Branch Report - November 2015
Our new name
After two years of careful planning and consideration we took the bold decision to change our name from Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research to Bloodwise.
We chose Bloodwise because it embraces all blood cancer patients. Because it unites everything we do from our research and thought leadership to our patient support services and fundraising. And because it’s true to our past, right for our present and exciting for our future.
Yes, it’s very different and quite surprising but it’s also simple, short and easy to remember - which is so important when you’ve just been diagnosed and your world has turned upside down.
We love Bloodwise because it’s a brand new world, dedicated to people affectedby blood caner. We love it because it feels positive and hopeful, because blood connects us. And we love it because it’s inspired by our belief that life is a gift to be used wisely and lived fiercely.
Blood Cancer Awareness
Month We launched our new name in September and since then we’ve been working hard in Winterton to help spread the word in our part of the world, and we’ve been thrilled with the response! We spent September (blood cancer awareness month) talking to the community about our new name.
We visited both the Asda Superstore and convenience store in Scunthorpe to hold collections raising over £250, and held a stand at the Lions Tractor and Vintage Rally raising a further £281. Both great opportunities to also raise awareness.
We also supported the largest ever blood cancer awareness campaign to try and combat the current crisis in blood cancer awareness, with many local businesses displaying blood cancer awareness posters. We even received the backing of our local MP Andrew Percy who is helping to give blood cancer patients a voice in parliament!
Bloodwise Bear
With our new name comes the newest member of our Bloodwise Winterton and District Branch family...our Branch Mascot, Bloodwise Bear!
He’s a friendly character who has come to join us here in Winterton. You'll see a lot of this bear who will be making appearances at many of our events and collections. We are very excited to be introducing the branch mascot to the community at the Winterton Christmas Light Switch On which takes place on 28th November 2015 - read on for more details about the Christmas Light Switch On. Find out more about Bloodwise Bear here.
Our other recent news in brief!
Paul Lacey from Worlaby recently took to the sky to improve the lives of blood cancer patients when he took on a skydive challenge. On 23rd September he became the latest person to skydive to beat blood cancer with our partners Skydive Hibaldstow raising a fantastic £310!
We offer skydives throughout the year at a discounted price of £200. If you raise a minimum of £400 we’ll reimburse your jump cost. For more information head to our website!
We also received the kind support of the Trinity Methodist Chapel Games Club who raised a fantastic £86 at a concert they recently held at the chapel.
Our friends at the Winteringham Methodist Chapel have also been busy raising funds with their annual sponsored walk which raised a fantastic £267 to help beat blood cancer! This is the fifth time the chapel have chosen to support us with their annual walk raising a total of over £1,200 for our branch.
We also had a stand at the Winterton Disabled Club Make A Difference Day on 24th October at the Trinity Methodist Chapel in Winterton, raising a fantastic £66.71 to help beat blood cancer!
Finally Charlotte Wenban from Burton has been busy raising funds whilst at University. On 25th October she took part in the Leicester Half Marathon raising a fantastic £246 to help beat blood cancer! For all our news in full please head to the news page!
There are 137 different types of blood cancer, but a thousand ways you can help us beat them!
Our branch is run completely voluntarily, and our fundraising team work hard throughout the year to help raise valuable funds and awareness to help beat blood cancer. So far our fundraising total stands at over £77,800, but there’s still lots to do! Here’s four simple things you can do to help!
Get social and help us raise awareness!
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with all our latest news! Join the conversation, tell your friends about our work, and encourage them to join our social media family.
If social media is not your thing, don’t forget we have our own website, and you can sign up to our monthly e-newsletter by sending us your email address to be added to our mailing list!
Cash for your Community!
We are one of the community groups that will win a share of £15,000 from the Scunthorpe Telegraph and North Lincolnshire Council. We need you to collect the Cash for your Community coupons in the Scunthorpe Telegraph from 12th November - 17th December for our branch – the more we receive the more money we’ll win! Simply cut the coupons out of the paper and post them to Jacob at 3 Ryedale Avenue, Winterton, DN15 9BJ or drop them in at Gray’s Butchers and Bakers.
Donate unwanted items!
Whether you’re having a clear out to make room for new Christmas presents, or have been given a gift that’s not really you, we can put them to good use to help beat blood cancer. We constantly need tombola and raffle prizes. Contact us via email or social media if you have any unwanted bits and bobs.
Give a tub a home!
We have an ever growing collection tub network in Winterton and the surrounding areas raising over £1,100 so far this year! Why not give one of our tubs a home at work or your sports club? There are lots of ways you can use your tub to fundraise. Our friends at Cemex Bowls Club ask for donations when serving tea and coffee following each match. Smith and Walker Opticians Winterton ask for a donation when repairing glasses for people that are not patients. Many other businesses simply leave their customers to donate when they please. Whatever you choose to do, someone from our team will maintain your tub and let you know how much you raise.
Not for you?
These are just four simple suggestions, but if it doesn’t tickle your fancy head to our website for other ideas. If you want to host your own fundraiser, raise money at work or school, or take on a challenge in the name of beating blood cancer we’ll support you wherever we can. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch! For more information about you can get invovled head to the get invovled page.
The Big Copper Count-Up
We’ve given the 4ft tower a make over with our new name, but the principle remains the same – that the smallest of donations, when brought together, can make a huge impact. Thanks to the generosity of people in Winterton and the surrounding areas, in total we have raised over £11,000 so far with the Big Copper Count-Up. This is making a huge impact on our mission to beat all 137 types of blood cancer.
The tower remains at Winterton Co-op where your generosity has continued. The store is also selling second hand books to help boost their fundraising total.
Get involved this Christmas!
Winterton Lions Christmas Market - Saturday 28th Nov, 12.30 - 4.00pm Winterton Rangers
We will be joining the Winterton Lions at their Christmas Market where we will have a stand with tombola, games, handmade gifts and Bloodwise merchandise. The Winterton Christmas Light Switch On will follow around the tree from 4.30pm. See opposite.
Santa's Claus Is Coming To Town - Saturday 12th Dec, 10.00am – 3.00pm
Thanks to Stuart Maw, the man in red will be coming to Winterton to help us beat blood cancer! Santa will be outside the Co-op in Winterton for you to come and meet him and receive a gift from the man himself. Thanks to our friends at the Co-op who are helping supply Santa with some gifts at this busy time for him!
