General Chat

Thank you all for your support and so many fab ideas, digesting them all, getting the family together and going to do something positive-God Bless you all, your thoughts, kindness, e-mails and hugs are helping me more than you will ever know.

Jennifer re your fund raising i feel that you should incorparate it with something youe Stephen did ie a hobby or s/thing very personal to himand i am sure you will be sucessful he will guide you to the right choice. God Bless June xxx.

Jennifer whatever you decide to do you have my full support. catherine xx

Hi Jennifer I have done a couple of charity nights for fundraising at our local pub, I contacted local businesses requesting donations for prizes, I was amazed by what we managed to get, I had a very large blackout card made which cost me £5 at £2 a go raised a £300 prize and £300 to the charity. The christmas on its way lots of works parties ask people who you know really well if they would be willing to take a smaller balck out card with them on the evening, you would be amazed how many people will have a go when a cash prize is offered. An auction on the night went well also. Contact as many places as possible, I contacted local 'large car dealers' in our area and managed to get £300 from one. You could do a themed night we had an adults only night which went down a storm, we had a Drag artist, a comedy act and a disco. Put containers on the bar, people tend to throw the loose change in them. With christmas coming if you know people who make cards ask them if they would be will to make some for you. You could sell them on or even out them on Ebay Just a few ideas which could be adapted I wish you well and hope you raise loads

Jennifer,If asking around shops you could ask for donations for a xmas hamper and do a raffle to start you off for a xmas fare,or go through your hospital. Annie

Jennifer well done for finding a positive thing to do to help other's. Why not print out a brief note explaining what you are trying to do, and a bit about S A D s or a site people can visit to find out more, and send it to every business in your area, and more, all the big companies have a charity budget and whilst you may be a bit late this year, it might work for another time, you could make this an annual event. Ask for things from their company as prizes for the raffle etc. They get the free publicity out of it and you get things to encourage people to come along. When I have done this in the past, I have had generous gifts from several companies, but even if its a small local shop, they might give a box of chocs or something as prize. For the karaoke you could also have booby prizes so little shops could give you a packet of loo rolls etc. Contact your local paper and ask them to write about what you are doing, people will read it and maybe offer to help, and it will also publicise S A D s too. Good luck, you have to be a bit pushy sometimes but it usually pays off and you get a lot of help. Liz

Thank you

Yes, I am actually quite good at that and my Son, Morris is an ace, Stephen was the best, could draw anything and everything, perhaps he will inspire me. Thank you.

Excellant idea Grannie, Thank you for that.

Jennifer contact your local radio station Annie

Jennifer, that sounds fun, have you included air guitar in that?

Come on please help me, I need inspiration.

One of my Son's is in the Army, and we are going to try to get permission to use the mess hall and host a charity night for S.A.D.S. by hosting a mimed kareoke (spelt wrong) where you have to dress up and mime a song, me and Robert are going as meat loaf and host and singing or rather miming (you have not heard my voice) Paraide by the dashboard light-early days yet, but we thought £2 entrance fee, raffles, food, and a £1 fine for daring to sing, this is the idea of my daughter in law, bless her. It will eventually be held in Hull, all welcome, but we only want you money.

Jennifer, what a lovely tribute to Stephen that would be. He'll be so proud of you. x

Good luck Jennifer love, Caz xxxxxxxxxxx

Thank you for that, I want to feel usefull, to save other parent;s from going through this devastaion. I will try your suggestion-thank you. jennifer.

If you google'just giving' it gives loads of ideas about on line fundraising

Jennifer, try www.peeks(.)co(.)uk , they do a catalogue full of fundraising items, themed or otherwise, its useful and could trigger loads of useful ideas.

As most of you know I lost my precious Son Stephen to S.A.D.S and I have been finding it hard to cope, it was on the 18th March, 2006. Grannie Annie sent me a newspaper cutting of another Mother who lost her 17 year old Son in the same circumstances, and she has eventually coped by fund raising, so I need ideas what to do, we need money to buy moniters to check kids and save parent's from this devastation-all ideas really appreciated.