Fundraising That's Well Above Par

We're thrilled to bring you news of a recent fundraising challenge, taken on by Steve Bale, Karl Lees and Steve John. The trio set themselves the task of completing 'The Longest Day in Golf' and so it was, that on 5th June, they set off to play golf for 15 1/2 hours, without the aid of buggies or power trollies. Their challenge took them from 4.30am until their last putt at 8pm. Needless to say there were weary legs and the odd blister by the end of the day!

 

 Steve Bale, Steve John and Karl Lees get ready to start the first round...

 ...and here they are at the finish line!

Over the course of the day, Steve B, Karl and Steve J walked over 20 miles, took over 52,000 steps, played 361 shots and only lost 5 golf balls. 

A huge thank you to our golfing pros and to everyone who supported them in raising over £600 for Guy's Gift.

A Day to Remember

1st May 2015

Everyone has their own way of remembering their special person who has died – it might be lighting a candle on their birthday, singing a special song or reading their favourite book. On 1st May we're having a special day - called 'A Day to Remember' - when we hope families and friends will come together to remember their special person who has died. It’s a time to be together, whilst not forgetting the person who is missing.

We've chosen 1st May for our very first 'A Day to Remember' as it's a special day fro guy's Gift. It's the day, back in 2009, when Guy's Gift began.

1^st May 2015 will be the first Guy’s Gift ‘A Day to Remember’ and we’ve chosen this particular date for a very special reason...it’s the day, back in 2009, when Guy’s Gift began.

There's lots more information, as well as some specially designed activities, over on our website.

Put the Fun into Fundraising

We're delighted to announce that our new fundraising pack is now available to download from the Guy's Gift website.

 

Packed with everything you'll need for your fundraising event - from ideas and tips for planning, to an advertising poster and sponsorship form - it's the perfect companion for fundraising fun!

Click here to find your copy.

Happy fundraising!

Introducing our 'Mikey's Angel'

We're very excited to welcome a new member to the Guy's Gift team. Guy’s Gift has teamed up with The Mikey Abdou Foundation to provide more support for bereaved children in Warwickshire. The Foundation is supporting our new post holder, Mary Hutchings, who is a counsellor providing one-to-one support.  

 Mary Hutchings - our 'Mikey's Angel'.

Mary Hutchings, known as 'Mikey’s Angel', said, “I am really excited to be joining Guy’s Gift and am grasping this fantastic opportunity to learn, support and give as much as I can. The children that I have met so far have been amazing and a good reminder of the felt concept of life. Already it feels like a special place to have landed and I am looking forward to doing what I can. Jackie and Stuart are clearly passionate and conscientious about what they offer and are both inspiring to be with. I feel I have a talent to work with people, but like lots of things talent is useless without opportunity, so I am excited to be on board and part of the team.”

The Mikey Abdou Foundation was established to aid and support children in memory of Mikey. The Foundation was formed by family and friends coming together in memory of Mikey, to leave a lasting legacy and try to make a difference in his honour. To find out more, visit the Foundation's website.

By the Light of Lanterns

We all enjoyed a festive afternoon at our annual Lantern Walk yesterday, this year held at Coombe Country Park in Binley (near Coventry).

It was lovely to see so many families gathered together. Everyone enjoyed mince pies, festive cakes and warming drinks while they made memory stars to hang on a special tree in the country park. 

Here are Leamington Bear and Jackie. Since his paws were a bit too big to carry a lantern, Leamington stayed behind while we all wrapped up warm and headed out into the park for our walk.

As darkness began to fall, everyone made their way through the country park, lanterns in hand. We were all in search of the memory tree, complete with its twinkling star.

 

All of the lanterns and glow sticks looked very pretty winding their way along the path, accompanied by a merry hub-bub as everyone chatted. It was a good opportunity to catch up with friends, meet new ones and share stories and experiences.

  

Once we'd reached the memory tree, everyone hung their special stars on its branches and silence fell as thoughts turned to those who are no longer with us.

Here is everyone gathered by the special memory tree. We all enjoyed our walk by lantern light and as everyone made their way home, all agreed that it had been a very fun and worthwhile afternoon.

An enormous "thank you" to Sainsbury's in Kenilworth for kindly providing all of the festive food and drinks for our event. 

Welcome to the team, Leamington Bear!

We had a most exciting day last week when Leamington Bear joined the Guy's Gift team and became our official mascot. To mark the occasion, we spent the day at White Stuff in Leamington Spa as the lovely team there had planned a very special day.

 

Here is Leamington Bear with Diana. It was Diana's family who so generously donated Leamington Bear to Guy's Gift. As if this wasn't enough, Diana spent the whole day entertaining White Stuff customers with her singing and ukelele playing...

...she invited a few friends from the Spa Strummers to join in too.

 

Even the Guy's Gift team joined in...with Katie being nominated to have a go!

 

  

The raffle was popular.

Here's Leamington Bear with some of the White Stuff team who were there to send him off to us in style.

 

Leamington Bear had a lovely time during his day at White Stuff. He was a little sad that he was too big to fit in the Wendy house, but he found lots of other things to get up to...

So many clothes to choose from... Leamington Bear tries on a few outfits befitting of a bear about town.

He was very keen to point out the ways in which White Stuff customers can raise money for Guy's Gift. Luckily bears aren't very fond of sweets so there are lots left to buy.

Leamington Bear enjoyed posing behind the counter. Luckily for Guy's Gift, his paws were a bit too big to operate the chip and pin machine so a job at White Stuff was out of the question.

Leamington Bear enjoyed meeting lots of people throughout the day, raising awareness of what Guy's Gift does for Warwickshire families.

Enjoying a well earned rest after a busy day.

 As well as her ukelele, Diana also brought along her auto harp to play.

Who's this in the window...?

...It's Leamington Bear's best friend, Boris. Not wanting to be parted, Boris has also come to join the Guy's Gift team!

Jackie and Stuart Potter (Family Services and Training Manager, Operations Manager and Founders of Guy's Gift) with our latest recruit.

A huge thank you to Diana and her family and everyone at White Stuff in Leamington Spa for making all of this possible. Leamington Bear will be popping up at Guy's Gift events and on the blog too...so watch this space to find out where he'll be and what he's been up to!

New Recruit for Guy's Gift

Meet Leamington Bear... he'll be joining the Guy's Gift team very soon as our official 'Buddy Bear'. Here he is with his good friend Diana (who, along with her family, is kindly donating him to Guy's Gift).

So, how did Leamington Bear come to be joining our team? When his current owner decided to set off on a gap year, meetings were held to decide Leamington Bear's future. He needed a new professional challenge and what better way to use his special talents than to help children who are going through a difficult time. Leamington is thrilled to be joining the Guy's Gift team and can bear-ly wait to start his new job!

Diana and the team at White Stuff's Leamington Spa store are holding a bit of a do to celebrate Leamington's new role and we'd love you to join us.

When: Tuesday, 28th August 2014, 11am-4pm

Where: White Stuff, 66 The Parade, Leamington Spa

What: Leamington Bear will be on hand to meet new friends and start his new job with Guy’s Gift. And because music can make a good party better, Leamington Bear has asked his friend Diana (who just happens to be a member of the Spa Strummers Ukulele Band) to serenade him on the day with lots of great songs. There’s even one about a bear, of course.

So, come along to White Stuff, meet Leamington Bear and join the party!