Since I learned about Ollie’s sudden death and the work Cheryle and Graham have done in his memory to raise awareness and to fund screenings, I’ve been wondering how I could help. Every year, I volunteer with the British stand of the International Bazar, working the whole weekend to sell British products to visitors and selling a record number of tombola tickets to raise cash for chosen charities. I realised that this was my opportunity to help. Graham and Cheryle kindly sent me CRY t-shirts and publicity material to display on the stand and I explained to all visitors to the stand why I was supporting CRY.
On 10 June 2015, the Organising Committee of the International Bazar, Luxembourg, accepted the British Stand’s charity nomination for Cardiac Risk in the Young UK to be one of the beneficiaries of proceeds raised during the International Bazar to be held on 28/29 November 2015. In March 2016, €600,000 was distributed to the 98 charities chosen by all the stands and CRY received £5,328.46. In 2015, sales of British tombola tickets alone raised in excess of €25,000 thanks to the extremely generous support from sponsors as well as the fantastic efforts of the ticket sellers who sold over 9,000 tombola tickets.
Every year, over 1000 volunteers help organise and participate in the International Bazar which celebrates the diverse cultures living in Luxembourg with all profits donated to charities around the world. The British Stand is just one of over 50 nationalities represented at the International Bazar. The current patron, Her Royal Highness The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Maria-Teresa, regularly visits the British Stand to purchase goods.
The British Stand stocks a wide variety of goods including a selection of toiletries, Christmas cards and crackers plus gift ideas including tea towels, teapots and mugs. They also sell mouth-watering goods including home-made marmalade, chutneys, teas, Christmas puddings and biscuits. We also sell home-made mince pies, haggis rolls and a selection of whisky shots to enjoy on the day.
The International Bazar is an independent and voluntary charitable organisation which started in the early 1960s as a series of small bazars. One of the founding members is considered to be the British community of Luxembourg. In December 1960, the English Speaking Protestant Church Community (ESPCC) held a sale to raise funds for both the church and for charity. The event raised LUF 10,000 (approx Euro 250) with several future members of the Committee of the International Bazar attending.
In 1961 and 1962, the event was held under the joint patronage of the American and British Ambassadors to Luxembourg, staffed by volunteers. In 1963 under the leadership of the ESPCC, eight countries – Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United States and Great Britain – got together to raise money for charity and so the idea of the International Bazar was born.
Since then the International Bazar has gone from strength to strength, obtaining a charitable status (asbl) and in 1967 secured the patronage of Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg (deceased). Britain has been present for all of the last 55 years.