do more for charity

I have done very little in the past, I was stuck in the “Charity begins at home” rut. Now I know thats just hogwash! I may not be rich but I can certainly “DO” more! I am running a 10k for Cancer research in 2 weeks, only cost me £20.00 to enter and I have raised almost £200 in sponsorship! Easy. So what If I have sore legs or feel a bit rough afterwards, those poor folks who have/had cancer don’t get a choice but I do. So watch out world here I come! I have also involved my company in JeansforGenes day! Thats even easier, £2.00 for wearing jeans to the office. Done!

I deffinitely feel like I’ve achieved this goal now!

• I still collect all my 1p, 2p and 5p coins.
• I feel like I achieved LOTs by standing up in front of everyone in church talking about Abaana and doing the Fast.
• I try to do the oddhitng here and there when I hear about it…
• But I am regularly offering a helping hand with Children’s Hospice South West now! I helped out at the stall in Cockington the other week, bagback at M&S with them, did facepainting at Babbacombe, and they’re always offering me to do more!!

Ever since I was a kid I wanted to something really BIG for people in need. All of my small efforts just didn’t seem like they were making a difference.

Then the idea hit me. Advertisers have billions to spend and my goal was to figure out how to get those dollars into organizations that need it and that really make a difference. For the past 6 months I’ve been building a web technology for charities and faith based organizations to help them raise money without reaching into the pockets of their members. I finally did it!!!

I know I’m probably more excited than anyone b/c it was my dream and it has finally become a reality…but I think this will really help any organization where giving is down and need is up.

I would love your feedback on it and if you want it … it’s free for anyone to use.

Ooh – and maybe a litterpick.

Am doing a sponsored dog walk for a local hospice. I’d like to do more events like this.

Also want to volunteer with some fashion-related charities like TRAID and some dog therapy in old people’s homes.

I need to identify some causes that I would like to volunteer for.

A few months ago I became I ‘friend’ of this charity because I wanted to support them by doing some work experience at Little Bridge House.

They’ve been in touch a lot, and a few weeks back I got involved with them in Torbay Winter Carnival!!

It was cold, but great fun!! We took buckets and I smiled at every single person that we passed… so got PLENTY of coins!!
Not sure how much they get yet, what happens is all of the charities send the money raised to one governing body who give an extra percentage of the money raised to particular chairities. When this is all sorted (a few more months I say!!) is when I’ll be told how much was raised!!

x xxx x x

_ps. I’m the one on the left! _

I did it!!

It went so well!! I spoke in Church about what I was going to be doing and got floods of donations!! It was fantastic! (At first I was well scared speaking into a microphone in front of loads of people! But, well, after that and after my birthday I think I’m okay with it now).

Anyway… in the photo you can see the rest of my pizza that I had walked aroung with, saving until about quarter to 12 so that the fast would begin with a full stomach… but in the middle of Babbacombe I dropped it!! So really the fast was longer than 24 hours!! :P
I was terrible at fasting… made me realise how much I eat out of boredom!! But despite noticing all the food shops and bakeries and cafe’s that I’d never even seen in town before, I held back and refrained for 24 hours!! :)

A boy at church also took a form and joined me… and another wasn’t old enough to fast from food really, so whilst she was on holiday she did a sponsored swim!! She completed 109 laps!! I was so pleased!

• The boy raised £15,
• I’m not sure what the girl raised yet until she gets back from her holiday,
• I raised £339.40!!!!

I’m so very pleased with how it went. :) Just collecting the rest of the money before I can send it off. :)
x xx x xx

http://www.fast4africa.org/index.cfm?do=getinvolved

Some good friends of mine are running a charity to try to save Vera Nazarian, a writer and a very good person, from foreclosure.

Vera has been through series of unfortunate events uncluding a crook who scammed her, illness, caring for her sick old mother (who has cancer), and her father’s death earlier this year.

http://community.livejournal.com/helpvera/751.html

I’ve contributed as much as I could. This is one of those moments when even 1$ donated makes a huge difference. If you can, please consider donating and/or spreading the word.

http://www.fast4africa.org/

Last night I signed up and am going to have lots of sponsership forms sent to me soon!!

I’m really passionate about helping Africa. I think doing a 24 hour fast would be a good thing because to be honest I do take food for granted, I mean I have it whenever I feel like!!
And I know 24 hours is nothing compared to being starving your whole life, and being at high risk of dying from malnutrition at a young age, but at least it will get me thinking a little bit harder. That first meal after the fast aswell, I know I am REALLY going to appreicate!!

The money is going to a very good charity, and I aim to get at least £10… It isn’t t’il 22nd December though so I’m sure I’ll collect more than this!!!

:) xxx x