Over the past few years many families have raised funds for our research and I thought it would be a good idea to share some of the more recent events that have taken place. All text and photographs have been put on with the fundraisers’ permission. If you would like to become involved in raising money for OC or/and you would like us to put your fundraising endeavours on the website do please contact me: JennyChambersOC@aol.com
Karen Cope added 07-2008
Mark Delaney and his partner Claire added 09-2007
Kelly Ivil added 08-2007
Many thanks to Karen Cope who, together with family and friends, raised £300 on 20th July 2008 for OC support. They went to Stratford Races Ladies Day, on 20th July 2008. Says Karen, "Everyone looked lovely all dressed up and there were hats and fascinators a plenty. I organised the trip and most of the people on the coach knew me and so they were all happy to buy a raffle ticket for this cause as most saw me pregnant twice with OC. The prizes were donated by friends and family, my dads business donated a spa break at the Belfry which was lovely. I am so grateful to everyone that donated or bought tickets and we had a fantastic day at the races too. Hopefully the first of many fundraising outings, well any excuse!!!"
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very big thank you to Mark Delaney and his partner Claire who have given the
OC team over £5,000 to help support the research programme. Claire developed OC
in her pregnancy and baby Thomas had to be delivered just before 36 weeks. He
spent a week in special care but is now thriving and, as you can see from the
photo, obviously hopes to follow in his dad's footsteps and play football for
Aston Villa! Mark has now retired from football due to knee injury and we want
to wish him and Claire all the very best for the future.
On the 26th August last year we had a wonderful evening to raise money for the OC support and research team. After our baby died at 39 weeks pregnant in 1999 our lives were turned upside down. When the doctors told me Danny had died, part of me died too. I dealt with my feelings by turning this very negative thing into something positive. This was to be our 3rd fundraising evening since losing Danny and we were very lucky - we sold all 500 tickets. The catering staff and hall hire was given to us with a huge discount after they had read about the condition and how many families it affects. I wrote to about 100 companies asking for donations or raffle prizes. We received great items like an electric guitar and a DVD player. We were also given lots of sports items like a signed West Ham ball (which got £400) signed boxing gloves and golf goodies, that we used for an auction which created a great atmosphere on the night. The band and disco even reduced their fees to help make the total raised the highest possible. We also had a visit from Jimmy Bullard who plays in the premiership for Fulham, he auctioned off a shirt he’d played in that day which raised a further £200. Standing on the stage ready to announce the amount raised which was just under £7000, I felt a great sense of achievement. Jenny Chambers was with us on the evening, and I felt in a small way, it was our way to say THANK YOU to her and all the great staff in the support and research team. Since losing our special baby Danny we have been so lucky and now have Alfie 6 and Rosie 3. Yes, I had OC with Alfie and Rosie but with the great help from Jenny, Dr Catherine Williamson, the team and of course Urso the outcome was so very different and now completes my very much wanted family along with George who is 9. Both my husband ( Dean) and I will continue to raise money for this great cause and we would urge all of you to do the same – it makes you feel great!
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In 2005 I got my walking boots on to raise funds for the research I decided on China simply because I had seen a presentation about it at another charity event and it struck as something challenging to do. . I also managed to persuade my friend Carol, to join me. Carol and I paid for our own flights and accommodation so that we could ensure that all the money we raised via sponsorship went straight to OC. We had tremendous support from friends, family and from women (and their families) who have been affected by OC.
Having broken my kneecap when I was pregnant with Alex, I knew that all those steps were going to really stretch my physical capabilities. What I didn’t take into account was that the steep descents would also test me!! The Wall that you see in the holiday brochures looks relatively simple to traverse (and indeed it is). The rest of the Wall is like a snaking rocky path with watch towers dotted along the way. You have to make the steep ascent (often with sheer drops either side of the path) up the rough steps to arrive at the watch tower and then have to navigate your way down again. I occasionally had to do this on my bottom as it felt the safest way to get down!
Both Carol and I had a fantastic time and were elated when we made that final ascent up the ‘Heavenly Staircase’ (it involved several thousand steps!!). We raised just over £8,000 for OC and my thanks go to everyone who supported us. Your contributions will have helped to make such a difference.
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Many of you will have seen the pictures of new arrival baby Grace Rawlings. Here, her mum, Rachael Rawlings, writes about how they used a very special day to raise funds for OC.
After many happy years together, my partner Christopher and I finally got married in April 2006. We were looking forward to our big day that would include our children, Rebecca and Sam. However, we also wanted to remember our daughter Daisy who was stillborn in February 2003. Somehow it didn’t seem right not to include her in what would be the most long awaited and happiest day of our lives.
We thought of no better way to honour our Daisy than by donating any money given to us by our guests to the OC fund. So, when we sent out the wedding invitations we also included a letter to all our guests telling them what we would like to do. Most of them already knew of our loss and were more than happy to contribute.
We knew that we could not change what happened to us, although we have wished and dreamed it a million times. But we felt that every penny raised would give us a sense of comfort in knowing that it would help the research group to continue their work towards understanding the condition and improving treatment and outcome for all those OC babies.
Chris and I would like to thank all the people at Queen Charlottes Hospital. Our consultants, Mr Andy McCarthy, Dr Catherine Williamson, Dr Catherine Nelson-Piercy and all the medical team who helped to safely deliver our last two children Sam and Grace. They all gave us the confidence and support we needed and the gratitude we have for them cannot be measured.
Lastly a special thank you to Jenny Chambers with whom we share a common bond. Jenny has become more than a friend to us over the last 4 years; she is a truly remarkable and special lady whom we feel privileged to know.
Rachael, Chris, Rebecca, Sam and Grace Rawlings
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