Fundraising news
We are always surprised and delighted by the many imaginative ways our supporters find to fundraise. Read on for news of both upcoming and recently held events that people like you have organised in order to raise money for St Dunstan’s.
Treadmill Challenge!
On Saturday 24 July SSgt Jim Offord, 39 Engineer Regiment, Cambs completed a treadmill marathon in just 5 hours and 17 minutes at Tesco, Huntingdon. Wearing his Bergen rucksack filled to weigh 39lbs, which is the weight of an average five year old child, the super fit Royal Engineer also raised £927.06 for St Dunstan’s.
He’s doing the treadmill marathons for St Dunstan’s as he trains for the physically punishing 10 Squaddies, 10 Marathons in 5 Days he devised for St Dunstan’s Forces Challenge. He will be attempting to break two treadmill Guinness World Records wearing his 39lb Bergen and will also taking part in the Spinnaker Tower Challenge.
To support Jim on his way please visit www.justgiving.com/10Squaddies.
Lands End to John O'Groats Bike Ride
Four students from Newcastle have completed their bike ride from Lands End to John O'Groats - Raising money for St Dunstans.
To support their challenge please visit
Tordmorden Blind Heroes Week
Yorkshire supporter Barbara Rudman organised a series of events in her home town of Todmorden, including a stand at the Agricultural Show, a Mayoral coffee morning, attended by actress Kathryn George, and various collections. The week culminated in a parading of the St Dunstan’s Standard at the Todmorden Armed Forces Day, also attended by St Dunstaner Ronald Skidmore. For more pictures of the events click here.
1st Battalion Royal Welsh
30 officers and soldiers ran 224 from Chester to Cardiff Armed Forces Day over 5 days. They hope to have raised an amazing £10,000 from friends, family and supporters along the way. It was such a hot week but the boys were kept smiling throughout by the supporters who came out to welcome them along with St Dunstaners Joe Rogers and Gordon Legg when they finished the first leg in Newtown. Take a look here for some pictures of their challenge. Thank you to everyone who took part and supported!
Blind Heroes Week Street Collections
Over 150 volunteers hit the streets of Worthing, Haywards Heath, Brighton, Hove and Eastbourne during Blind Heroes Week to raise vital funds for St Dunstan's. Figures are yet to be finalised but we are hoping to have raised over £3500. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and to those who gave! Pictures of some of our volunteers can be found here.
Kinetic Bike Ride Success!
Well done and thank you to everyone who took part in the Kinetic Bike Ride in early June. Starting in London they cycled to Brighton the long way round covering approx 310 miles. Along the way they had a go at rifle shooting thanks to the guys at Frimley Park CTC and got to stay at HMS Sultan in Gosport before finishing on Saturday 6th June with a tour around
St Dunstan's Ovingdean Centre where they got to meet some of our St Dunstaner's for whom they have raised an absolutely fantastic £28,445! More photos of their adventures can be found here.
Line Dancing Fun!
We recently received £250 from St Dunstan's supporters Jan & Roy Spencer. They raised this fantastic amount by holding a fundraiser at their local line dancing club. Here they are as Dolly & Kenny on the night. We love receiving pictures of your fundraising events so keep them coming in!
Christmas Day Swim 2009
St Dunstaner Chris Humphrey and his wife recently collected a cheque for an amazing £1110 from George Waters. George raised this money by braving the sea last December for a Christmas Day Swim! You're much braver than us George, thank you and well done!
The Grimsby Poachers
The association for past and present members of the Second Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment raised a wonderful £850 for St Dunstan's. Representatives Frank Rimmer and Dennis Watson came into our Sheffield Centre to hand over the cheque and see how these vitals funds will be put to good use. The Poachers are also applying for match funding which if received will double their donation!
Ride2Raise Cycle Challenge
Our friends at Raise Magazine have organised and are taking part in a cycle challenge from 4-9 September 2010 to promote cycling to community groups as a healthy and eco-friendly way to fundraise - while aiming to raise at least £10,000 for a collection of deserving charities including St. Dunstan's.
Ride2Raise 2010 will feature a 6-strong team of amateur cyclists riding a 600 mile route from the famous Box Gill in Surrey to Edinburgh's highest point, Arthur's Seat, in just 6 days. We wish them every success with their training and for the challenge, good luck!
For more information about their challenge visit www.ride2raise.co.uk
Formby Hall Golf & Spa Resort Charity Swim
Staff and clients at Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa in Southport got together and swam the distance of the Channel in their swimming pool on Friday 26th February. St Dunstaner Maria Pikulski was there to cheer them on their 21 mile challenge and they raised over £2900 with more money still coming in. Well done to everyone who took part!
Well Done Ges!
A lifelong ambition was fulfilled on 13th February when one man and his dogs completed what some have called the 'biggest walkies ever'! Former Fleet Air Arm Field Gunner Ges Laker and his black Labradors, Phoebe and Sumo came full circle and finished their mammoth trek around the coastline of Britain. Over 378 days they have walked around 6,500 miles and raised over £10000.
You can still support Ges even though he has finished his challenge, please donate via his Just Giving page. More information about Ges' travels can be found on his very own website.
Fundraising in Dunfermline
St Dunstaner Derek O'Rourke and his friends have been busy fundraising in Dunfermline over the last few months. They have raised over £1500 holding street collections, sponsored slimmings, bag packing and church raffles. And he's not finished yet, Derek is planning on visiting Brighton, London and Paris this year along with a bagpipe playing friend, entertaining the public and collecting vital funds for St Dunstan's to help other blind ex-Servicemen and women like him.
Carol Singing in Churchill Square
On 17th December four choirs sang in Brighton to raise money for St Dunstan's. First up was Seaford Primary School, followed by a group of St Dunstaner’s and volunteers. Later in the day Brighton Festival Chorus and Brighton Chamber sang to the Christmas shoppers. More than £600 was raised from the event. We would like to thank all choirs who took part and everyone who kindly donated to the charity.
HMS Sultan Sports Day
Students at HMS Sultan took part in a charity sports day for St Dunstan's on the 15th December. Games included blind football and blind ‘it’s a knockout’ – all whilst in fancy dress! The event raised more £320 and a great day was had by all. Thanks to everyone who joined in the games, we’re looking forward to the next one already!
Metropolitan Volunteer Police Cadets
St Dunstaners Ray Hazan and Simon Brown were guests of the Metropolitan Volunteer Police Cadets at their annual awards ceremony held at Kensington Great Hall on Sunday 22nd November.
Ray and Simon had previously joined the cadets on their cadet challenge event which took place in London in March.
Ray was presented with a cheque for £8352 which the cadets had raised through sponsorship. The challenge involved crossing the bridges spanning the Thames from Tower Bridge to Vauxhall Bridge and over 150 cadets took part.
Robert McHenry's Collections
Robert McHenry and his wife have spent the summer with collection tins in hands raising money for St Dunstan's. You may have seen them at the Clacton Air Show, in Colchester Town Centre or outside their local supermarket. They have raised over £3000, which is fantastic. It hasn't all been easy, read Mr McHenry's story here, but he's continuing to support St Dunstan's and has already booked a further two dates for Colchester Town Centre in November.
Fly Navy 100 Hour Challenge
A team of courageous supporters took part in a Three Peaks Challenge 'with a twist'. Carl Williamson, Mike Morgan and their team of 5 other intrepid explorers, not only climbed all three mountains, Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, but also cycled between the peaks rather than take the bus! Despite the cruel weather, they still managed to complete the challenge in under 100 hours.
Feel inspired?
If you've been inspired by any of the events you've read about, have any great fundraising ideas up your sleeve or perhaps just need some advice on how to get involved and raise money for St Dunstan's, please email the Community Fundraising team or call 020 7616 7966.
Download our free Fundraising Guide for more ways to fundraise...