Day 7 of Blogmas - 2017 Fundraising

My Mum said today that Christmas should be more about giving back, and I have to agree. So many people don't get to enjoy it because they can't afford to give or they don't even have a home. This isn't to guilt you, but to make you appreciate what you have and make you realise how important giving is.

As you might have picked up from other posts, I adore fundraising. I haven't done as much as I hoped this year, but I hope that will change in 2017. I always love to look ahead to new challenges and events in the new year, so thought this would be a fun post to encourage others too! I love so many amazing causes so have decided to list some amazing national causes and what they are doing. These causes are very close to my heart. Of course if you know me, I love charities so I found this immensely difficult to choose just 5 charities, but thought 100 might be boring!

I thought it would be best to say what events or challenges you can do with the following charities closest to my heart:

1. Samaritans
I love this charity so much for their continuous support of anyone in the UK struggling. It is amazing that charities like this are around for those in need. I believe everyone needs someone to talk to, and think we've all felt hopeless at one stage in our lives. Looking online, I didn't know that everyday, 16 people decide to take their life; they are there to help prevent.

There are so many events you can do for them including:
Brighton Marathon - 9th April 2017
London Marathon - 23rd April 2017
Edinburgh Marathon Festival - 27th/28th May 2017
London 2 Brighton - 27/28th May 2017
London 10,000 - 29th May 2017
Trek Canada Rockies - choose between dates: 10-18th June or 9-17th September 2017
Trek Iceland - choose between dates: 28th June-2nd July or 30th August-3rd September 2017
Climb Kilimanjaro - as you know, climbing Kilimanjaro is the best thing I've done to date, so encourage anyone and everyone to do it! There are various dates for this.
Ride London - Surrey 100 - 30th July 2017
South Coast Challenge - 26/27th August 2017
Thames Path Challenge - 9/10th September 2017
Great North Run - 10th September 2017
Berlin Marathon - 24th September 2017
Bournemouth Marathon - 7th/8th October 2017
Royal Parks Half Marathon - 8th October 2017
Cycle Vietnam to Cambodia - choose between three dates: 7-15th October, 11-19th October or 21-29th October 2017.
Skydiving - can be done in various locations and dates
Tough Mudder - can be done in various locations and dates
Spartan Race - can be done in various locations and dates
Zombie Evacuation Race - can be done in various locations and dates
Swim Serpentine - in London, but dates tbc

2. Childreach International

I first came across Childreach International while at university, and actually climbed Kilimanjaro for them. They work in countries to help children to fulfil their potential working to ensure they have access to education, healthcare and protection, they work with children, teachers, parents and the communities they work in.

There are a whole load of challenges you can do including: climbing Kilimanjaro (of course), Everest Base Camp, Great North Run, Great Wall of China, Amazon Adventure, London Marathon, British 10K, India on 2 Wheels, Euro City Cycle, Edinburgh Half Marathon, Great Birmingham Half Marathon, London to Paris Cycle, Edinburgh Night Ride, Machu Picchu and skydives. Check out their website to discover more about the charity, and how to get involved.

3. Maggie's

I look so miserable, but pictures sometimes scare me!

This is a charity very close to my heart. If you've not heard of them, they have cancer centre across the UK. They believe in the benefit of having somewhere for people affected by cancer to go to, which is beautiful and designed by architects. They are always built on the site of an NHS hospital, so that patients, relatives or friends can go to between treatments or to access support needed. The staff are fully trained professionals and included clinical psychologists, cancer support specialists, benefit advisors and Centre heads to manage the centre.

There are a whole host of things you can do for them, it is best to see what is going on locally with them as you'll find more tailored things, but here are the main ones they do to fundraise:
Virgin Money London Marathon - 23rd April 2017
Maserati Tour De Yorkshire - 30th April 2017
MK Superhero Run -1st May 2017
Edinburgh Marathon Festival - 27/28th May 2017
Moonwalk - working with Walk the Walk, they fundraise for this. This takes place in June in Edinburgh or London.
Culture Crawl - They've done Culture Crawl London for a while, but in the last two years, they've developed to do it in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Swansea and many more cities. It is a great way to learn about a city, and support charity at the same time. It usually takes place in September or October.
Great North Run - 10th September 2017
Royal Parks Half Marathon - 8th October 2017
Skydive - various dates and locations in UK

4. RSPCA
I don't need to say much here. I just love animals - mainly dogs and cats, but couldn't imagine harming even a fly so hurts to think others do. We shouldn't need charities like this, people should be nice to animals. They also work to protect them from their environment such as getting trapped somewhere etc. I did do my skydive for SPCA which is the Scottish version of the charity. Not sure I have any pictures from that terrifying experience!

Their website doesn't tell you a great lot about what events are happening in 2017, but I'd suggest getting in touch with your local RSPCA to find out more:
Brighton Marathon - 9th April 2017
London Marathon - 23rd April 2017
Great North Run - 10th September 2017
BIG Walkies - I don't know much about this one, but it sounds really cool.

5. NSPCC
Who can't support a children's charity? If asked to name a children's charity, this is the first to come to mind. As a child, I might not have known my number, but I knew Childline (luckily I never used it, but it's amazing to know it's there). I believe I had a near perfect childhood, and feel every child is entitled to that. NSPCC work towards supporting to end cruelty, help support those bullied and generally support children when they need it most!

Here are some incredible events you might consider:
City Fine Wine Challenge - 23rd February 2017
Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon - 12th March 2017
Lapland Husky Trail - 17th March 2017
Brighton Marathon  - 9th April 2017
Brighton 10K - 9th April 2017
Virgin Money London Marathon - 23rd April 2017
London 10K
Isle of Wight Challenge - 29th April 2017
Tough Mudder - 29th April 2017
Yorkshire 3 Peak Challenge - various dates between 1st May and 30th October 2017
National 3 Peaks Challenge - various dates between 1st May and 31st October 2017
Machu Picchu Trek - 12th - 21st May 2017
London 2 Brighton - 27th May 2017
Edinburgh Marathon Festival - 27th May 2017
Great Mancester Run - 28th May 2017
Colour Run - 11th June 2017
Velo Birmingham - 24th September 2017

To find more events on NSPCC, check out the website here.

My top tips to raise or exceed your target:
1. Tell everyone you know - whether it's texting, posting on social media or writing letters to neighbours. I raised a lot posting online about what I was doing and even got £20 from a neighbour.
2. Get your work involved - while fundraising for Kilimanjaro, my work at the time helped so much! They helped me organise a quiz night, held a bring and buy sale in the staff room, sold cakes to the staff and people donated online. One person was even pregnant and held a "guess the baby weight". Remember it makes them look good. Employers look good to other employees and the public too!
3. Do what you enjoy - I love organising events so did a race night, date auction (valentine-themed) and of course the quiz night.
4. Sell online - I raised £200 from selling items online that people either gave me to sell, or I sold myself
5. Ask for help - friends and family always want to help and they all have their own ways.

For 2017, I would love to do a firewalk for charity, but haven't found a charity who do it yet. I'm desperate to do another challenge, I just don't know. Maybe another trek, and then it might help me lose weight too! Killing two birds with one stone, or whatever the phrase is...I'm tired!

Hope you enjoyed reading and feel inspired to give something back in 2017! Having done a lot of fundraising, I'm always keen to help people raise more for charities, so feel free to comment below or like and comment on the Facebook page.

If you missed yesterday's post on being a scrooge, and what I hate most about Christmas, click here.

20 things I love about Scotland

Having visited my friends in Scotland recently I have been inspired to write many different posts. I will be writing separate things about my time in Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow, but thought a snappy list would be  a fun start! When moving to the Isle of Wight, I learnt that there was a certain charm in Scotland that I missed and can't quite describe. Here are some things I love about the tartan north of the United Kingdom:

1. A good ol' irn bru

Iron brew is my favourite beverage! It is the GREATEST invention from Scotland! Some might disagree with me there seeing as scottish, Alexander Bell invented the telephone...Anyway, only in Scotland can you go to  most fast food places, restaurants and all pubs and get a lovely glass of this fine fizzy stuff! That is what I miss most of moving back to England. It is also my favourite hangover cure.

2. The friendly accents

I've always loved the Scottish accent! I love some Scottish words like bosie, wee (as in small), bam, bairn, tattie, Maw...

3. Glasgow's shopping

I love shopping! How did I forget this? My recent visit has seen some great purchases  (mostly from Primark and some of the Glasgow markets that were on). Every time I'm in Glasgow, I feel a huge need to go Urban Outfitters. It's buildings are gorgeous with Buchanan Galleries, lots of shops spread across the west end...I could go on! Updating my wardrobe, buying LOTS of tights (which I still misplaced), candles, gifts for friends to thank them for letting me stay at theirs. Also used my card while out in pubs in Glasgow, needless to say it had a scary outcome...

4. Easy transport links

Photo credit to a tourism website

All transport seems easy since living on the Isle of Wight, where bus travel was so expensive and you only get trains in certain parts of the island (not covering where I live). For example, East Cowes where I live doesn't do return tickets on the bus, and singles cost £3.50, which is ridiculous since it doesn't take longer than 30 minutes on the bus to go most places. Going to Glasgow was refreshing where there are heaps of taxis, regular buses, subway system, trains...

5. Advantages of living in Scotland

Luckily I lived in Scotland for 3 years before uni and benefitted

If you live in Scotland you get benefits like free tuition when going to uni, free prescriptions, irn bru everywhere (as mentioned above - I really love iron brew, ok!).

6. Gallery of Modern Art

 ...

One of my favourite places to visit in Glasgow is the GOMA and think everyone should go once if they visit G-town. I even have a coin to prove I went! The art there is beautiful. Granted I've only been once (and it was about a year ago).

7. The drinking culture

A love of drinking...although I state it is a big stereotype placed on Scots that they are big drinkers and whiskey types. I'm yet to meet a Scot who only drinks whiskey. I love to drink and socialise when I can, although I hate going to clubs and the traditions of being a twenty something. However, I did enjoy doing a recent sub-crawl with friends when visiting in Glasgow. Drunken stories to follow...

8. Buildings

There is something beautiful about the buildings; they all have a sense of history to them. Aberdeen's buildings have them known as the "granite city" with a lot being made of granite, and making the city look very dull. Glasgow and Edinburgh are beautiful to me with a sense of history behind everything you see. In Edinburgh, I love going to Jenner's; it is a right of passage if you visit the scottish capital. I've never visited the Edinburgh Castle, which is a shame; it looks so pretty. It's funny because doing my GCSE History, I got an A in an essay about castles (so boring to write but chose to write about castles I thought looked the most interesting). I had written about Edinburgh Castle and two I'd visited during different school trips. It makes sense that I at least visit it, right?

9. Constantly looking to be different

Sorry! I can't think of a picture to sum up this one. There is always something unique, different, outstanding about Scotland. They fought the English, some Scots want independence, the men wear kilts, they invented, conquered, they are proud to be Scottish...Unlike the English, they seem much more patriotic and proud of their routes!

10. Kilts & Tartan

Men look HOT in kilts (don't think this picture necessarily proves the point). Hopefully I marry a Scot one day, or a man that will wear a kilt at least once a year. I also love the tartan print that is associated with Scotland. Love tartan detailing to lining of coats, or on scarves, accessories, decor and clothing.

11. The food

I blame Scotland for getting me fat. So much nice food and adaptations  The cakes all seem to have extra cream; scottish tablet is amazing; the invention of the battered Mars bar (or anything in batter actually). There are so many nice restaurants, takeaways I went to on my visit. Maybe I will combine a list of my favourite food recommendations if you visit the bonnie north!

12. All my friends live there!

At my 21st birthday making chocolate with friends

With friends who live in Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, I love visiting and feel like a small piece of heart will stay that. Yes, I know it sounds incredibly cheesy, but feel it somehow makes me feel like I'm returning home.

13. It's the place of my achievements

It's where I decided to climb kilimanjaro, did college, had my first job, first paid job in fundraising (my dream), graduated uni, did a bungee jump, rented my first flat alone, first proper boyfriend, where I had my first driving lessons, and many more firsts that I can't think of...

14. Home of great music, writers, comedians...

It's the home of writers like Robert Burns, J.K Rowling, Ian Rankin; my favourite music including: The View, Biffy Clyro, Calvin Harris and Emeli Sande; comedians/actors such as Ashley Jensen, Kevin Bridges, Ewan McGregor, Sean Connery and so on.

15. Feels like home

Flattening a poster and tired during Freshers' Week!

I spent all my adult life in Scotland, and that must count for something because as said in point 12, it feels like I'm coming home. 

16. The sense of humour

Photo credit to Daily Record

It seems like the place where they get that 90% time I'm not being serious. They also have an amazing sense of humour that often has me in stitches!

17. Patriotism

As touched on in point 9, the Scots are hugely patriotic. Made in Scotland, flags and everything symbolic of Scotland will be everywhere you touch, I promise you! It is nice to go somewhere that people are so proud to be who they are. For example, there are few Scots that will say they are British, they say they are Scottish. I always say I'm British; mainly because although I was born in England and lived there until I was 16, I feel from my ancestry and my general feelings about the UK that I can't say I'm not part of the other lovely countries that make Britain.

18. Tolbooth museum

Credit to STV

This is one of my favourite sights when visiting Aberdeen. I recommend this free tourist attraction to anyone as it gives you a small insight into the city's old prison. I loved it. Granted I've only been once and jumped at one stage as I turned round a corner from the stairs, and the first thing I saw was a dummy/prisoner. Scary! I think I might have screamed...

19. Animal places

I love visiting animal sights such as butterfly world (love that place in Leeds) and things like that. Therefore I couldn't forget to include Edinburgh's zoo where you must see the penguin parade when you visit. A penguin actually walked past me! It was by far one of my favourite memories. I got my parents to take me on my 21st birthday, and this is a picture we took when we went. I do warn that you should never go with people like my dad though; he was the man who pushed his own daughter out the way to get decent pictures of animals. Hilarious! I also enjoyed Dundee's Camperdown park.

20. Their traditions

Credit to Haven.com where I got this picture

Scotland is famous for so many things from inventors, writers, actors, comedians, music, art, as mentioned. However, they also have lovely traditions such as ceilidh dancing at special occasions (or just for the sake of it), Burns Day, Hogmanay, bagpipes...They even have their very own myth in the shape of the Loch Ness monster, and people in Aberdeen have their own language known as Doric. Fit like!

Leaving with you with a picture as I left Glasgow a little over two months ago! Even the scenery is beautiful.

Blogtober16 - My Biggest Accomplishment

This blogtober post discusses my biggest accomplishment, and I think I can say without any sort of arrogance that I've been lucky to have quite a few already. At almost the age of 24, I've ticked off a few accomplishments including:

• Completing a bungee jump for a children's charity
• Gaining good grades in my GCSEs
• Going to college
• Graduating with an honours degree from uni
• Skydiving for a Scottish animal charity
• Climbing Kilimanjaro in aid of Childreach International

Sometimes it feels like I am bragging, or being arrogrant, so sometimes I try not to mention it. Some people I know might know I went to Africa, but not why. Apart from this blog, where I feel it's mentioned heaps!

By far, the one that sticks out and has effectively changed my life in more ways than I thought possible (I know it sounds cheesy, but it's true) was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. I've visited a few places and ticked off a couple of important goals, but this is way up there. This post will describe my journey getting there, and what positivity the journey has bought to my life.

To get there, I needed to raise £2,500, which I was terrified I would never achieve. I'd done fundraising before but never raised anything close to that. I did it in a variety of ways from promoting my BT Donate page on social media, keeping people informed about what things I was doing to prepare and fundraise and many other things. I think I did 2 or 3 pub crawls, where I shaked my can at drunk punters and told them what I was doing. I also did a street collection in Dundee. I was impressed most of all with the support I got from working at BHS. They donated on my BT donate page, helped organise a quiz night and even hosted a bring and buy sale in the staff room. All stuff not bought were then sold on ebay or donated to local charity shops.

Me at work - doing an easter quiz night

I also organised a date auction around valentine's day, where I sold friends for dates. One friend got sold for £50! I sold a lot of my unwanted belongings on ebay and music magpie. I even organised a race night event with my best friend, Julie who was also climbing Kilimanjaro with me.

I gained a lot from doing it. It was worthwhile as it was my first experience of going abroad, and it was an 8 hour flight! Although I had gone on domestic flights before that, I'd never gone further than London. It also provided me with great sights, including visiting Tanzania town and seeing a little bit of Kenya. I loved being able to meet the children that my fundraising was benefiting in Tanzania. It also gave me something interesting to add to my CV and discuss with potential employers.

From there, I knew I wanted a career in fundraising. It has been difficult to work up the ladder, but know it is something I have a talent at. I will keep trying!

Since climbing Kilimanjaro, I have gone on to hold more events, work for a charity close to my heart, complete a bungee jump on my uni campus, organised a tea party at my house and volunteer for some amazing causes.

Just before my bungee jump...

I even got a certificate to commemorate making the descent. It is means mor to me than my honours degree! I had a new positivity, where I knew I could achieve things.Sometimes I think it might be the only good thing I do.

Here are my favourite photos from the trip!

It feels odd to discuss something you're proud of. Being British means ignorance of your own talents and focusing on the praise of others. That being said I'd love to hear of yours. What is your biggest accomplishment? You probably don't even realise just how amazing you are, so here I am to say you rock!

27 reasons I'd rather be an OAP right now

For a bit of full, I've written a bit of a list of things that I think will make growing old - great!

1. You've made your mistakes and not much that young people do will shock you (you've seen it all before).
2. The bus pass! Of course the bus pass. The best thing about turning 60 after enduring menopause, wrinkling and everything sagging... travel can be so expensive, and now you have a cop out.
3. You don't need to work unless you want to.
4. Your children are grown up, so you no longer need to "parent". What they do is up to them at this stage! They have their own children.
5. Nobody cares what you look like. Nobody ever says: "Ew, look at that ugly old lady" or "That is one fat old lady!"
6. You can travel whenever you want with no obligations.
7. It is your family's job to look after you instead.
8. Your mortgage is likely to be paid off.
9. Every wrinkle, scar, freckle, tattoo or mark on your body has a story.
10. You don't need to be a slave to fashion and likely to know what suits you best.

11. You're an encyclopedia of knowledge.
12. You don't need to worry about being 'cool' and can be your true self. 
13. The friends you have you've had for years, and stay loyal.
14. You're not likely to be made a fool of.
15. If you want to slob in your pjs all day, you don't have parents to tell you not to (your kids might, but how will they stop you?) 
16. You are likely to know the healthy habits you enjoy.
17. The young people you know come to you for advice and wisdom.
18. You've seen your fair share of good and happy occasions including weddings, births and parties.
19. You will have taken risks in your youth that you don't need to do anymore.
20. You will have the best life stories to tell.
21. You can spoil your grandchildren and babysit when you choose.
22. You have no issue with spending your money. YOLO and all!
23. From going to many restaurants in your life, you probably by now which are the right knives, forks or spoons to use.
24. You'll have many achievements to reflect on.
25. Your bucket list will be shorter than a list of over 300.
26. You know what is important.
27. You make your own rules.

Old diary entries - 2009

I was looking over old diary entries, and find them so funny. Just for a laugh I thought I'd share extracts of the funniest ones. I have to say glad my writing has improved as couldn't understand some of what was said...

5th January 2009
"I knew my eyes looked fab because I paid enough attention, but since developing so many spots, I'm very self-conscious...I noticed after being late and checking a mirror that I applied over-the-top amount of foundation. I looked orange. Jodie was not impressed."

Not much of this entry makes sense, and I was never good with grammar. This was when I liked referring to myself in third person too!

19th January 2009
"In P.E., we chatted, revised (Roseanna educated me; she's a good teacher because now I feel a little more prepared for media) and laughed. Beth was funny. She reminded me of the time she fell out with Josh after he killed bob-osaurus. He ripped off his head and never forgave Josh completely. The funniest is she is deadly serious and because of it, she never gave him the drawing of Josh-osaurus for him. On the back of it, it says something like "I was going to give this out of kindness until you killed Bob! I have missed Beth. There's not anyone who can make me laugh so hard."

Beth was a great friend, who I lost touch with after moving. She used to draw dinosaurs. She drew me a jodie-saurus for my birthday that year which I loved.

25th January 2009
"Today was ace; Roseanna came round and we had so much fun. I tried poptarts. The first two were crap, but after trying the next ones they were yummy. Another wonderful american food! I also love oreos and actually haven't had them in a while. I miss them. Enough about food: me and Roseanna did a lot of good stuff.

We went on msn, myspace and watched Gilmore Girls (she even took  my boxset - I hope she loves it too). We also went out - saw the peaceful river, danced around (well I did - she just laughed), drank pop, she got hyper at one stage (as usual) and even choked on...bru, visited morrisons, where I got vogue and pop tarts (I had to try them)."

Roseanna was my best friend through most of primary school and all through secondary school. We used to hang out a lot. I've not had pop tarts since then, but still love oreos!

26th January 2009
"I want crutches. Emma wore some. I tried them out, but people laughed. They said I looked funny because I couldn't walk in them. I've decided I'm falling down the stairs tonight! Mum won't push me, so it's my only option. I want crutches."

No idea what was going through my dumb head when I wrote this!

30th January 2009
"Roseanna text me. She apparently got her english mocks. It sounded like she did well. Of course she wasn't happy. I'm glad I wasn't there. It would be scary to see my paper or know how I did. I don't want to know. Rather die. Well maybe not, but really don't want to know. I can basically guess. I did proper crap."

I don't know why I was dramatic. I put it down to being ill and off school that day, and obviously feeling sorry for myself.

3rd February 2009
"Today was my last day off. Still snowing, so I took advantage by ticking another ambition off; run barefoot in the snow - for something so cold, it was so fun."

2009 was when I started to write a bucket list, and added some silly stuff as well as the obvious travel, career and obvious aspirations. Don't know why I added this to my list though! No wonder I had a cough and cold if I did stupid things like this...

4th February 2009
"Today I thought it would be better at school. It seems that I forgot how shit school was. It started with science - the worst; it felt like a day had passed by the time was over. So dull. I felt bad for Roseanna; I couldn't help, but complain though. Science is my idea of hell and especially this lesson. It was so boring - copying off the board and answering questions. Shit. It's normally shit and I didn't think it could have got worse."

I really hated science. I had to do double science at school, which meant doing it every day. Nothing they did in science would interest me. Even experiments bored me!

14th February 2009
"Today was actually kind of fantastic. It was valentine's day, but it wasn't shit (honest). We (mme and parents) went to Stockton, and it was great - I got Of Mice & Men, Gilmore Girls Series 2, grey cardy, sweets, irn bru, and was also allowed to see some fab shops (H&M, River Island, New Look, WHSmith and HMV). I kind of felt sorry for Dad though; he didn't go in any shops he liked, but he was amazingly patient. I think Mum and I were lucky in that instance...

We came back and watched six nations - Wales Vs England and Wales won. I'm surprised Dad didn't cry. He said they did well though. At least he's positive."

Always fun having a parent shout at the TV when rugby is on!

24th February 2009
"Pancake day - I love them. Even when I've had a bad day. It's something that can easily put a smile on my face. This year I ate 6 pancakes (3 lemon and sugar, and then 3 golden syrup). Yum! Today wasn't bad, but I just can't wait for tomorrow - the last day of school for the week and before I head on my wonderful travels to Aberdeen. I just can't wait for the joyous occasion. Excitement is overwhelming."

Some of my entries are funny as I try to write like I'm an author instead of how I might be feeling. Who says "I just can't wait for the joyous occasion?" Me, I guess! Still love Shove Tuesday.

25th February 2009
"Dad became furious, when I accidentally sat on some chocolate buttons and they smeared on the seats. I'm sure his face was a blasting red. Now I think about it, it was funny, but at the time it was scary. I warned him and he was still angry. He had said it couldn't be too bad and was reassured."

I needed to travel down to Aberdeen for my college interview, so that Wednesday involved a lot of driving. I still remember the chocolate buttons incident - hilarious!

I could bore you with more, but I'm not going to. If you like it, let me know and I can write more entries in another post. Hope you found them as funny as me! I tried to not include too many dull entries (as each day of the year was filled and I wrote on A4 pages. Surprised I had that much to about much to talk about). It was difficult time for friendships due to plans to move from a small town in Yorkshire to Aberdeen in the summer.