Full of pride

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There’s extra reason to take pride in the Royal Borough as The Lions of Windsor & Maidenhead 2019 sculptures go on display for the next three months.

The public art event will feature a giant pride of super-sized lions displayed from 10th August to 27th October to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Queen Victoria and raise funds for local charities.

The colourful individual lions are sponsored by a range of businesses and organisations and have been decorated by leading artists, designers and illustrators. There’s also a mini pride of lion cubs which have been decorated by schools across the area.

The display also has a serious message with the aim of highlighting the plight of lions, which have become endangered with only 15,000 left in the wild.

The pride will go on show on the streets of Windsor, Eton, Ascot, Datchet, Maidenhead and beyond for the duration before being auctioned off for charity.

You’ll be able to ‘go on safari’ and follow the lion trail with maps available from the start of August and take a tour of the borough visiting the noble beasts on the streets.

The lions were created by sculptor Alan Dun who had previously created the Lions of Bath in 2010 and last year’s Owls of Bath.

Having shaped and moulded the original lion, a fibreglass mould was made to create the prototype from which the pride was born.
He also sculpted the lion cub to be decorated by schools, charities and community groups to then display on the trail.

Once the lions are taken off display they will be restored by the artists and then gathered together for one last roar goodbye on 9th and 10th November before the charity auction on 21st November.

All proceeds from the auction will go to local charities – Thames Hospice which provides care for people with life-limiting illnesses in East Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire; Windsor Lions Club which helps a wide range of people and organisations in the community; Look Good Feel Better equips people to face cancer with confidence and wildlife charity Tusk.

Lions represent nobility, royalty, strength and stateliness so are the perfect choice for the Royal Borough and to raise awareness of their decline – over the past 50 years, the number of wild lions in Africa have fallen from 200,000 to less than 15,000. Tusk, which is working to highlight the decrease in numbers, has declared 2019 to be the Year of the Lion.

Find out more

Visit the Lions of Windsor site

Click here

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Kilimanjaro climb

Karen Neville

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Pair to take on Kilimanjaro climb for Helen & Douglas House

Sabine Schwaebisch has a very special reason for wanting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

As a nurse at Helen House in Oxford she often meets children and families facing unimaginable challenges and it is this which has inspired her to take on the climb.

Sabine is doing the climb as part of a group of 12 trekkers in aid of the children’s hospice in October. They will take the seven-day Machame Route, starting through the rainforest and later up a rock wall before then trekking up through arctic conditions at night to reach the peak at 8,595m – the world’s highest solitary peak.

The team will battle through altitude sickness and exhaustion but all the time spurred on by why they are doing this.

Sabine, who lives in Abingdon, and friend Adeline Daly are pushing themselves out of their comfort zone and know they’ll face their fear of heights, the extreme cold and altitude sickness but all the time will be driven on by raising funds.

As part of their fundraising for the trek, the pair are holding a black tie event at Jurys Inn, Oxford, on Saturday, 13th July. The evening will include a welcome drink, a three-course meal with wine, big band live music and a raffle in aid of Helen & Douglas House.

Sabine says: “Knowing first hand that the hospice is a lifeline for many local families, we want to raise funds to help secure the hospice’s future. It is such a magical place, full of love, life and laughter, which almost entirely relies on the public for financial survival.”

Find out more

CLICK HERE to book tickets for the charity ball costing £50

Or to donate to the Kilimanjaro climb click below

Fundraising page

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Harrison’s Fund

Karen Neville

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Join Box Hill brunch walk and raise money for Harrison’s Fund

Two mums from Surrey are organising a walk to raise money for a charity that funds research into a life-limiting condition for children.

Klara Cecmanova, 41, and Vicky Lush, 49, from Epsom have organised The Box Hill Walk as part of local charity, Harrison’s Fund’s Harrison’s Brunch campaign. The walk starts at 9.45am on Sunday, 30th June at Box Hill Viewpoint and sees walkers walk down the hill and back up the steps to the top, followed by a bring your own picnic.

Klara has been a big supporter of the charity since two of her boys Theo (7) and Oskar (5) were diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in 2014.

She said: “Due to their condition, both Theo and Oskar would struggle to walk up Box Hill, their muscles just aren’t strong enough.
“We would love to see as many people as possible at the top of Box Hill ready to help our little warriors down the steep slope, over the stepping stones, and back up the stairs to the top – a tough walk for those that are fully fit but almost impossible for our boys.

“We’ll be able to see the area we live in from the viewpoint so they’ll get a real kick out of this and once back at the top we’ll be relaxing with rugs and a picnic so bring your own and get to know us and your local community.”

We would love to see as many people as possible at the top of Box Hill

Harrison’s Fund was set up in 2012 and funds research into Duchenne – a rare genetic condition which affects all the muscles in the body, causing them to waste away.  Harrison’s Fund’s goal is to get as much money as possible into the hands of the world’s best researchers, who are working to find a cure for Duchenne. The charity is currently funding 16 research projects in the US and the UK.

Klara and Vicky have been raising money for the charity since 2015 when she was part of a local team of women to put on a big community event. Since then it has become an annual event organised by parents with children of the same age who have seen the boys grow from active little boys to becoming increasingly wheelchair bound. The walk is part of the charity’s Harrison’s Brunch campaign which encourages everyone to host a brunch during the month of June to raise money.

Luci Roberts, campaigns executive at Harrison’s Fund said: “Theo and Oskar, like all boys with Duchenne, are an inspiration to us all. Even though their little bodies are slowly failing them, inside, they are just still, little boys who love an adventure, so we hope the local community will join them on their own adventure this June.”

All the proceeds from Harrison’s Brunch will go directly to fund the purchase of a “high throughput analyser” which enables scientists to compare different gene medicines when working in a lab. By using computer automation, the analyser can screen different models and evaluate them in a fraction of the time it would take a team of scientists.

Support the walk or join them

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Help save lives

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Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance needs you!  

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance is the charity that brings emergency critical care to people who need it most, in their hour of need. 

It costs £15,000 a day to keep the Air Ambulance flying and saving lives and last year the charity’s Critical Care Teams were called to 1,429 incidents across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.    

Highly skilled crews of doctors, paramedics and pilots can be at road traffic collisions, sporting accidents, collapses and a variety of other incidents within minutes, ready to deliver the same level of care you would receive at a hospital emergency department. 

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Air Ambulance is entirely funded by the generosity of our local community and we rely upon our team of volunteers to support our fundraising efforts.   

This is where your help is needed.  They are urgently looking for new events volunteers, speakers, van drivers, maintenance support volunteers and collection pot agents. Volunteers are also needed to join the new event support team, which supports HIOWAA on an ad-hoc basis at the mass participation events.   

Volunteering for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance is fun and rewarding and you can volunteer as often or as little as you wish.  Volunteering can fit around your own life and commitments.  

If you have some spare time and would like to donate it to this life-saving cause, please contact the volunteering team on:

  [email protected] or 02380 743516 or visit the website for more details: www.hiowaa.org.

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Join March for Men

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Take part in prostate cancer’s walks and help raise funds for life-saving research

Sunday, 16th June is Father’s Day so how about doing something really special to help not just your dad, but all men.

Throughout June, Prostate Cancer UK is inviting families and friends to get together and walk and help fund life-saving research to stop prostate cancer, a disease which kills one man every 45 minutes.

Since 2017, more than 10,000 people have joined a March for Men and helped raise  in excess of £3.3million to improve testing, treatments and care for men. There are 10 national walks including those taking place in London and Bristol for you to get involved in or why not organise one yourself where you live?

It doesn’t need to be any great distance, you can choose to walk around your local park or open space or get the community involved – decide on the length and pick a place that’s important to you. If there’s one incentive to get many men marching it’s the prospect of a pint at the end of the walk so how about a pub-to-pub march? Plan a route between two pubs and finish with a well-deserved pint.

Many will know of Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling’s efforts to raise funds for prostate cancer, he has walked 25 marathons which have raised nearly £800,000 and from September 5th to 8th he’s taking on four marathons in four days walking from club to club  in Glasgow, Belfast, Cardiff and London. You can join Jeff or set up one of your own club-to-club walks, it doesn’t need to just be football league clubs and it doesn’t need to be 26 miles either.

For loads of fundraising ideas or to join Jeff go to Prostate Cancer UK

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Cupcake Day

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Bake it or fake it for Alzheimer’s Society Cupcake Day  

Who doesn’t love a cupcake and even better if you can tuck in while helping a brilliant cause.

Bring everyone together on Thursday to help fight dementia for the Alzheimer’s Society Cupcake Day. Whether you’re a baker or not, faking it’s OK with some shop bought ones, every cupcake helps fund pioneering research, support services and care.

If you want to make and decorate your own you’ve got two days to get in the kitchen and get creating but don’t worry if you can’t get it done for then – just choose a day that suits you instead.

In the average time taken to bake a batch of cakes, six people in the UK will develop dementia, since 2016, Cupcake Day has raised £2.7million so get baking and help raise funds as your cupcakes rise.

Take them to work, school or just invite a few friends and family round, tuck in and get helping.

If you need some tips for your Cupcake Day and some great recipe ideas right here

Click here for more about Alzheimer’s Society and the work they do

Read more about what is being done in the battle against dementia in our feature on motor racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart whose wife Helen has been diagnosed with the disease. He has launched a fundraising drive, Race Against Dementia, to boost funds for research.  You can also find out about Singing for the Brain and the benefits of music when it comes to unlocking memories.

For more on both
Happy baking!

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ARCh: Help a child learn to

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Imagine not being able to read properly? There are many primary school children all over the county who struggle to do just this but with your help they could develop a love of what you’re doing now.

Imagine not being able to read properly? There are many primary school children all over the county who struggle to do just this but with your help they could develop a love of what you’re doing now.

ARCh (Assisted Reading for Children) is an award-winning local charity which recruits, trains and supports volunteers to work one-to-one with pupils, inspiring them to develop a love of reading.

Having grown rapidly since its launch in 2008, ARCh has helped around 6,000 Oxfordshire children to love reading, enhancing their lives at school and beyond.

At present there are around 250 ARCh volunteers working in 100 primary schools throughout Oxfordshire but more are needed and the charity hopes to place new volunteers on the next two-day training course at the start of next term.

After successful application, checking and training process, each volunteer is assigned three primary school children to work one-to-one with, for 30 minutes at a time, twice a week, during the school day. Volunteers are asked to commit to work with these children for the entire year, to build a nurturing, mentoring relationship.

The charity provides books and games, personalised to suit each child.
Sessions involve a mixture of chat, sharing books and playing games. They are fun and encouraging and so build up the children’s confidence and self esteem.

ARCh development manager Jane Rendle said: “There are lots of children in primary schools throughout the county who would benefit from ARCh support.  No formal qualifications are required to volunteer, just enthusiasm for reading, enjoyment of children’s company and good communication skills.

“Our volunteers gain a lot from their experience. Many say the time they spend with their ARCh children is the highlight of their week; they come away from school with a big smile on their face!”

The charity won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service on 2016 and is the current OCVA Charity of the Year.

Anyone interested should visit the ARCh website to download an application form or call their office on 01869 320380 for an informal chat. 

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Rudridge walk

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Get on the FAST Road to Rudridge and help raise funds for the Stroke Association

We hope we can raise as much money and awareness of the condition as possible and do our bit to support those who have been affected by a stroke.”

Staff from a Farnham company are planning to walk 50km in memory of a former colleague and raise some funds for a very worthy cause at the same time.

Tony Marshall, who worked for materials and groundworks supplier Rudridge, suffered a fatal stroke in 2016 and now the company is hoping to raise awareness of stroke symptoms and support survivors by raising funds for The Stroke Association.

The walk has been called The FAST Road to Rudridge, recognising the acronym that helps identify stroke symptoms encouraging people to act on them – Face, Arms, Speech, Time.

The route they will take on Saturday, 22nd June goes from Southwater in West Sussex to the company’s Farnham depot and includes five walking challenges ranging from 13k to 50k taking in the scenery of the Downs Link Path and the North Downs Way.

Among those taking part will be several of the company’s customers and suppliers who will all be treated to a celebration afterwards at Badshot Lea FC’s new ground in Wrecclesham.

Sales director at Rudridge, Paul Duke said: “Tony was a much loved colleague and he is sorely missed by so many of us here at Rudridge.

To undertake this challenge in his memory will be an honour.

To find out more or make a donation visit Just Giving

Photo (from left):  Tony Marshall with friends and Rudridge colleagues Mark Stacey and Richard May.

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Christian Aid Week

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Today marks the start of Christian Aid Week, the national week raising money for the worldwide work of Christian Aid.

Last year more than £8million was donated to fight poverty and help poor communities around the world.

The focus this year is on helping communities in Sierra Leone where a lack of healthcare means it is the world’s most dangerous place to give birth – 10 women die every day while going through this natural experience.

While many are familiar with the doorstep collections there are other ways to help too. One of Christian Aid Week’s key initiatives is the Big Brekkie – whether in your home, office or church host a big breakfast as more than 2,500 people did last year.

A free fundraising pack is available, just sign up online at www.christianaid.org.uk

Christian Aid has more than 70 year’s experience of working to support communities, helping men, women and children in poverty and at times of disaster.

Local volunteer house-to-house collectors will be delivering envelopes around the country but if your street is not covered consider making a donation at www.caweek.org.

Various events are being held to help raise funds as well such as the service and tea at Holy Trinity Church in Charlton today (Sunday 12th May), from 5.15pm and a garden and conservatory cream tea the following Sunday (19th) in Church Street, Appleford – just follow the signs in the village. There’ll be a plant stall, music and home made teas to enjoy from 3pm to 5.30pm for just £4, with all proceeds going to Christian Aid.

Christian Aid Week runs from 12th to 18th May.

Find out more on Christian Aid’s website

Photo: Nurse Judith Lassie treats 12 day old baby twins Credit: Christian Aid/Tom Pilston

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Moonwalk London

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Thousands of people will take part in the iconic MoonWalk London to improve the lives of those with cancer.

Frances Flaxington from Lambeth is preparing to take on her 11th MoonWalk London, organised by breast cancer charity Walk the Walk.

At Midnight on Saturday, 11th May, she will join thousands of women and men wearing decorated bras walking either a Half Moon (13.1 + 2 miles) or a Full Moon (26.2 miles) through the streets of London, to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. Both distances start and finish at Walk the Walk’s huge pink tent on Clapham Common.

Frances first heard about The MoonWalk from a friend who had taken part – she had always loved walking and wanted to do something in memory of her mum who passed away from breast cancer. She has now completed an incredible 10 Full Moons, with the first back in 2005. Since then, Frances has been treated for ovarian and stomach cancer, and underwent a preventative double mastectomy because of the very high risk of developing breast cancer herself.

She says: “I am lucky my flat is on The MoonWalk route, so every year I pop home to go to the toilet, rather than having to use the portaloos! Every year, when you are walking along The Thames, it is so emotional as you watch the stream of people all doing The MoonWalk for the same purpose. It is great that cancer is no longer the ‘Big C’ scary word it once was. Life does go on after a cancer diagnosis. You don’t ever forget that you’ve had cancer, but life changes, in a good way – it makes it more valuable.

“I would encourage anyone to sign up to take part in The MoonWalk – it is a great cause, a personal challenge, and brilliant fun!”

The MoonWalk London is the flagship event organised by breast cancer charity Walk the Walk and has helped the charity raise an incredible £128 million for vital breast cancer causes over the last 22 years. The MoonWalk is a unique, fun night out – this year’s theme is Disco Inferno, so think Saturday Night Fever, glitterballs and all things disco! Sign up on your own or maybe get a team of friends and family together to celebrate a special occasion.

The minimum age for taking part in the MoonWalk London is 13 and hundreds of men take part every year – did you know that men get breast cancer too?

Photos from The Moonwalk London 2018

Raise money, raise awareness, get fit and have fun. Please sign up for The MoonWalk London now or donate here

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