January 2015

January: Planning, Preparation and Persuasion

I have decided that this year, rather than asking my local friends and family to sponsor me, I will aim to raise my £4,600 fundraising target by organising events that they can come along to. That way, they get to have a good time whilst supporting me in my fundraising. So it's a win-win situation for everyone!

My first fundraising event of the year will be 'An Evening at Rick Stein, Porthleven' on Sunday 8 March. I approached the Restaurant Manager, Lee, with an idea to hold a fundraising dinner and then met with Stein's Marketing Manager and, to my absolute amazement and delight, they agreed! It will be a great opportunity for them to showcase their new restaurant, which has only been open in Porthleven for a few months. The tickets will include a welcome drink, 3-course meal and the opportunity to bid for some unique lots in an auction. I'm even lucky enough to have found an excellent Master of Ceremonies and Auctioneer.

A friend suggested that I could organise a rodeo night as it'd be great fun. So, I talked very nicely to our local farmers, Sally and Hugh, who have a lovely big barn that is empty for a few weeks over the summer months, while the sheep are out grazing. And, brilliantly, they agreed! A date was fixed (Saturday 20 June), I booked a bucking bronco and found a local DJ who has Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers in his music collection. I talked to local company Ann's Pasties and they agreed to provide pasties at cost price; fantastic! So there'll be a pastie included in the ticket price. I wonder who will be crowned Methleigh Rodeo Champion?!

I met up for a cuppa with my friends Suz and Mary, who have both offered to help me gather auction/raffle prizes and we compiled a list of companies and people we could approach to ask if they'd donate prizes. We've been busy phoning and emailing and the prizes are starting to trickle in.

My niece, Anne-Marie, and I have booked our trip to Hadrian's Wall. We're using a company to transport our bags between B&Bs and I've arranged to visit my school friend who lives near Newcastle at the end of our walk. Very exciting!

My running number for Bath Half marathon arrived in the post on the 23rd January. I'm following a training plan and, in January alone, I ran 80 miles. I've also been going to cardio fitness classes on Friday evenings with a couple of friends. I've never been so fit!!

On Saturday 24th January I persuaded Naomi and Gary to come with me to Penzance AFC for a photo shoot with the football team. The team have chosen Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust as their charity of the year so we went along as representatives of Air Ambulance. Everyone was very friendly and when we left at half time, Penzance were 1:0 up. Sadly it was against Porthleven AFC!

On Sunday 25th January I spent the day with a collection bucket in Tesco Extra in Pool/Redruth. I met some lovely people including a couple who had been married for 56 years and a little girl, aged about 3, who emptied her pocket money purse into my bucket. In total, I raised £149.74 which is a great start to my 2015 fundraising.

On the last evening of January we had a Peru trek group reunion. 13 of the 18 of us could make it so it was a good turn out. It was lovely to have a good catch up. It wouldn't have been complete without a bottle of anti-bac hand gel on the table!

Miles run in January: 80

Current fundraising total: £284.74 (I've achieved 6% of my goal)