My heroic Challenge
In March last year, I entered the Take The Leap challenge in The Lady. The prize was to abseil from a tall building in return for agreeing to raise £10,000 for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund. I posted my entry. When the Commando Spirit event organiser, Sally-Anne Hunter, phoned me in late July, I had quite a shock.
‘You’ve won, Sally. Are you still game to abseil?’ she asked.
Not being in the first flush of youth but having said in my winning slogan that I was not ready to be put out to pasture just yet, I accepted the challenge with alacrity. Trained by the Royal Marines, I abseiled from the rooftop of St Pancras International station. You may have read about it in The Lady (21 September issue).
Once the euphoria had passed, fundraising became a reality. I contacted a unique team known collectively as The Iver Volunteers who had supported me over the years when I managed the Iver Nature Study Centre, a two-acre wildlife garden in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire. Since September, from 16-year-old Ben to those in their 80s, they have come with me on a roller coaster fundraising adventure. This is what happened.
I used the Study Centre for my first event, a quiz night. It was a funny feeling going back to my ‘home’ of 18 years. Things had changed but the laughter and fun remained.
Clare and her husband Stan ran a teddy tombola. Kareth, now living in Scotland, agreed to run my Just Giving web page, keeping my supporters up to date. Loraine baked and sold cakes. Former Study Centre gardener, Geoff and his wife Rosemary, held a Taking Advantage Of Your Generosity lunch for relatives and friends. My sister Jane and her daughter Katie held a successful bring-and-buy sale.
Sally with editor Matt
Shelagh hosted a Keep The Spirit Going afternoon tea. Friends demolished the mountain of cakes she’d baked in exchange for donations. Anne displayed a sponsor form in the local pharmacy and encouraged customers to support the cause. Bernadette, who has a son serving in the Royal Artillery, held two fundraising lunches for her friends.
With my most ambitious event, Tea And Strictly, coming up, hours were spent phoning contacts, chasing raffle prizes and finding sponsors, plus a special venue. The hard work paid off . In the ballroom of Pinewood Studios, 120 guests danced to music from the 1920s to the 1970s. Toes tapped, hands clapped and the singing of Second World War favourites raised the roof. We off ered games, a quiz, a bottle stall, and a successful raffle.
Sandwiches and cakes were made by Grace, Jill and my neighbour Theresa, who caused much laughter emerging from the kitchen as Mrs Overall. Lily, Chris, Hazel and I dressed as Nippies (of Lyons Corner House fame) to serve everyone.
After the guests left, we found Bernadette’s missing husband up to his elbows in soap bubbles, tackling the dishes – without being asked! That afternoon was an example of extraordinary people working together for a common cause.
In February the Windsor and Maidenhead branch of the Royal Marines Association, having listened to my fundraising tales, generously donated that evening’s takings to the cause. Without the help and support of the volunteers throughout the year, I could not have achieved any of this or headed towards my £10,000 goal.
What an extraordinary 12 months full of ups, downs, laughter, fun and successes. It was worth the eff ort, knowing the monies donated will go to an organisation that supports people who daily show courage in their actions and put their lives on the line. Many will live with the consequences of such service for the rest of their life.
www.commandospirit.com
To donate to Sally’s fund: www.justgiving.com/Sally-Munn
Iver Environment Centre, Slough Road, Iver Heath, Bucks: 01895- 270730, www.ivernature.co.uk
‘You’ve won, Sally. Are you still game to abseil?’ she asked.
Not being in the first flush of youth but having said in my winning slogan that I was not ready to be put out to pasture just yet, I accepted the challenge with alacrity. Trained by the Royal Marines, I abseiled from the rooftop of St Pancras International station. You may have read about it in The Lady (21 September issue).
Once the euphoria had passed, fundraising became a reality. I contacted a unique team known collectively as The Iver Volunteers who had supported me over the years when I managed the Iver Nature Study Centre, a two-acre wildlife garden in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire. Since September, from 16-year-old Ben to those in their 80s, they have come with me on a roller coaster fundraising adventure. This is what happened.
I used the Study Centre for my first event, a quiz night. It was a funny feeling going back to my ‘home’ of 18 years. Things had changed but the laughter and fun remained.
Clare and her husband Stan ran a teddy tombola. Kareth, now living in Scotland, agreed to run my Just Giving web page, keeping my supporters up to date. Loraine baked and sold cakes. Former Study Centre gardener, Geoff and his wife Rosemary, held a Taking Advantage Of Your Generosity lunch for relatives and friends. My sister Jane and her daughter Katie held a successful bring-and-buy sale.
Sally with editor Matt Shelagh hosted a Keep The Spirit Going afternoon tea. Friends demolished the mountain of cakes she’d baked in exchange for donations. Anne displayed a sponsor form in the local pharmacy and encouraged customers to support the cause. Bernadette, who has a son serving in the Royal Artillery, held two fundraising lunches for her friends.
With my most ambitious event, Tea And Strictly, coming up, hours were spent phoning contacts, chasing raffle prizes and finding sponsors, plus a special venue. The hard work paid off . In the ballroom of Pinewood Studios, 120 guests danced to music from the 1920s to the 1970s. Toes tapped, hands clapped and the singing of Second World War favourites raised the roof. We off ered games, a quiz, a bottle stall, and a successful raffle.
Sandwiches and cakes were made by Grace, Jill and my neighbour Theresa, who caused much laughter emerging from the kitchen as Mrs Overall. Lily, Chris, Hazel and I dressed as Nippies (of Lyons Corner House fame) to serve everyone.
After the guests left, we found Bernadette’s missing husband up to his elbows in soap bubbles, tackling the dishes – without being asked! That afternoon was an example of extraordinary people working together for a common cause.
In February the Windsor and Maidenhead branch of the Royal Marines Association, having listened to my fundraising tales, generously donated that evening’s takings to the cause. Without the help and support of the volunteers throughout the year, I could not have achieved any of this or headed towards my £10,000 goal.
What an extraordinary 12 months full of ups, downs, laughter, fun and successes. It was worth the eff ort, knowing the monies donated will go to an organisation that supports people who daily show courage in their actions and put their lives on the line. Many will live with the consequences of such service for the rest of their life.
www.commandospirit.com
To donate to Sally’s fund: www.justgiving.com/Sally-Munn
Iver Environment Centre, Slough Road, Iver Heath, Bucks: 01895- 270730, www.ivernature.co.uk