We need you!!

[ter21wat]

Over the last 2 years 26 year old mother, Natalie Marshall, has had few chances to enjoy the normal relationship with her 2 year old daughter Faith as the toddler was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in December 2007, when she was only 13 weeks old. The condition is a cancer of the specialised nerves cells and affects fewer than 100 children each year. Faith underwent an intense course of treatment which included surgery in January and October 2008 to remove tumours from her spine and abdomen at York Hill Hospital in Glasgow. During that time Natalie’s family were able to stay close by at Cruachan House – one of CLIC Sargent’s seven Homes from Home. These offer families free self-catering accommodation close to the hospital, helping to ease the emotional and financial burden at a time when it matters most. This service was crucial for Faith’s family as their home is nearly 300 miles from the hospital in Glasgow.
The family also benefitted from the support of a CLIC Sargent Nurse and Social Worker, and a £200 Community Support Grant to help families meet the cost of any extra support they might need to maintain normal life.
Faith is now 23 months old, and doing well, having regular MRI scans to monitor her progress.

Natalie said, “CLIC Sargent” is such an amazing charity. Me and my husband Steven could not begin to imagine how difficult life would have been if this charity was not here to help us. That’s why me and my friend, Terri Watt, would like to start up a CLIC Sargent support group in Caithness, to raise money for CLIC sergeant.

Natalie wants to give a little bit back to the Charity and she and Terri recently completed the River Ness 10K on Sunday 4th October. Now she has taken her running shoes off Natalie is embarking on another challenge, one of starting up the first ever Caithness CLIC Sargent local fundraising group. She hopes to recruit folk who would like to put some FUN into fundraising for CLIC Sargent and at the same time raise vital income for the Charity’s work with the 10 families that are told each day that their child has cancer.

We are holding an opening night in the Orange Room at The Park Hotel at 7.00pm, Thursday 19th November. There will be entertainment provided by the music department from Thurso High School and food and refreshments will be available having been generously donated by the Co-op, Thurso. There will also be a presentation detailing the brilliant work CLIC Sargent does given by Peter Logie, the Community Fundraising Manager for the Highlands, Islands & Grampian.This is a perfect opportunity to come along and find out more about CLIC Sargent and what you and your spare time can do to help.

If you would like to have a chat with Natalie and consider getting involved, she can be contacted on by e-mail nataliemarshall23@hotmail.com or 01847 891345.

Peter Logie, CLIC Sargent’s Community Fundraiser for Highlands & Islands and Moray commented, “I am delighted that Natalie has responded to our appeal for a local Caithness Group. She knows exactly what kind of help we need to provide to families facing the nightmare of childhood cancer. Sadly at the moment, we are not able to support all the families that need our help, but with more support like Natalie’s we aim to reach every family that receives the devastating news. We had a great Zip slide in Wick last July, which we will be running again next year and I’m sure that Natalie will be coming up with some other interesting ideas to encourage the good folk of Caithness to help support us in our work”

[ter21wat]

Hello all,

As per my 'cut and paste' post above we are looking to start a CLIC Sargent fundraising group in Caithness and are holding an open meeting in the Orange Room at the Park hotel at 7pm on Thursday 19th November with refreshments and entertainment.

We are looking for anyone with any spare time who may want to join/support our fundraising group. We are hoping to hold all the usual fundraising events through out the year such as raffles, car boot sales etc but also want to hold bigger events, like the Zip Slide in Wick, and we need people to help with all the behind the scenes work that goes in to holding such events.

I'm sure you'll agree that CLIC Sargent is a very worthy cause, so if you can spare some time on Thursday 19th November please pop along to the Orange Room at the Park Hotel to hear a bit more and find out what you can do to help

[Invisible]

What a great idea!
I'm personally tied up on the 19th but would support any fund-raising for this cause.

[ter21wat]

What a great idea!
I'm personally tied up on the 19th but would support any fund-raising for this cause.

Thanks Invisible, I'll drop you a pm after the meeting and let you know how it went. Any support you can offer us, no matter how small would be greatly appreciated!

[lelebo]

Hi Terri

I'm flat out on the 19th with the shop opening on the 21st but would be more than happy to help with any fund raising Ali too xxx

[weefee]

Ace idea, if i can make it is it ok to bring the bairn? xx

[ter21wat]

Hi Terri

I'm flat out on the 19th with the shop opening on the 21st but would be more than happy to help with any fund raising Ali too xxx

Cheers Donna, i'm sure we'll find plenty use for the pair of you!! I'll take mintues at the meeting and then I can send them out to you and anyone else thats interested and cant make it.

Hope alls going well in the run up to your open day, cana wait to come through for a nose! See you on the 21st if not before xxx

[ter21wat]

Ace idea, if i can make it is it ok to bring the bairn? xx

Hi Weefee, yeah you can take the bairn along no problem, the more the merrier. Really hope you can make it but if not please let me know and I will send you the minutes so you know how it went and how you can help. Cheers Tx

[ter21wat]

Anyone else out there looking to do something worth while and good fun in spare time??