COMING SOON

13^th October              -           Ware Charity Stalls at Leeside Church, Ware

This charity fundraising event takes place every year.  Different charities are invited to run a stall to raise money for their own cause.  A good chance to pick up Christmas cards and gifts, ready for Christmas.  

13^th October              -           Quiz Night , Parish Hall, Stanstead Abbotts

A fantastic evening last year with lots of money raised.  Great fun, bring the family and all your friends.  Supper provided including dessert.  You can book a table and reserve tickets by e-mail by clicking here:  Margaret@HELPING.

There are a few tables remaining.  This is a really important fundraiser for the charity!  Tickets only £8.50 per person.

Chris Meeks and Marian Sheraidah braved Hertford Heath Fete on July 15 without the protection of a gazebo!  They were selling carvings, jewellery and other Gambian crafts.

FUNDRAISING LATEST

Our stall at Braughing's famous Wheelbarrow Race raised £160.

Abbie and Saffren ran a stall at Hormead School's fete near Buntingford, raising £117.

Heavy rain combined with timing issues meant poor attendance at the Ware Week celebrations.  Crowds which had gathered to watch the Olympic Torch relay come through the town headed for cover as the downpours came, affecting the numbers of people who gathered to watch Ware Carnival and visit stalls in Priory Park afterwards.  This was our first joint venture with Dominoes Pizza who were disappointed with the poor results and low sales.  

 


Christopher Richardson went ahead with his public sponsored leg-waxing and has collected around £100 so far for his pains.  You can watch a video of his ordeal on Margaret's Facebook page.

    

PLEASE NOTE

Tickets for the dinner at the Red Lion this Saturday, July 14 are completely sold out and we have a waiting list!  Plans are already in hand for a similar dinner later in the year.  If you missed out this time, book early next time!

U3A TALK WELL RECEIVED

Around 250 U3A members attended a talk about HELPING at Wodson Park Sports Centre, Ware on June 13.  Chris and Margaret came away with donations amounting to £400 from their audience and one person signed up to sponsor school lunches.  Many thanks to U3A for their generosity.

LUXURY TEA RAISES £398!

Marian Sheraidah's Luxury Tea Party in Stanstead Abbotts was a resounding success and raised almost £400.  Some 50 people attended and enjoyed sandwiches, cakes and craft activities.  Norman Hankins (pictured) was in the pink after raising £85 having his face painted.  Thanks to everyone involved for their hard work, and to the four Stanstead Abbotts Scouts who helped on the day by waiting on tables.

HEAD SHAVE BUYS SAFETY LAMPS

Chris and Margaret received a £375 cheque from Jan Clark, a HELPING sponsor from Bedford who organises talks and fundraisers in her local area. The money was raised by Arron Bingley who had his head shaved.  Arron has requested that the money pays for battery-operated lamps for children's families in the Gambia after he heard of a number of terrible accidents caused by candles.  In one incident, a family died after a candle set their hut alight.

EVENTS

For those of you who like to plan well ahead, here are a few more diary dates for later in the summer.

Saturday 7 July
Ware Week Fete.  HELPING will run a stall, but the highlight will be when Chris and Margaret's grandson Christopher Richardson gets his legs waxed in public!  He is looking for as much sponsorship as possible to persuade him to go fuzz-free and those in the know report that despite his youth (16), Christopher has a fine pair of hairy pins!  Ouch!

Saturday 14 July, 7.15pm
3rd Ware Scouts will hold a Gambian Night at Chauncy School in Ware.  A number of leaders and young members visited Medina Sering Mass earlier this year and met up with the Gambian Scout Group they are twinned with.  The evening gives them a chance to show their pictures and tell the stories of their amazing experience.  There will be traditional Gambian food and a bar. Tickets cost £5 per adult, £3 per child (under 16), available from www.3rdwarescoutsgambia.org.uk or tickets@3rdwarescoutsgambia.org.uk
All money raised will go, through Helping, to Medina Sering Mass.

Sunday 15 July, from noon
Hertford Heath Fete, to be held on the village green opposite The Goat pub.  HELPING will run a stall with roll-the-ball and craft items for sale.

Friday 31 August
A change to our usual sponsored walk.  This year we are planning a sponsored nature walk in Post Wood, Ware.  The route will be suitable for all ages.  More details to follow.

NEWS 

The HELPING stall at Ware Town Fete raised £313, a great result.  We were blessed with a dry afternoon and the stirling efforts of Charlotte Osborne, aged three, who obviously has a great head for business.  Her tactic of running after people with a bucket of tombola tickets shouting "Give me your money" would surely impress Sir Alan Sugar!

EVENTS

Here are a few more dates for your diary.

Wednesday 13 June, 2pm
Chris and Margaret Meeks will give a talk about HELPING to The University of the Third Age (U3A) at Wodson Park Sports Centre, Ware.  

Saturday June 9, 3 - 5pm

Luxury Tea at the Wilshire Hall, Stanstead Abbotts. Tickets £5 per adult, £2 per child, includes sandwiches,scones, cakes, hot and cold drinks. Children's tickets also include a craft activity and face painting.  Please note, entrance is by ticket only.  Tickets and more information from Margaret on 01920 871245 or Marian on 01920 461879.  If you would like to attend, please book tickets as this will help the organisers ensure there are plenty of cakes, sandwiches and drinks for everyone. 

 

Saturday 30 June, noon - 5pm

Helping will have a stall selling Gambian crafts at Braughing Fair and Wheelbarrow Race to be held at Braughing Ford and Field, Malting Lane.

Friday 6 July, 3.30pm onwards

Wheatcroft Primary School Fete, Ware.  HELPING will run a roll-the-ball game and have Gambian carvings and jewellery for sale.  

Wednesday 11 July, 7.30pm for 8.00pm

Charity Dinner at the Red Lion, Stanstead Abbotts.  Most tickets are now sold for this event.  Please see previous post for details if you want to attend.

MARGARET & LISA'S DAY AT 

THE ROYAL GARDEN PARTY

Wow!  Don't they look amazing!  Lisa Osborne (left) and mum Margaret Meeks (one of HELPING'S founders) were invited to Buckingham Palace on May 29th. Several senior members of the royal family were present including the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.  It was also Kate Middleton's first Royal Garden Party.

Margaret and Lisa spent around four hours in the palace gardens, chatting with many of the other guests who included small-business owners and voluntary workers.  

Margaret said:  "Everyone was very friendly and the outfits were gorgeous.  The cakes were to die for!  I could have eaten all day!"

They were blessed with a hot and sunny day to enjoy the beautiful palace grounds.

As they left the palace through the ornate front gates, Lisa was mistaken for a relative of the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson!  They overheard tourists speculating that she might be one of Fergie's daughters!

Hello and welcome to the new 'HELPING' charity blog.  Here you'll find our up-to-date news and details of forthcoming events.  We are based in Stanstead Abbotts in Hertfordshire so many of our fundraising events happen around here, but we will post details of events elsewhere on the blog too.  So if you are organising something and would like a mention in the blog, please phone Margaret on 01920 871245 or e-mail us the details at admin@helping-gambia.org.uk.

NEWS

Two key members of 'HELPING' have been invited to the Queen’s Garden Party on May 29^th.  Charity co-founder Margaret Meeks and her daughter Lisa Osborne were nominated for the honour by the Mayor of Ware, Alan Warman, in recognition of their tireless work for 'HELPING'.   Check the blog for pictures of Margaret and Lisa in their fancy hats!

EVENTS

In June, we have fundraising stalls in the grounds of Ware Priory at Ware Rotary Town Fete and the Dragon Boat Race.  

The Town Fete takes place on Saturday June 2.  Admission is free and the event runs
from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. 

The Dragon Boat Race is on Saturday June 16.

If you are in the area, please come along and visit us.

 LUXURY TEA

Saturday June 9, 3 - 5pm

at the Wilshire Hall, Stanstead Abbotts

Tickets £5 per adult, £2 per child, included sandwiches,

scones, cakes, hot and cold drinks.

Children's tickets also include a craft activity and face painting.

Entrance by ticket only.  Tickets and more information from Margaret on 01920 871245 or Marion on 01920 461879 

 

 

CHARITY DINNER

Wednesday July 11, 7.30pm for 8.00pm

at the

Red Lion, Stanstead Abbotts

A two-course dinner with entertainment.

£15.50 per person.

 For details and to book contact Lynne on 01920 870558