Acknowledgments
Draper Tools have been the kind sponsors of our annual fundraising ball since its inception in 2005, as well as providing very generous auction prizes on each occasion. We have also received a great deal of help and support with the printing of posters, tickets and other literature. John Draper and his team have taken a great interest in our research and we look forward to continuing our association with them.
Heartfelt thanks for organising fundraising events on our behalf
A Concert was held at All Saints Church, Botley, SO30 2EA with Richard and Emma Scott-Copeland and the choir of All Saints Church. Thank you to all performers and the audience for their warm welcome.
A huge thank you to Ann Fenner for organising a carol singing session outside West Quay in the precinct in Southampton on the 17th December 2009, on a very cold but dry night. Thank you also to Conchord Singers for providing the voices and Emma Scott-Copeland for conducting and bringing along musicians and singers from Romsey. Collection buckets were 'manned' by a team including some of our researchers. A fabulous team effort for which we are very grateful.
West End Singers held a concert at The Point, Eastleigh on the 4th and 5th December 2009 and very generously held a collection for us after each performance. Thank you so much to all of you for a very enjoyable evening when I watched on the Saturday night.
Car Boot Sale on the 29th November 2009. We got very wet and were back home by 9a.m. although we did raise some money. Perhaps we shall be lucky enough to have nice weather if we are allocated the site again in 2010.
Congratulations to Jackie Tombs for raising £800 for Gift of Sight by running the Gosport Half Marathon on November. Having run through hail and torrential rain Jackie was relieved to get to the end of the run, wet but pleased!
Many thanks Marie and James Nelson for completing the Great South Run although Marie suffered a worse injury than last year and is now on crutches. We all feel that perhaps we should look for an easier way for her to raise funds. Well done for limping home and huge congratulations to James who made it in good time.
New Forest Rotary Club organised a Trafalgar Dinner at the Royal Southern Yacht Club which was a very enjoyable evening. Supper was followed with a very entertaining and informative talk by Commander John Sephton RN.
Ongoing thanks to Rethina Kier and the staff in the Short Stay Eye Unit at the General Hospital for their frequent raffles. Thank you also to all the Doctors, nurses and staff in the Eye Unit who are recommending 'thank you' donations made to them by way of thanks for their kindness be forwarded for our Appeal.
Many thanks to Mrs Rita Wye and the New Forest Women's Bowling Association for their hard work in raising a total of £1490.80 on our behalf. Rita held a Fashion Show, a cream tea in a friend's garden, raffles and table top sales to make this tremendous total.
Thanks to all who joined in the Rotary Test Way Walk. Seven team members walked the 26 mile distance (see Team Gallery) and Karen Allthorpe (a theatre sister at Southampton Eye Unit) and Jackie Roche (one of the receptionists at Draper Tools Ltd.) walked 13 miles and seven miles respectively. We shall let everyone know how much we made when the funds are in and counted. Many thanks also to the Rotary team for their tremendous organisational skills and support along the way.
Mrs Susan Harrison kindly asked for donations to our Appeal at the time of her recent birthday and has forwarded a very generous sum. Many thanks Susan, happy birthday and many more of them.
Many thanks to Brian and Jean Mackintosh for collecting funds for Gift of Sight at their recent party. The sale of conkers by one of their grandchildren (aged 7) shows true entreprenurial spirit!
Thank you to Alan Blair and Peter Clayton for their tremendous organisation of the New Forest Rotary Club Bramshaw Golf Day on the 10th September 2009. We would also like to thank Draper Tools Ltd., Mrs Carol Slark and Specsavers and Andy Steggall who all helped out with prizes for the day.
Heartfelt gratitude to Maggy and Dudley Parker who raised a tremendous sum for us on the occasion of their joint birthday party in August.
Many thanks to Nick and Chris for their tremendous courage in cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise funds for us. The money is still coming in but we anticipate a final total of around £4,000.
Thank you Susan and David for kindly opening your garden, on a chilly July afternoon, on behalf of the New Forest Rotary Club and Gift of Sight. As one of the benefeciaries for the Club's charity funds this year we are very grateful for your support. A huge learning curve into the intricacies of the model railway world. AMW 19.07.09
A huge thank you to Carol Slark (Director, Specsavers, Lymington) and her husband Andy for opening their garden on the 28th June 2009 and providing a hugely entertaining event. Also thanks to all the kind people who donated prizes and items for sale and to those who turned up to help on the day.
Thank you Rita and Magpie Clothing at Hythe for organising such a wonderful evening on the 29th May 2009. Great fun, lovely models, nice clothes and a tremendously supportive audience.
Many thanks to Richard Newsom (Paris Marathon) and Richard Eden (Shakespeare Half Marathon) who both ran for Gift of Sight and helped our fundraising.