HELP!

DAVID FENNING'S FUNDRAISING IDEAS

I have been involved with Julia's House fundraising for some years now and wish to create 10 annual events which will regularly provide income for this most worthy charity.

I am very keen to speak with others to gain whatever support they are able to give. Either by personal help, putting us in touch with their contacts who may offer back up or general advice. Even suggestions would be equally welcome to provide help in however a minor way, so that these events in support of Julia's House can be created to provide regular annual income.

GOLF COMPETITION

Already booked at the Isle of Purbeck for Friday 13th June 2008. A fantastic day with an 18 hole Stableford Competition, dinner and auction, plus raffle, together with chipping, putting and other competitions to provide a full day. This competition has now been running for several years and 2007 was the most successful ever, so please put 2008 firmly in your diary and ideally come to us with a team of four, as places will be filled very quickly for this popular event. We are looking for people to assist with the raffle, auction and general support.

A number of very popular local golf courses have made most welcome approaches to Julia's House, expressing their wish to assist in raising funds with a competition. So anyone who would like to create their own special golf day for Julia's House, should contact David or Lin at Julia's House and we will pass on the details.

GO-KART COMPETITION

We are considering the excellent Clay Pigeon Course, with an endurance event in support of Julia's House. It is just north of Dorchester and very easy to reach. Local groups and companies will be approached, each to provide a team for this challenging and exciting event or as sponsors. They have a fantastic course, which is very well run and Louis Hamilton sharpened his early driving skills at Clay Pigeon. It is also the circuit where Jensen Button practised in his early days.

FIREWORK CRUISE

Sailing from Poole to see one of the South's most spectacular firework displays which opens Swanage Festival. The legendary Jim Etherington provides his own fantastic collection of music to dance under the stars. Next year will be Saturday 26th July 2008. This is a truly special evening, as Swanage Carnival Fireworks is one of the best displays you will see in the South. The scenery as you cruise out from the entrance to Poole Harbour is superb and a wonderful opportunity for taking sensational photographs.

CARIBBEAN AFTERNOON & EVENING

We wish to put together an afternoon of dancing and fun with a steel band and then Jim Etherington in the evening. The day ending with a spectacular firework display. The idea would be to sell numbered tickets with the winning ticket offering a Caribbean holiday for two. We are looking for a Caribbean island, whose tourist department would support this as they gain a great deal of revenue from holiday maker's in this area. The task would then be to find an airline who would kindly offer two flights. A firework display to be arranged but insurance for such an event can be difficult to organise and somewhat expensive, can anyone help? We are also looking for local Caribbean groups of dancers and we would love to hear from anyone belonging to such an organisation.

SAILING RACE

To be in a light hearted sailing race in Poole Bay, with a course set out so it is easily visible from land. The idea is to approach local yacht owners and sailing clubs. A crew member would pay £100.00 for a fantastic day out. This could be funded either by companies treating their best performing employees, a group of ten people each putting £10.00 in the hat and the winner drawing out their name. A different sailing club would be approached to support the event each year and provide appropriate safety boats, together with marking out and marshalling the course. A prize giving evening with supper at their club should be an attractive proposition for the supporting club.

BLACK & WHITE CHRISTMAS BALL

An appropriate venue and band is sought, so that all those who support and have helped Julia's House, can get together for a good knees-up and to celebrate their wonderful achievements throughout the year. There is currently no party but we hope that Christmas 2008 can be the first and as there are so many people involved with the fantastic work in aid of Julia's House, it would be a wonderful opportunity to get together at this special time . . . many other Christmas celebrations for your colleagues or company, could be organised to raise funds for Julia's House Childrens Hospice, particularly at this special time of year, when many of us are thinking of those not able to celebrate the Christmas festivities, as those of us who enjoy good health and mobility.

SPONSORED WALK

From Swanage to Sandbanks, over the beautiful Purbeck Hills, to end with a barbecue and volley ball evening on the beach. This would very much be a family affair, although all levels of walkers would be most welcome and if a group would wish to turn it into a race for themselves, that could certainly be organised within the day . . . anyone wishing to stay on the beach and await the walkers, whilst enjoying a barbecue and volley ball, would be most welcome.

There are hundreds of annual events organised by local people for their general enjoyment and to get together with colleagues or local communities. Many very kindly raise money for local charities, which very much makes the day particularly special for all concerned.

I am sure that there are other special annual events which do not have anything in place to raise funds for a particular charity. We would be pleased to hear from organisers who would be delighted to have their extremely hard organisation efforts additionally rewarded by raising funds for this exceedingly worthy cause. Anyone who would like to approach us in this respect, or pass on an appropriate contact number, would be hugely appreciated.

AS YOU WILL SEE, THREE MORE EVENTS ARE NEEDED TO MAKE UP THE TEN AND ANY CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT IDEAS BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY OF ALL, SUPPORT IN PUBLICISING THESE EVENTS AND ORGANISING GROUPS OF PARTICIPANTS IS ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS. MOST OF THE EXISTING EVENTS ARE ATTENDED BY GROUPS OF FRIENDS OR FAMILIES, WHO ATTEND EACH YEAR. MUCH THOUGHT GOES INTO EACH EVENT, SO THAT THE GENEROSITY OF THOSE ATTENDING IS APPROPRIATELY REWARDED BY ENSURING THEY HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF FUN AND NOT LEAST OF ALL, SPREAD THE WORD FAR AND WIDE, SO THAT EACH EVENT GATHERS STRENGTH EVERY YEAR AND BECOMES A WELL KNOWN ANNUAL EVENT WE ARE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO. THE IDEAL OUTCOME WOULD BE THAT EVERYBODY HAS SO MUCH FUN AT EACH EVENT, THEY ARE APPROACHING JULIA'S HOUSE EACH YEAR, TO ASK WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE GOING TO BE ?

DAVID FENNINGS

E-mail: susanfennings@hotmail.com