Blooming Great Time and £400 raised!

Well, in the end, the sun did shine, but as it didn't promise to in advance, our Blooming Great Tea Party at Pine Ridge Golf Course reverted to Plan B, and took place in the rather grand surroundings of the Baronial Hall, the smaller of the two function rooms.  In fact it was a perfect location and with the doors open and the sun streaming in, it made a lovely setting for our first event since becoming Pine Ridge's chosen charity.  

See the video blog on the Surrey Heath Residents Network

The team at Pine Ridge had pulled out all the stops and the most amazing afternoon tea awaited visitors.  We had balloons for the younger family members, the daffodil 'make' craft, and two energetic interactive dance sessions with Rachel from The Secret Stage School which really got the kids involved. See www.thesecretstageschool.co.uk for information of the local classes Rachel runs.

We were also delighted to meet Leigh from Pear Tree Photography who took some fantastic photo's of family and friend groups, and provided a top quality print to take away in return for a donation.  All the donations received through this 'Funbooth' came directly to Marie Curie Cancer Care.  Check out www.peartreephotography.co.uk to find out more.

Some of Leigh's photo's were even more amazing as lots of the children had their faces decorated by Fascinating Faces - www.fascinatingfaces.co.uk -  the best face-painters around! 

Even The Stig popped in for a cuppa, and so did Daffy the Daffodil from Marie Curie.

Creative Candi were there too, and included a 'how many sweets in the jar' to raise some money, and Pine Ridge ran a raffle with lots of great prizes.  Kids and adults took part in some taster golf lessons, little 'uns bounced and bounced (and bounced) in the inflatable ball pit, and mums and dads downed gallons of tea.  All in all, exactly how a Blooming Great Tea Party should be!

We had a great time and are already looking forward to organising a ladies golf day in September and a Halloween Bowling Party in October with the team at Pine Ridge.  We'll keep you posted on progress.

The details are in .... BGTP at Pine Ridge - 24 June

Calling all primary schools, nurseries, pre-schools, playgroups, toddler groups, childminders, rainbows, brownies, beavers, cubs and anyone else I've forgotten .....

Mini Pots of Care is a wonderful interactive and creative scheme which aims to involve youngsters in a challenge to plant and care for a daffodil bulb, representing the amazing work of Marie Curie Nurses and the end of life care they provide to patients and families.

Any children's group can apply for the free Mini Pots of Care planting kits which include everything needed to  for every child to plant and grow the daffodil bulb: pot, soil, bulb, pot wrapper etc. These need to be requested by 5 October at the latest.

The children can then celebrate their achievements in the Spring with a 'Mini Pots of Care Day'.

To find out more about the scheme, and to apply for your free planting kits, please see www.mariecurie.org.uk/minipotsofcare.

Could you 'Walk Ten' for Marie Curie this August?

Walk Ten is an annual Marie Curie Cancer Care event, and our nearest one is at the fabulous Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking (as featured on a recent episode of BBC1's The Apprentice!) on Saturday evening, 11 August 2012.  The setting is fantastic, nestled in the Surrey Hills, overlooking Box Hill and the evening is set to be a wonderful fundraising event, as well as an opportunity to reflect on the work of the Marie Curie nurses.

Experience the beauty of the sun setting over the rolling hills before joining in the festival-like atmosphere to celebrate the work of our local Marie Curie Nurses. There will be a Caribbean-themed BBQ party, including live music and family entertainment.

The evening will end with a spectacular fireworks display to mark the time Marie Curie Nurses begin their night shifts – to remember the fantastic work they do in caring for people with terminal cancer and other illnesses.

An opportunity not to be missed - sign up now :-) http://bit.ly/K7nhLv

Why not hold your own Blooming Great Tea Party?

Details coming very soon on our Blooming Great FAMILY Tea Party at Pine Ridge, promise.

In the meantime, why not think about holding a BGTP yourself either at home, at work, at your club, church, toddler group - anywhere is a good place to 'put the kettle' on for Marie Curie Cancer Care. If you do hold your own event, we are happy to bank the money for you (or rather our Treasurer Sue is - thanks Sue!), just let me know.

Sign up for an info pack on how to run your BGTP here www.mariecurie.org.uk/teaparty.

Outreach boxes 2012

Outreach boxes have now, with the exception of a couple, all been collected, and Sue has counted and banked the money. So far the total is £1,740! What a fantastic effort by the customers and owners of the businesses the boxes were placed in for the 2012 season and well done to our team for distributing them and collecting them back in.

If you know any local shops or businesses who would be willing to take a box of daffodil pins onto their premises for March/April 2013 campaign, please let us know.

Blooming Great Tea Party at Pine Ridge

Pine Ridge Golf Centre are holding a Blooming Great FAMILY Tea Party for us on Sunday 24 June 2012.  Full details to follow shortly.