed and Phil have been long standing supporters of COCO and the challenges that they endure in order to better the lives of children in our projects is truly inspirational and admirable. We are extremely lucky to have two committed individuals who are prepared to go to extraordinary lengths for COCO. We wish them all the best!”

For 2010 Ed and Phil say they are taking on less demanding challenges: “Well, in terms of time away from the business that is. We are doing the ‘Across and Around’ challenge which involves running 140 miles from the West coast of England to the East coast in March, and in August running in the Ultra Tour du Monte Blanc, 104 miles in one go around Monte Blanc with a total ascent of 10,000 metres.”

To support Ed and Phil in their demanding challenges and to donate to their cause please go to their fundraising page http://www.everyclick.com/ed–phil