This entry has been posted very late but I wanted to keep an accurate track of all of my fundraising and to ensure that everyone who deserves and mention and thanks for their help gets it!

 

The Ritz Night was held at Stratford on Avon College on 2nd February 2007.  There is a student run / staffed restaurant at the college as part of the Catering courses offered there.  This year John Williams, Executive Chef at the Ritz in London, came to the college on invitation from Alan Deegan, to inspire the students and to be "Chef" while they prepared a full, Ritz specification, meal for paying diners. 

 

Tickets were sold at £55.00 per head and the proceeds were donated to charity.  This year half of the proceeds, over £600.00 were donated to Acorns as part of my trek fundraising.

 

I would like to thank Alan, John and all of the students involved in this evening for making it a great success.

The salsa night went ahead as planned at Stratford on Avon College on Saturday 20th January 2007 and was a great success.

Around 50 people of all ages came along, each paying their £8 entry fee.  The drinks were flowing and the nibbles were consumed.

 

At the beginning of the night Laura Thompson from Acorns came along to thank all those involved and to tell everyone more about Acorns and why the event was so important.

 

Lots of people with not previous dance experience came and Margaret Greenwood began the evening teaching basic steps, and then moved on to some more complicated sequence moves.  By the end of the night everyone could do a sequence, which was a great achievement, especially for those of us with two left feet!

 

There was also a raffle available and it was so popular that we actually ran out of tickets! 

 

The evening raised over £670.00 which was fantastic.  It helped me to achieve, and break, my original fundraising target of £4000.00.  I have now upped the target to £4500.00 as this is the same amount that it costs to keep one of Acorns' hospices open for 1 day.

 

I would like to thank Stratford College; the Principal, Marketing Department, Alan Deegan and the catering students, Peggy & Sue for running the bar and the caretakers for coming in and opening up on a Saturday.  I would also like to thank Margaret and Colin Greenwood for donating their considerable dancing expertise on the evening.  Thanks as well to my mum, Jill Hayward, who helped to get everything organised at the College. Also, thanks to the Stratford Herald, the Observer and the Coventry Evening Telegraph who helped with publicity.

 

Finally, thank you to everyone who came along! 

 

 

 

 

 

Tickets are now on sale for the funraising workshop on Saturday 20th January 2007, sponsored by Stratford on Avon College and Danceworks. 

 

Tickets cost £8 and include full tuition and snacks.  A raffle will run on the night and a limited bar service is available, beer, wine, soft and hot drinks!

 

Contact me jhaywardhaines@hotmail.com for tickets!

Scaletrix and Fish & Chips to raise money for Acorns!

 

A fundraiser with a night of Scaletrix racing and fish & chips provided was the first fundraiser that I have done to raise money for Acorns.  Thanks to Phil who gave us the use of his Scaletrix, his house and provided the fish & chips and ice cream for the night.  11 people came (which was a full house!) all paying £6.00 each to come and race one another on a very impressive Scaletrix track which took up the whole lounge.

 

There was also a raffle running with tickets on sale throughout the night.  Raffle prizes included wine, chocolates and a bathroom mirror among other things! 

 

The overall Scaletrix champion was Chris (Phil's sister but it was all honest and above board!)

 

We raised £132.10 during the evening and great fun was had by all.

 

Here are a couple of pictures...