Thursday 19th June 2008
What a fantastic night. The new Muckle LLP ´penthouse´ offices were the perfect location to launch the Sponsor A Stone Appeal. Newcastle United´s Steven Taylor kindly attended the event and was absolutely brilliant chatting to everyone, signing autographs and proudly wearing the Saras Hope Foundation T shirt for publicity shots.
The evening began with guests sampling the delicious canapes and champagne in the business lounge, whilst watching a montage of many fund raising events on the large plasma sceens.
A presentation followed including a heartfelt video message from our Patron, the lovely Amanda Lamb, who unfortunately could not attend due to TV commitments. We were delighted that Pat Procter from New Century Homes in Crete was able to fly over especially for the launch. Pat talked about her own experiences living on the island and how the company are thrilled to be a part of the Saras Hope Foundation.
The presentation was an emotional experience for all and the response from the launch was extremely positive, with guests pledging their support in many ways and sponsoring the appeal.
We would like to say many thanks to Muckle LLP for making the event such a special and memorable occassion. Special thanks to Joanne Davidson, Ruth Craig and Paul Johnstone.
Ged and Julie say
This was a very emotional and proud evening for us all and it really brought home how much the Foundation had achieved in such a short time. We realise that we have a long road ahead but we are so lucky to have the support of a fantastic, dedicated and enthusiastic team of people helping us reach the ´dream´. Steven Taylor and his father Alfie, were wonderful and it was a night we will treasure forever. Having our special friend Pat at the event was terrific, she is such a warm and caring person and the support of her company ´New Century Homes´ is so important to the project. To hear ´Six Strings For Sara´ playing in the business lounge and hearing our lovely friend Amanda Lamb´s message were special moments. A million thanks to everyone who attended the Launch and a bouquet of flowers went to Joanne and Ruth for their care and help. Sara´s inspiration lives on .......
A message from Anne Wilson, Sara´s Social worker from the Teenage cancer Unit
Dear Ged, Julie, Family and Friends
I am very sorry indeed that I cannot attend this evening because getting to this point with Sara´s Hope Foundation represents a huge step towards your ultimate goal and I wish this event every success.
I cannot think of a better tribute to Sara than this particular Project. All of the children and teenagers we deal with are brave and to work with them and their families is a very rewarding and humbling experience. Working with Sara and her family was no exception. What was exceptional about Sara was her amazing smile which greeted everyone, no matter what she happened to be going through at the time, and the fact that she was always at pains to say ´thank you´ for even the most simple of care tasks undertaken by staff. She even thanked us for taking the time to say a few words in passing.
That huge smile represented her love of life and just as important the fact that she wanted everyone else to love life too. What seemed to give her the most pleasure was watching others enjoying themselves and a classic example of this was when she celebrated a birthday where, instead of being justifiably the centre of attention as the ´birthday girl´, she spent the whole evening making sure that everyone had everything they needed and were having a great time.
On the very few occasions she was able to have some respite from treatment, Sara loved sharing that time with those she loved and cared about, away from the hospital environment and she believed that such breaks gave herself and her family the energy to carry on. What a fitting tribute to Sara therefore that her family want to give such opportunities to other patients and families dealing with what they too had to deal with. I wholeheartedly wish this Project every success and know Sara would be extremely proud of the tremendous effort her family, friends and others have contributed to make this excellent idea a reality.
Very best wishes,
Anne Wilson
Social Worker attached to Teenage Cancer Unit, RVI
