Race For Life's Running Total

[caption id="attachment_6224" align="alignleft" width="224"] Amita  with her race number and medal[/caption]

We have news of the latest participant in The Race For Life! As well as telling Amita Erda's story, it's an ideal opportunity to give you an update on the "running total" of the funds raised across all the Race for Life stories we've reported on so far.

Amita is Peterborough House's Waster Tracker and took part in her local Race for Life event at Ferry Meadows on July 9th. She has elected to divide the £243.00 she raised between Cancer Research and Sue Ryder.

For those of you who don't know, Sue Ryder is a national charity providing health and social care in local communities, including palliative end of life care. Now in their 60th year, they are seeking to broaden awareness of their services, at a time when there's an increasing focus on care in the community.

Now, how are Smiths News doing with their running and raising funds via the Race for Life? We've had reports from 5 locations so far (Stockport, Slough, Borehamwood and Swindon as well as Amita), who between them have raised in excess of £2,844.94! Looking at the Just Giving Pages links given in their reports, I see Borehamwood have added to their total originally reported, and Swindon have now exceeded their £500 target :)

In other news we also have an update from the Smiths News WHC Ramblers! Maria Ogbourne reports: "We’ve smashed our fundraising target of £500, raising £825 which increases to £1000.75 with gift aid.  This definitely makes that walk in very hot conditions worthwhile; thank you.".

The Race for Life Heats Up

[caption id="attachment_6109" align="alignleft" width="250"] Team Swindon 2013 on arrival - Nora is on the left[/caption]

Oh the great British weather! It's pretty well guaranteed to make a key contribution to Smiths News's fundraising activities. This was no exception for the combined forces of "Team Swindon 13" and "Team Miss Chris" in their Race for Life in Salisbury last Sunday. Rowan House's Nora Roth reports...

I’m pleased to say that everyone in our team completed the 5k course on Sunday despite a very uncomfortable 35 degrees!  Quite a few unfortunate participants succumbed to the heat along the way but we did well to finish in not too shabby a time of around 50 minutes.  A stark contrast to the freezing conditions of last year!  After the race we enjoyed a well-earned rest, some cool drinks and a picnic in the shade!

[caption id="attachment_6111" align="alignright" width="300"] We did it AND got the medals to prove it![/caption]

So far we have raised a fantastic amount for Cancer Research UK – the Swindon team alone raising £427 so thank you again to everyone who has sponsored us.  It’s not too late, however, to make a donation to help us reach our £500 target – just click on the link to donate or just to see some more photos of the day!

Many thanks

Nora

 

The Race for Life Enters July

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="384"] Nora (centre left) after completing her Race for Life in 2011[/caption]

Nora Roth at Rowan House has been in touch with details of her latest entry in the Race for Life coming up in July...

I’m taking part for the 5^th year in the Race for Life on 14th July in Salisbury in memory of my late sister-in-law Julie Christopher (Miss Chris).  Relatives and friends from the Swindon and Tidworth/ Salisbury areas are joining forces on the day as "Team Swindon 13" and "Team Miss Chris" to raise funds for Cancer Research UK.  Any donations, no matter how small, will be gratefully received.

If anyone would like to show their support, I have set up an on-line “Just Giving” account and the link will take you to my page where you can securely donate and see some more photos.

Many thanks in anticipation.

 

Borehamwood Join the Race for Life

[caption id="attachment_5889" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Finished - and still smiling! :)[/caption]

We have our third Race for Life report for this year via Borehamwood's Lenka Polakova :)

We as a team The Bravehearts ran the race for life on 9^th June and the total amount we raised as a team is £738.94.

We would like to thank to Borehamwood group for all the donations.

Anyone else for the Race for Life? If so, keep those reports and photos coming!

Slough Are in the Pink!

[caption id="attachment_5861" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Slough's Pink Ladies are ready...[/caption]

Hard on the heels of Stockport's Race for Life, Shefali Patel has news of Slough's "Pink Ladies", who also took part in their local event on June 2nd...

Our second charity event was another great success with the ladies at Slough taking part In the Race For Life in Windsor on 2^nd June 2013. Altogether 14 ladies, with one of them bringing along their 6 year-old daughter, joined forces and either ran, jogged or walked the Race dressed in all shades of pink!

An enjoyable day where we couldn’t have asked for better weather - but we were definitely put through our paces!

Fund raising currently stands at £726.00 but we’re still collecting and on track to achieve and even exceed our target of £1000.00!..

It was definitely an experience that we’ll never forget…. 

Thanks Shefali, that's great news of another fundraising success! Do I see a refugee from your recent Wig Wednesday joining you for the day? ;)

Stockport Start the Race For Life

[caption id="attachment_5834" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Stockport Ladies from l to r: Jo Johnson – Personnel Office, Kiera Johnson – Jo’s daughter, Hannah Ross – Wendy’s daughter, Karen Parsons – Mag Returns, Lynn Henshaw – Mag Ops Manager, Glenys Sykes – Customer Services Manager, Sheila Rowbotham – Personnel Administrator, Wendy Ross – Transport Office,
Julie Lee – B2B, Josie Sinacola – Retired secretary from Stockport House, Alethea – Karen’s Daughter, Sian – Karens friend.[/caption]

We have our first Race For Life report for 2013! Stockport House are first to the post, with more expected any day :) Jo Johnson and Wendy Ross report...

Smiths News Ladies took part in the Race for Life at Woodbank Park in Stockport last Sunday 2 June. It was perfect weather – sunny and pleasantly warm without being too hot.

The turn out was fantastic – we also had amazing support from our family and friends who came to watch us pant and sweat around the course.

We have raised in excess of £600 – will confirm total when we have it. NB Our sponsorship page is still open! Many, many thanks to all that sponsored us and came to support us on the day. 

Very well done to all.

A fantastic achievement everyone and great to see family and friends got roped in too!

Slough Get Going

Hot on the heels of yesterday's fundraising update, we have news of Slough House's plans to add to the total :)

Shefali Patel reports:

As a Community Champion for Slough House I would like you to know we have organised 3 charity events:

1. Wig Wednesday – 22^nd May 2013. Everyone will be coming in to work on the day with a wig and making a donation.


2. Race for Life – 2^nd June 2013. The ladies at Slough House will be participating in the 5km event at Windsor. [Their Just Giving page shows there's 14 ladies taking part, marvellous - Ed]


3. Sponsored Shave – 19^th June 2013. An employee who have not shaved his beard for last 30 years will be shaving it on the day for charity. 

All proceeds raised during Wig Wednesday and the Sponsored Shave will be donated to the Children’s ward at the local hospital in Slough.

Fantastic news Shefali! Looking forward to seeing those wigs tomorrow! Is anyone else out there joining in for Wig Wednesday? It would be great to feature everyone on Community Link-Up!

Jo and Teresa Race for Life

[caption id="attachment_4102" align="alignleft" width="300"] Jo and Teresa - with their goody bags![/caption]

We have news from Brum this week!

Jo Hall, Waste Tracker and Teresa Hughes, NRS Supervisor at Birmingham House reminds us that the Race for Life events continue well into the Autumn.

Their event was held on 9th September at Cofton Park in Longbridge. They walked the 5km course in under 1 hour and raised a grand total of £154.00 in the process.

It looked a perfect day for the event :)

Race For Life - At The Double!

We have news of 2 further completions of this year's Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research UK.

[caption id="attachment_3646" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Picture captions from left to right: 1. Warming up before the race 2. Miss Chris Team before the race 3. Miss Chris t-shirts 4. Team Swindon - We did it! Medals Awarded![/caption]

Firstly, here's a some pictures and a thank you from Wakefield House's Nora Roth (pictured on the left in the first picture), who ran in Salisbury on July 1st.

Well I managed to complete the 5k Race for Life in Salisbury yesterday with “Team Swindon” and the rest of the “Miss Chris” Team – Miss Chris being the name my late sister-in-law Julie was known as by the pupils she taught. The weather could have been better but at least it didn’t rain on us but it was freezing cold until we started “running”! Well actually we jogged/walked the course but nevertheless in not too shabby a time of around 42 mins!

So thank you once again for your support and generosity, together we have raised £365 for Cancer Research UK with more still coming in!

There are more pictures are on my just giving page if you’re interested.

Nora also ran in support of her niece Lindsay who lives in the Salisbury area. The “Team Swindon” members were Nora, her other sister-in-law plus her niece, Adrienne & Danielle.

Our second successful completion of this year's Race for Life for this post was Plymouth House's Patricia Taylor who ran in Plymouth's event held on 24th June, right at the start of Community Week.

She joined 3,000 other women on Plymouth Hoe who ran, walked, roller-skated or who were pushed around the 5km course in wheelchairs.

Patricia's efforts resulted in a total of £139 raised - fantastic!

Nora is Racing for Life

[caption id="attachment_3381" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Nora, Lindsay & Adrienne proudly showing off our medals from last year – Danielle is lurking to the left of the picture and is more interested in eating than posing!![/caption]

Wakefield House's Nora Roth has been touch with more Race for Life news:

I’m taking part again this year in the Race for Life on 1st July in Salisbury in memory of my late sister-in-law and in support of my niece who lives in the Salisbury area. “Team Swindon” (my other sister-in- law and niece – Adrienne, Danielle & myself) are joining up with the Salisbury gang on race day.

Good luck for Sunday Nora! Her Just Giving page is here.

Gemma Races for Life

Several Race for Life events were held over the weekend and we have news just in of Gemma Dallman's endeavours from Wakefield House. She completed her 3.2 mile run at Lydiard Park in Swindon on Saturday in the impressive time of 29 minutes!

So far Gemma has raised £175 for Cancer Research. You can help her raise more by visiting her Just Giving page :)

Are there any more Race for Life reports and photos due to come in? We'd love to see how you got on!

Stockport House Race for Life

[caption id="attachment_3064" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Wendy Ross (Stockport Transport Admin), Hannah (Wendy's daughter), Josie Sinacola (retired staff member), Sheila Rowbotham, Jo Johnson (both SAP HR), Kiera (Jo's daughter), Lynn Henshaw (Mag Ops Manager) and Karen Parsons (Mag returns)[/caption]

The ladies of Stockport House showed they're no slowcoaches when they ran in their local Race for Life at Woodbank Park at the end of May.

Jo Johnson roped in 4 colleagues, 2 daughters and even a retired member of staff to keep her company on their run in aid of Cancer Research UK. So far they've raised over £800, with more money still coming in. You can also add to their total by contributing to their Just Giving Page.

Jo says:

We're all very proud of ourselves. None of us are runners, but we all completed the course in 51 minutes.

Bertrams and Wakefield House Are in the Running

Today we have tales of a completed run and one to follow...

Bertrams' Alexa Wylie has sent in our first Race for Life tale for this year:

[caption id="attachment_3002" align="alignleft" width="300"] Alexa (middle) with step-daughters Georgia to her left and Beth to her right[/caption]

Thank you all for sponsoring The Midgets - today [20th May - Ed] we ran 5K and are still here to tell the tale. Georgia & Beth finished in 33 minutes and I dawdled in 5 minutes later (shame).

Although it was freezing cold day we had a great time - finished off by an elderly gentleman over-hearing our tales of the day in our local pub, coming over to us and putting £2 on the table saying "I have cancer too". There wasn't a dry eye between us. Thank you too to Adrian who donated on hearing our tales.

Overall we have raised £240 between us. Thank you to my two beautiful girls for (almost) keeping me company today and for all your generosity.

They completed their run at the Norfolk Showground. Well done to all of you :)

Meanwhile, Wakefield House's Zoe Marlow (HR), Emma Allan (Ops) and Emma Parry (HR) are all taking on the challenge of the Lethbridge 10k run in support of Macmillan Cancer Support on June 13th. Their fundraising target is £200 and they've already reached an impressive £160.

Any extra boost you can give them to reach their target - no matter how small - will make all that effort worthwhile. Please support them in their efforts for Community Week by donating to their JustGiving page.

The run starts at Lethbridge Primary School at 7.30pm. Any support you can give them by simply turning up and cheering them on will be much appreciated too!

Commercial raise funds for CRUK

[caption id="attachment_1130" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Before the start[/caption]

Nora Roth, Wakefield House, PA to Jonathan Bunting, ran a Race for Life recently and raised a fantastic £256 for Cancer Research UK.  Nora tells us how she got on:

"Well I managed to complete the 5k course in Salisbury with my niece Lindsay, my sister-in-law Adie and the rest of team “Miss Chris”.  We jogged/walked the course in quite a respectable time I thought, of around 45 mins. It was a boiling hot day and no training or preparation took place before hand.  Well that’s not strictly true as 2 days before the event I decided to get my feet in shape for the race and give them a “home” pedicure!!  Big mistake, as I managed to gouge a big chunk out of my heel which wouldn’t stop bleeding and needless to say, a bit sore!

Anyway, the important news is that with your support and generosity we have raised a brilliant £256 for Cancer Research UK.  Thanks to everyone for their donations."

[caption id="attachment_1131" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Medals at the end, Nora on the left[/caption]

Liverpool's running total...

Liverpool House have been literally running around raising money for Community Week, in particular for cancer charities.

[caption id="attachment_1107" align="alignleft" width="124"] Brian Murphy after his marathon run[/caption]

Brian Murphy ran a half marathon and raised £542 for three charities: Zoe's Place, Macmillan and a local charity called Cry.

Louise Broadhurst, Liverpool transport manager, who lost her mum to cancer in January, raised £255 by running the Cancer Research Race for Life.

Night staff and NRS staff joined in with Nottingham House in the inter house football tournament and raised £140 which went to Clatterbridge Cancer Hospital.

[caption id="attachment_1108" align="aligncenter" width="519"] Race for LIfe ladies[/caption]

And Matt Tyrer held a charity night in honour of his dad Monty Tyrer whom he lost to cancer in April - raising £740 for Clatterbridge Cancer Hospital.

What an amazing amount of money raised altogether - well done Liverpool!

Central Ops support Community Week

Central Ops have been busily adding their fundraising money to the pot, with several activities organised over the last few weeks. The team has raised a brilliant £296 from a Cake Sale, Book & DVD sale, and Emma Allan's participation in the Race for Life.  Well done all!  Proceeds are going to Prospect Hospice, Cancer Research UK and the RNLI.