27th August 2008 - Meet the Saras Hope Foundation Overseas Coordinator
We are delighted to announce that our special friend Pat Procter has joined the Team. Pat was born in the North East of England in Hartlepool and currently lives in Crete. On a visit to the UK Pat attended our commitee meeting and talked about the benifits of living on the island. Pat has experience in the real estate business and will be a terrific asset to the team. To view Pats profile and message please go to the Meet the Team page.
27th August 2008 - Bank Holiday Collection
We raised £192 from collection buckets in various pubs on Bank Holiday Monday. Thanks to the Powder Monkey in Wallsend, the Venture Inn, The Rockcliffe Arms, Aruba and the Berkley Tavern in Whitley Bay. A big thank you also to Cliff, the staff and customers at the Black Horse in Monkseaton, for their continued support raising £85 from a collection bottle in the bar.
25th August 2008 - Local business, ´The Venture Inn´ support the Foundation
We have recently recieved a donation from the wonderful staff at The Venture Inn on South Parade in Whitley Bay for nearly £400 !!!
The girls behind the bar recently took part in the Family Sponsored walk in fancy dress and held a collection in the bar. Thanks a lot to Danielle and the girls and to Kris from Fitzgearlds for their terrific support.
17th August 2008 - Parachute Jump Newsflash
Well Done to the extremely brave volunteers who did a tandem skydive at Shotton Airfield at the weekend. Thank you to all the skydivers, families and friends for all of their support on the day - what a fantastic bunch !!!
For all the details and some great photos please click Here
17th August 2008 - Newsflash
John and Stephen raised a terrific £1500 from their sponsored canoe paddle in May 2008 - what a great achievement.
15th August 2008 - Donations
Thanks to Nicola and all the staff and customers trom the Fat Ox Public House in Whotley Bay for the fantastic donation of £750 from fund raising nights.
We also have recieved generous donations of £200 from British Airways and £50 from Yorkshire Bank. Thanks also to the Morpeth Lions for the kind donation of £200.
12th August 2008 - We love crete.com supports the Foundation
We were recently contacted by the lovely people who run the ´We love Crete´ website Anastasi & Katia. They read about the project and have now pledged to raise awareness of the Saras Hope Foundation on their excellent webbsite.
To view their Saras Hope Foundation blog please click Here There is also a section on the ´People and Life´ page which can be viewed by clicking Here
Efcharisto (Thank You) Anastasi and Katia
12th August 2008 - A Personal Message from Lisa Scott Lee
Julie and Ged were thrilled to receive the following message from former Steps member Lisa Scott Lee. Sara was a huge ´Steps´ fan and one of her highlights was meeting the band backstage at the City Hall in 2000. The tour manager of the band kindly gave Sara VIP passes to see the band in Birmingham after she missed the Newcastle Arena concert as she was in the Intensive Care unit suffering from pneumonia. As usual Sara ´bounced´ back and danced and sang at the Birmingham Arena to her favourite band.
To see Lisa´s message please click on the images.
For information on Lisa Scott Lee, please click Here
5th August 2008 - Julie and Geds Cretan Adventure
Every time we visit the island we realise that the Foundation has chosen the perfect location for the Retreat. The friendliness, passion and warmth of the people is amazing. The first week was a ´holiday´ - chilling by the pool, sampling the delicious Greek cuisine, meeting up with special friends and enjoying the wonderful laid back lifestyle and culture of the islanders. The first week seemed to go very slowly but the second week flew by .......
Highlights were a meal with the Chania Rotarian´s, what a fantastic group of people, who we were introduced to by the Wansbeck Rotarians. The night was a great success and the Chania Club are so enthusiastic about the project, they have pledged to support the Foundation on the island and are extremely proud that we had chosen ´their´ island to build the Retreat. In the past year the Club have raised vast amounts of cash for leukaemia research and for a house in Heraklion for parents to stay while their child is in hospital.
The hospitality, kindness and enthusiasm of Emmanoyel Delakis (Deputy Governor and President 2009-10) Nodarakis Emmanoyel (Assistant Governor) and Meletios Oirrrrroutzoglou (Head of Public and International Relations) was first class. It was lovely to share the experience and night with the lovely Dimitra (our Lawyer) and Pat Procter, a very special friend who has recently accepted our invitation to be the Foundations Co ordinator on the island.
A million thanks to the Chania Rotarian´s and we look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with this special group of people. To visit the Chania Rotarians web site click Here
We also viewed several plots of land, one which in particular really stood out (please see photos). It is in the Kambia area and it brought a tear to our eyes. It was perfect and had that ´special feeling´ with breath taking views. Please click Here for the full story, featured in the Sunday Sun newspaper.
5th August 2008
Anne and John Green kindly donated £111 from a car boot sale at Wellfield. John is one of the ´brave 12´ who are jumping out of an aeroplane to raise money for the Foundation on Sunday 16th August.
3rd July 2008 - Congratulations to Emily Casson
We would like to thank Saras social and close friend, Emily Casson for the kind donation of £210 from her 21st birthday celebration party.
Congratulations to Emily for achieving a ´First´ in her degree at Durham University. Emily´s family are moving to France and she sent Julie and Ged the following message -
´Enclosed is money from my 21st. My friends threw me an Alice in Wonderland themed party which was great fun. It is on occassions like this that I miss Sara the most and thought that it would be nice to donate and get my friends to donate money to the charity, both to show that Sara hasn´t been forgotten and to help realise the dream of the house in Crete´.
15th June 2008 - Local Pubs in Whitley Bay raise money for the Foundation
A million thanks to Last Orders for the donation of £73.80 and to the Venture Inn for raising £30.80 from their collection bottle.
1st June 2008 - Subscribe to our monthly newsletter
Our youngest member Jack Johnson has kindly volunteered to design and send out a monthly newsletter.
If you would like to be included on the mailing list or would like to include details of your own fund raising event or have a fund raising story, please contact Jack by clicking Here
9th May 2008 - £100 CD Auction Lot
Many thanks to Garry Nichol of Wallsend for donating £100 from an auction Lot of three Bill Nelson CD´S.
3rd May 2008 - Saras Hope Foundation supporter achieves local fame
We are delighted that Rachel Green wowed the audience with her wonderful vocal performance at the Live and Unsigned concert at the Tyne Theatre in Newcastle last Sunday. Rachel reached the final of the competion and came sixth on the night. Watch this space for details of Rachels next live performance.
1st May 2008 - Sponsor a Stone Appeal
We are delighted with the initial response to the appeal and wish to thank the following people and companies for their support
Amanda Lamb, Catherine (Kitty) Hoburn, Hipkin Solicitors (Whitley Bay), Asda Supermarket Sunderland, Bernie Harrison, Mr and Mrs Humble (Hadrian Park, Wallsend), Mr and Mrs Burn, Brians Greek Property Company. Visit Brians Greek Property Company by Clicking Here
1st May 2008
Jack Johnson (aged 12) the youngest member of the team, recently contacted Manchester United Football Club and he was delighted to receive confirmation that the Club have donated a ´signed pennant´. Well done Jack !!!!
30th April 2008 - Meet our solicitor in Crete
We were introduced to Dimitra Varouhaki by the researchers from Channel 4´s ´A Place in the Sun´. Dimitra was recommended by the British Embassy on the island and is a highly regarded lawyer. She helped Julie and Ged with the legal side of purchasing their own property on the island. We are delighted that Dimitra has offered to help the Foundation with the legalities of setting up the holiday retreat on the island. The Foundation´s UK solicitor Joanne Davidson is currently working with Dimitra to put all the legal framework in place in Crete.
Dimitra says
I feel really proud to be part of this unique effort. I am so glad that my hometown, Chania, will be one of the destinations which will offer children that struggle against cancer moments of joy and happiness.
Dimitra Varouhaki
Attorney at Law
Andrea Archontaki str.11
73132 Chania - Crete
Greece
tel. 28210 43340
6945259442
11th April 2008 - ´Sponsor a Stone´ Posters
Thank you to Graham, Paul and all the staff at Deakin Printers for donating the posters.
Deakin (Printers) Ltd, Whitley Bay - Tel 0191 2970111
6th April 2008 - Sara´s story hits the national press
The Sunday People´s ´Take it Easy´ magazine will feature an emotional account of Sara´s story on Sunday 6th April and how Sara´s bravery, warmth and positive attitude has inspired her family and friends to set up the Sara´s Hope Foundation. Order your copy now.
UPDATE - 12th April 2008
View the article by clicking Here. Please note that since this is a double page article placed onto one sheet, you will need to increase the magnification within the pdf document to view the text.
1st April 2008 - A Message from Megs and Bob Wilson (The Willow Foundation)
Thank you so much for your email regarding the charity you have set up in memory of Sara. What amazing work you have done since you lost your beautiful daughter and how proud she would be of all your efforts in her name. I have been onto your web site and it is extremely comprehensive and informative. You seem to have created much enthusiasm for the work that you are doing and it´s good to know that so many people are supporting you.
You and Julie had a very special daughter and you will have some wonderful memories of your life together that will be with you for the rest of your life. How mature she was for her 14 years to write a book of her experience and how helpful that will be for others in her position. She was very lucky to be able to be nursed in a Teenage Cancer Trust Ward as they are so specific in the needs of young teenagers. Your idea to create a house in Crete for those children living with cancer is a wonderful one and we wish you all the luck in the world in progressing it.
Ged and Julie say
We were delighted to receive the above kind words from the lovely Megs and Bob Wilson (former Arsenal and Scotland goalkeeper and TV presenter). The couple set up The Willow Foundation in 1999 in memory of their beautiful and courageous daughter, Anna who died of cancer shortly before her 32nd birthday. The charity´s name, ´Willow´ stems from Anna´s nickname and its aim is to replicate the positive impact special days had on both Anna and her family during her treatment.
For more details of Meg and Bobs charity please visit The Willow Foundation by clicking Here
29th March 2008 - The Dream gets closer......
We have just received the following message from the lovely Yiannis, Managing Director of New Century Homes In Crete: -
The managing director of New Century Homes is delighted that the Saras Hope Foundation Charity have chosen his company to construct the properties that will bring so much enjoyment to so many children and their families. He has therefore agreed to donate (free of charge) a 40 metre square swimmimng pool with an attached 10 metre square children´s pool.
He has also agreed to install all white goods i.e. electric cooker, extractor hood, fridge freezer and washing machine. He is also providing a Fiat 7 seater people carrier.
He wishes the Hoburn family and all of the Trustees and workers of the charity every success in raising the funds that will bring this project that started as a dream, into a reality.
This is fantastic news !!! We wish to thank Yiannis, Krystyna, Pat Procter and all the people at New Century Homes for sharing our enthusiasm and helping us make the dream come true. The photos below is the plot of land that Ged and Julie went to view in September. We feel it is the perfect location for the holiday home.
29th March 2008
The North Tyneside Council Admin Staff at Unicorn House (North Sheilds) held an Easter Raffle and raised £229 for the Foundation. Thanks to all the staff for their generosity and support and a special thank you to the organisers - Margaret Payne, Yvonne Woods, Joan Collington, Kath Finlay, Lynn Salmon, Margaret Martin, Ken Willits and Ann Cawley.
21st March 2008 - Donation from the ROAB Club in Wallsend
A sincere thank you to Robert Porter (Secretary) and the Committee and members of the ROAB Club and Institute (Warwick Road, Wallsend) for their generous donation of £300.
Update - 27th March 2008
Photos of Secretary Bobby Porter presenting the cheque to fundraiser Susan Howe and founder Ged Hoburn. Susan is one of the brave members of the Saras Hope Foundation ´parachute team´ from North Tyneside Council.
21st March 2008
Special thanks to staff and customers at Seashells (Monkseaton) for donating £41.69 from the Sara Hope Foundation collection box.
13th March 2008 - A Message from Melissa Porter
Melissa is one of the most well known faces in TV´s property programmes and has presented numerous TV shows including the current ´Britain´s Dream Homes´ series, ´Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is´ and ´I Own Britain´s Best Home´. She also presented the popular overseas property series ´Fly to Buy´ and has her own property renovation company, Porter & Smurfit. Click Here to visit the Porter and Smurfit web site.
Melissa has sent Ged and Julie the following message of support
My heart goes out to you. As a single woman with no children I can´t begin to imagine the pain and loss you must feel... I´m no expert when it comes to what makes a charity successful, all I know and believe and trust in is that if you sincerely are passionate about a cause and about acheiving something then anything is possible..your daughters hunger for life and experiences illustrates that.. Bless her.
Well done for all your hard work, I´m sure that your good work will make a huge difference to thousands of people´s lives. I wish you good fortune.. X.
Click Here to visit Melissa Porter´s web site.
7th March 2008 - Sara´s Hope Foundation achieves Registered Charity status
We are delighted to announce that we are now a Registered Charity. Our registration number is 1123099.
A sincere thank you to Joanne Davidson of Muckle LLP Solicitors for all of her help and support and to Mark Johnson for all of his dedication, enthusiasm and hard work.
7th March 2008 - The Twangling Jacks offer their support
Ryan Philpott and David Keeling, the comperes for the ´A Place in the Sun´ Live Exhibition, have sent the following message of support to Ged and Julie.
"It was a pleasure to involve you guys and I wish we could have had a proper chat. You are doing such a fantastic job. It is amazing to see you creating something so wonderfully positive after such personal tragedy".
They combined their theatre and comedy backgrounds to create the perfect event solution...........CUSTOMISED CORPORATE COMEDY. The Twangling Jacks, Ryan and David, have worked in television, in the theatre and in films. For more information about their company click Here.
3rd March 2008 - A place in the Sun Exhibition
On Saturday 1st March, we attended the ´A Place in the Sun´ Live Exhibition at the Manchester G MEX Arena. It was very emotional and special meeting up with Amanda again and she was her usual lovely and very beautiful self. We honestly believe that being filmed for the Channel 4 series gave us the confidence to go for our dream and Amanda´s friendship and support has been so valuable to our family.
We were accompanied by our good friends and fellow Sara´s Hope Foundation members Lisa, Jack, Lyn and Keith (who paid for the weekend out of their own pockets). We are so lucky to have so many kind and dedicated people promoting the charity.
The day was a fabulous success and we made lots of new friends and contacts from the audience and the property exhibitors. Amanda was absolutely terrific and made us feel so welcome - she gave us lots of wonderful ´plugs´ from the stage, resulting in us receiving lots of attention from the attendees of the event. Amanda also kindly wore her Sara´s Hope Foundation T Shirt for some publicity shots and signed some T shirts which we plan to auction at future fund raising events. It was a pleasure to meet the lovely Jasmine and Jonnie (Presenters of A Place in the Sun Home and Away) and Ryan Philpott and David Keeling who were comperes for the show. We also met up with the team who publish the ´A Place in the Sun´ Magazine - special thanks to Sophie Collins the PR person and everyone in the Green Room who made us feel so welcome and did not even mind having to step over Faye´s art materials which were spread across the floor !!!!!
It was a day we will all treasure forever and Amanda was a star, so kind and caring and spending time with us, despite her busy schedule. The highlight of the day was a quiet moment when Julie and I had some time with Amanda in the Green Room - Julie asked the question - "Amanda we would be thrilled if you would consider accepting our invitation to be Patron of the Sara´s Hope Foundation" - without a seconds pause Amanda replied - "Of course I will, it would be an honour". Julie and I were thrilled and elated as we hugged our new Patron of the charity. We know in our hearts that Sara would be thrilled to have Amanda as the Patron, she is such an enthusiastic, caring and sensitive person who will be a tremendous asset to the Foundation.
It was a day we will never forget and Amanda and the team from the ´A Place in the Sun´ event were so supportive and kind to us all. Also a million thanks to Lisa, Jack, Lyn and Keith - we couldn´t have done it without you guys.
A sincere thank you from Julie, Ged and Faye xxx
28th February 2008 - Friends of Saras Hope Foundation can now make a donation by standing order mandate
In partnership with the Halifax Building Society, we are please to announce that individuals and companies can now donate a fixed amount from their own bank account on a weekly, monthly or annual basis. Please contact Secretary Mark Johnson or Chairperson Keith Gibson for a standing order mandate form (contact details can be found on the contact/donate page).
27th February 2008 - Local businesses donate prizes
We would like to thank the following businesses and people for their recent and kind donations - The Quarry Pub (who are organising a live band night), The Journal Tyne Theatre, Picasso´s Restaurant (Whitley Lodge), The Kittiwake Pub (Whitley Lodge), Bodyworks (Whitley Bay), The Whinfell Forest Centerparcs and the Newcastle Greyhound Stadium. Also a million thanks to Jo Whitelaw and Louise Fimister for their enthusiasm and dedication.
25th February 2008 - Sara´s Hope Foundation hits the airwaves
Ged was interviewed live today on Metro Radio´s Tony Horne show. It followed Fridays interview with Amanda Lamb who informed the listeners that two of her favourite ´house hunters´ on A Place in the Sun series were ´Ged and Julie Hoburn of Whitley Bay´ !!!!
In today´s live broadcast, Ged talked about the experience of being filmed for the Channel 4 show and how this had led to the launch of Sara´s Hope Foundation. Ged informed the listeners that the project was going from strength to strength and the folks at Metro radio were extremely impressed with the Foundations aims, tremendous enthusiasm and dedication. Amanda writes a column for A Place in the Sun magazine and Sophie Collins, PR Manager of the magazine and the ´A Place in the Sun Exhibition´ has contacted Ged and Julie (thanks to the lovely Amanda) and would like to include a feature on the foundation in a future issue of the popular overseas property magazine.
Click Here to hear Ged´s interview on Metro Radio.
Click Here to hear Amanda´s interview on Metro Radio.
21st February 2008 - Amanda Lamb´s, A place in the Sun Exhibition
The lovely Amanda Lamb has kindly invited Ged, Julie and family to the Manchester Central(GMEX) on Saturday March 1st. We will be there along with Foundation members Lisa, Jack, Keith and Lyn, to promote the Foundation and to hand out flyer´s and information packs and to answer any questions. If you attend please come and say hello.
For details of the exhibition please click Here
Click Here to view the "A place in the Sun" flyer. Special thanks to Sam of Claytons and Ian Clarke from the Nelsonica Team for designing and suppying the new flyers.
21st February 2008 - Saras Hope Foundation would like to sincerely thank Debra Mc Knight and DFDS Seaways for the kind donation of a mini cruise voucher to Amsterdam.
12th February 2008 - Saras Hope Foundation is now a registered company
We have just been informed that Saras Hope Foundation is now a Registerd Company. A million thanks to Joanne Davidson, our solicitor from Muckle LLP for all of her help, advice and hard work.
2nd February 2008 - Coleen Nolan supports Saras Hope Foundation
We were thrilled that Coleen Nolan and her husband Ray thought our project to build and run the holiday home in Crete was a terrific idea. They kindly sent us some signed photos and a copy of Coleens new fitness DVD to auction. One of our most treasured memories of Sara was her smiling and laughing with me while on holiday in Lanzarote in October 2000 after completing all of her treatment. We were all so happy and optimistic - the music playing at the time was I´m in the mood for dancing by Coleen and her sisters. Little did we know what was around the corner and that on her return to the UK tests showed the dreadful illness had returned. We know in our hearts that Sara would be so proud to have Coleen and Rays support. Julie Hoburn
31st January 2008 - Calling all you budding Brendan Fosters !!!!!
We have recieved a number of enquiries from people who would like to compete in the BUPA Great North Run. The 2008 Bupa Great North Run is to be held in Newcastle on Sunday the 5th October.
We are delighted to have received several enquiries from individuals who would like to compete in this years Great North Run to raise funds for Sara´s Hope Foundation. Emily Casson and her friends from University have suggested putting a team together. Please could all you budding Brendan Fosters contact Ged at ged@sarashopefoundation.co.uk Click Here for a sponsor form.
26th January 2008 - Thank you to the Whitley Bay Ladies Circle
Julie, Ged and Faye were presented with a cheque for £600 from Sally Ennis, Chair of the Whitley Bay Ladies Circle on Thursday 24th January at the Avalon Hotel in Whitley Bay. This fantastic donation was raised from a festive ´Mock Auction´. Sarah Brodie, a member of the Ladies Circle has kindly offered to organise a Summer Ball for the Foundation, so make sure you send your ball gowns and tuxedos to the dry cleaners as this will be an event not to be missed !!! - Details to be announced very soon.
25th January 2008 - Slimming World Donation
Lisa Johnson (our Primary Fund raiser) collected a cheque for £118 from Slimming World, Ashington - special thanks to Norma and all of Lisa´s friends from the club for their generosity and support.
25th January 2008 - Calling all you budding Gordon Ramsays !!!!!
Emily Casson, one of Sara´s best friends has asked all you budding Gordon Ramsay´s for your own special recipe to include in our Sara´s Hope Foundation recipe book. Perhaps you have a secret family recipe passed down through the generations or you have came up with a mouth watering dish yourself? For details please contact Emily at emscheekymonkey@hotmail.com
23rd January 2008 - Some of our National Media Coverage
Here you will find two articles from ´The Greece Magazine´ (Dec issue) and Amanda Lambs article from ´A Place in the Sun´ magazine. A Place in the Sun Article | Greece Magazine Article (Dec 07)
22nd January 2008 Thanks to Sam and Nick of Claytons of Carltons for designing and supplying our new information leaflets free of charge. To view our new information leaflet please click Here.
The Bill Nelson canvas auction was won by Sue Needham with a bid of £213. Congratulations to Sue who has kindly supported the Foundation on a number of occasions since the launch.
We recently held our first committee meeting of 2008 and have so many exciting events planned for the New Year.
These include a golf tournament, a children´s Easter Egg hunt and fun day, a Summer Ball, a junior football competition (the Sara Hoburn trophy), a sponsored walk, a canoe event, live music nights, a disco / band night for adults with learning disabilities and their carers, an auction at Nelsonica 08, an abseil from the Tyne Bridge, a sky dive / parachute jump and a celebrity auction plus lots more.
If anyone would like to help or be involved in fund raising events please contact Lisa on 07794 623 144.
21st January 2008 Saras Hope Foundation would like to thank one of Sara´s school friends, Ian Dodds, who raised £136 from sponsorship for completing the Great North Run. Also thanks to Linda and Graham (from Wilson Terrace) and Bruce Anderson for their generous Christmas donations.
A Body shop party at the Black Horse Public House in Monkseaton raised £161.00.
Thanks to Margaret Stevenson for organising a Halloween party at Whitley High school raising £97.00.
A Christmas bag pack at Sainsburys (Whitley Bay) raised a fabulous £1,110.00 - thanks to everyone for their support and help.
21st January 2008 - Sara´s Hope Foundation reaches Australia !!!!!
Tracey and David Atkinson from Western Australia have pledged their support for the Foundation. Tracey is originally from Whitley Bay and has remained a loyal and special friend to Julie and Ged for many years. The Atkinsons own ´The Grocery store´ and sell home produced fruit, veg and fine foods. A donation will be made from the sales of their speciality products. A sincere thank you for this kind gesture to Tracey and David from Sara´s Hope Foundation.
9th January 2008 - Friends from West Farm Respite Service (for Adults with a Learning disability) donated £132 from the their Christmas celebration Party. A big thank you to Sue and the Team for putting on a fun-filled night.
8th January 2008 - On Tuesday 8th January, Julie, Ged and Faye called to see David Walker, a former patient at the RVI Teenage Cancer ward. David was the young man who launched the Foundations first event - the sponsored walk on the 12th August 2007. David is doing really well and is looking forward to going to University in September. David presented Sara´s Hope Foundation with a cheque for £405, raised with the help of family and friends from Cassop, County Durham. David and his family plan to organise another fund raising event for the Foundation in the Spring.
4th January 2008 - Sara´s Hope Foundation would like to sincerely thank Keiran, Pauline and all the staff and customers from Newsforce in Whitley Bay for raising nearly £300 in the collection bottle. We would also like to say a special thank you to Cliff and all the staff and customers from the Black Horse public house in Monkseaton for organising fund raising nights and for donating £129.20 from the collection bottle.
2nd January 2008 - Sara´s Hope Foundation have a rare and unique original canvas drawing by Bill Nelson up for auction - please see www.billnelson.com for details. Closing date for auction is the 16th January 2008 at midday.
We would like to thank Eddie McSheffrey, Sue Needham, Neill Burgess and David & Liz Gibson for donating rare Bill Nelson "Nelsonica" cd´s to the Foundation - raising in excess of £350 in ebay auctions.
