HAVE FUN FUNDRAISING!

The work of the DI relies very heavily on fundraising activities. While many of our supporters prefer to support our work by making a donation, others enjoy raising funds on our behalf in all sorts of ways. There are lots of ways in which you can have fun and help us at the same time!

We are keen to hear from anyone who is prepared to walk, run, jump, swim, act, sing or shout - indeed to do anything to help us raise much-needed funds. If you are keen to have a go please ring 01784 222300 (and ask for Fundraising) or e-mail fundraising@dyslexia-inst.org.uk. 

Listed below are some ideas for suitable fundraising activities and some examples of activities that have proved successful in the past.
  

We are happy to offer you advice and support if you would like to arrange your own event. Here are a few ideas:

Abseiling, Bring and Buy Sales, Coffee Mornings, Cycle Rides, Day at the Races, Dinner Dances, Family Fun Days, Fishing Day, Golf Day, Karting, Kite Flying Contests, Murder Mystery Evenings, Night at the Greyhounds, Open Gardens, Raffles, Sandcastle Building, Swimathons, Walkathons, and Yo Yo Contests - to name but a few!

To set up a free online sponsorship page click here.

DAYLE WALKS TO RAISE FUNDS.....

Dayle Allen (16) took part in the Kellogg's Great Walk at Manchester, raising nearly £170 for the DI - a magnificent achievement. Dayle enjoyed the experience saying that it was a real pleasure to walk for the DI. His mother Pauline commented, 'It's amazing how many kids have given 10p and it's all added up. It's a small amount but I hope it helps. I'm sure Dayle will walk again for the DI next year'. Many congratulations, Dayle!

JUNE REACHES HER PEAK

Perth adult student June Dargie had always wanted to climb Scotland’s highest peak of Ben Nevis and the  challenge of raising funds for the DI prompted her to make it.  She is shown at the top of the   mountain on 9th May this year.

Says June: ‘ Ben Nevis has always been one of the Scottish mountains that I wanted to climb.  Also I have a special birthday this year so I knew that if I didn’t climb it now I’d be too old. I  felt that to make it I needed a commitment and as the Dyslexia Institute has helped me I wanted to give something back to them.   I work for a charity that supports visually impaired people tp maintain their independence so I know just how important it is to receive donations’. 

 We are most grateful to June whose sterling effort raised over £900.

Graham Cole, a Sales and Marketing manager from Stone, near Stafford, has raised £4,000 for the Stone Institute by climbing mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain. 55 year old Graham is the husband of Pam Cole, who specialises in teaching adults at the Stone Centre. Graham was a member of a party of ten people who undertook the climb earlier this year.

Mount Kilimanjaro in Northern Tanzania is approximately 6,000 metres above sea level, making it an extremely demanding climb, taking nine days to complete.

Graham said, " I have never been so cold in my life. Every step was an effort and during the final leg of the ascent we had to stop every 15 minutes for a rest and to take on more water. We reached the summit at dawn and the views over Africa were breath-taking and ones which I will never forget. I am so thrilled to raise so much money for the DI." Stone Principal Gina Plant and staff at the Centre are delighted by Graham's success and his tremendous support for the Centre. The funds received are already being used to help dyslexic adults.

Jane Piggott, a teacher at the Nottingham Institute, and wife of a DI council member Ken, raised over £400 for the DI by climbing Mount Snowdon. She comments, " After three and a quarter hours we finally reached the summit. we could see very little since we were in thick cloud by now and the wind was so strong that at times we were almost blown off our feet.  And it was very, very cold so the celebrations at the top amounted to a rapid succession of photos and a very quick snack and hot drink, before we started the descent. I am delighted to have raised so much for the Nottingham Centre and know that it will be put to excellent use in supporting children whose parents cannot afford to pay for assessments and tuition.

The DI is indebted to Graham and Jane for their tremendous efforts in support of the DI.

NIGEL’S DESERT ENDURANCE RAISES FUNDS FOR THE DI

Nigel Branagan has spent the past seven years looking after his two children and at the same time studying for an Open University degree, gaining a BSc (2.1 Honours) degree in December 2004. Having proved himself mentally, Nigel is now looking for a physical challenge and has decided to take on one of the most gruelling challenges possible - he has entered the 2006 Marathon des Sables, a 151 mile endurance race across the Moroccan Sahara. 

The Marathon des Sables is reckoned to be the hardest footrace in the world,  taking place over seven days. Competitors have to be almost totally self-sufficient , carrying all their own food and equipment (except a tent). Only water is issued on a daily basis.  During the race temperatures regularly reach 49°C, plummeting at night to around 4°C.

In the course of his studies Nigel was found to be dyslexic, but this certainly didn’t hold him back. ‘Being dyslexic is not the end of the world and with the right tutors and hard work anything is possible’, he says. 

Nigel is hoping to raise money for the DI and two other charities. To make a donation please visit his online sponsorship website at www.justgiving.com/branagan

STARS COME OUT FOR MARIA
Maria Pounder from Silksworth near Sunderland has been tirelessly raising funds for the Newcastle Institute after her grandson Troy was diagnosed with dyslexia. Maria says the DI has given Troy a lot of support and she feels that she is just giving a little something back. The Institute not only provides educational support, but most importantly, stability, she told the Shields Gazette."If I could get the message across to just one more person that dyslexia is not only about reading and writing difficulties, that would make me very happy" she said. On a visit to the Keelboat club in Washington, which is a regular haunt for a lot of North East entertainment acts, Maria hit upon the idea of organising a charity evening. Many of the acts immediately offered their services free and an excellent programme was put together. The event raised nearly £600 which is being used to provide tuition at the Institute.

FAMOUS GUITARIST AND CELEBRITY CHEF JOIN FORCES TO SUPPORT THE DI

DI President Ken Follett recently organised a private recital by leading classical guitarist John Williams at the home of celebrity chef Ruthie Rogers and her husband, renowned architect Lord Richard Rogers. 

John Williams gave the recital to an exclusive group of supporters of the Dyslexia Institute who were asked to make a donation to the charity. Guests were treated to wine and canapés from the River Café, Thames Wharf, whose proprietor is Lady Rogers. 

Lady Rogers said: "My husband is dyslexic, so we’re delighted to do what we can to help this terrific charity." Ken Follett said that he hoped the event would raise about £20,000. "After all, it’s not often that you get the chance of a private recital by one of the leading musicians in the world’. 

The DI is most grateful for the generosity of Lord and Lady Rogers, Ken Follett and, of course, John Williams.

TRISH CONTINUES TO WORK WONDERS FOR LEICESTER DI

Every year Trish Grainger finds new ways of raising money for the Leicester Institute. Trish, whose middle son Kyle is a former student at the centre, has this winter raised over £300 in various ways. She ran a stall at the local school’s Christmas Fayre; she earned a commission by encouraging her friends to purchase through a card and gift company; finally, she saw a campaign at Sainsbury’s which offered a ‘penny a bag’ every time a carrier bag was recycled and seized the opportunity to claim a share of the proceeds for the DI. 

Trish is pictured (left) presenting a cheque to Leicester Principal Ann Brown. Ann and her staff would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to Trish and all the friends who have helped her.

A WARM WELCOME IN THE HILLSIDES

Our thanks and congratulations go to Leighton James, Phil Ashman and Geoff Collins who cycled 220 miles from Anglesey in North Wales to Rhoose near Cardiff to raise funds for the Cardiff Institute. Leighton’s wife Janet, who is an administrator at the Cardiff Centre, says that the five day trip was most enjoyable. While the men were sweating it out on their cycles, the wives were providing a motorised back-up. They arrived at Rhoose Point to a champagne reception. Over £1,500 was raised.

L to r Jeff and Viv Collins, Leighton and Janet James, Cardiff Principal Jane Owen, and Phil and Paula Ashman