Throughout the week I sent out daily awareness emails to all my colleagues in Brindley Place (approx. 1000), within these emails I detailed exactly what CRY offers for support, awareness, screening and research and added stories from people who have been affected by sudden tragic loss of life. I also attached facts such a #12aweek and provided links to your website. I received really positive responses from these awareness emails as few, if any had previously heard of CRY and the facilities you offer and although emotional to read they found the personal stories really got the message across how this can happen to anyone.
On Thursday 23rd November we held our fundraising day, the whole building dressed down for £1 and our fundraising stall was opened from 10.30 to 2.30. Our Great CRY Bake off was judged at 10.15 by 3 impartial judges (one being my dad David Clayton), they thoroughly enjoyed tasting the cakes and took the role very seriously with quotes of “Good Bake” and “No soggy bottoms” being thrown around. After much deliberation our first, second and third place were declared based on taste, appearance and texture. As you can see from the pictures they were outstanding cakes.
Other games we had included a Raffle, tombola, guess how many hearts in the jar, label the heart, pin the heart on the body and our silent auction. We had some amazing donations from local business to use as prizes these included; Novotel night for 2, Jurys inn night for 2, Zizzi’s 3 course meal for 3, BANK lunch for 2, 2 Wagamama’s vouchers, 5 mission burritos vouchers, Baguette du Monde, Slug and Lettice meal for 2 and Red Peppers vouchers. Without these donations I know our day would not have been as successful as it was and for that I am so grateful. We were busy for the entire 4 hours we were open and right up until the closing seconds people were buying raffle tickets for a chance to win one of these prizes.
I was so humbled by the support of my colleagues and I really hope that taking part in this raising awareness week has gone a little way to promoting CRY and encourages people to get tested to try and prevent further heartache, like I have had to endure.
Overall we raised an amazing £1,500, which Lloyds will now match totalling £3,000. I would like to donate this in Memory of my brother Matthew. Matthew tragically died sleeping on Friday 6th March 2015. The loss of Matthew was so sudden and even now it seems hard to believe, we miss him every single day. We had no idea he had a genetic default in his heart, there were no signs, no warnings he just went to sleep and didn’t wake up. I hope this money can go a small way towards the much needed research and raising awareness needed to help other families.
Sarah Clayton
