17 September 2021

Guest Blogger Sarah Gamlin

Late in 2018, Sarah and her friends set out to raise £1,000 for Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre. The group never imagined they would raise ten times that amount.

From cycling to bunting, read more from Sarah below on how she hit the incredible £10,000 target.

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In Autumn 2018 I thought it would be nice to try to raise £1,000 for Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre (BHOC).

At the time my dad was being treated there and several of the ladies from the gym had close relatives who had also been looked after by the care and expertise of the BHOC staff.  The staff at BHOC gave my dad superb care, compassion and time. My family and I will always be grateful to Dr Protheroe, Vicki Kitchker and the wider team for their professionalism and kindness.

Last week we reached £10,040 - ten times our original goal.

From spinathons taught by Abi and Fiona, bake sales, raffles, selling hand knitted tea cosies and pretty bunting we have tried it all!  We held three events (spinathon, cake sale and raffle) that raised almost £7,000. Then the Coronavirus pandemic hit so we had to be inventive about raising the final £3,000. By selling hand-made bunting, tea cosies and a few picnic blankets we managed to reach £10,040 last week.

It has been a great team effort by the following fab ladies - Carol Parr, Katie Bickerstaffe, Fiona Marsh, Abi White, Katie Clarke and Linda our amazing sewer. We had lots of fun, a few tears and cemented friendships for life.

The wider support we received was truly humbling and we appreciate every pound donated and every hour given to make cakes, man stalls, and sell raffle tickets. We continued to be touched by the generosity of both local and national businesses who generously gave us prizes to raffle.

Amazing what you can do with a bit of cycling, a few cakes, old fabric and a bunch of inventive ladies!

For Lionel, Fred and Charlie forever in our hearts.

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