Race Night & Auction - 3rd February 2012

I've organised quite a few events through my role as Development Worker but never one on a personal level.  I still needed to raise £1400 and what better way to do it than through a huge fundraising event.  A colleague at work came up with the idea of a Race Night, we then included an Auction and then thought we'd go all the way with a raffle too.

Preparations started just before Christmas, we only had 6 weeks to organise everything, I love a challenge! Lincoln City Football Club donated the venue for free which was fantastic, and we also started the process of obtaining Auction and Raffle prizes.This was by far the hardest part of the whole event planning.  About 60 leters and emails were written asking organisations for donations towards the Auction but in the end most offers of help came from friends.

New Year arrived and posters went up advertising the event and tickets went on sale.  Once again colleagues came to the rescue with the designing of the tickets (they looked fab James, thank you).  They went on sale at £5 each.  The target was to sell 100 tickets ... we managed about 80 which was amazing.  Gemma, my partner in crime, and whose support made the whole event possible became my catering partner ... we decided a buffet would probably be best.  Never actually prepared a buffet for 100, I have now! Entertainment for the evening came in the form of a disco, again free of charge, I would, at this point like to thank Chris for helping out at the last minute.

Steve Robinson from the Aegis Trust very kindly offered to come along on the evening and with him he bought the Rwandan section of a brand new mobile exhibition that is currently making its way around the Lincoln area.  This gave everyone at the event a chance to see and read a little about Rwanda.

The 3rd February arrived and I have to be honest, I was so nervous.  Knowing that so many people had bought tickets and were coming with high expectations of a good night out is quite a responsibility.  Worst of all I also new that I would have to say a few words to start the whole event off.  Oh my goodness, I so prefer being behind the scenes ... thank god I was stood next to a table, I needed it to put my notes on as I was shaking so much.  Of course once that bit was over I was fine ... just as everyone said I would be!

Gemma's friend Jo very kindly offered to run the Race Night section of the evening as well as the Auction, and after a slightly worrying start where we thought we were paying out more than we were taking, everything started to settle down and the pennies started to mount.

We had five Auction prizes on offer.  A day at the races for 2, and Executive Box for 10 at LCFC, a long weekend break in a cottage in Derbyshire, a Climbing Wall experience and a weeks stay in a Villa in the South of France.  All items were successfully purchased which was amazing.  Once the raffle was drawn the fundraising part of the evening was over.  Now it was disco time, a chance for everyone to relax and have a bit of a dance.

I am completely overwhelmed at how successful the evening went.  Everyone had a great time and went home happy.  Through the genorosity of everyone who attended I raised a massive £1220.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who attended, and in particular to Gemma, Jo, James and Chris whose valued help made the event possible.

Newspaper Article

Next Thursday I get to have my five minutes of fame by having the below article published in the Lincolnshire Echo, heres a sneak peek for everyone who follows my blog ....... let me know what you think !!

Hi, my name is Lynsey Collinson and l’ve worked as a Development Worker for developmentplus (formally LCDP) for 5½years.  My post is currently funded through the Migration Impact Fund of which it’s main focus is to create opportunities for people from different backgrounds to meet and get to know each other though Community Events, I also support Community Groups within the Abbey Ward Area of Lincoln.  It was through this work that l met Steve Robinson of the Aegis Trust who in turn introduced me to the work they do in re-educating the Rwandans following the Genocide of 1994.

In 1994, the genocide that devastated Rwanda claimed the lives of over 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus in a 100 day slaughter.  Although it will take decades, the people of Rwanda are determined to rebuild their society. 

Naively perhaps, I hadn’t realized that there had been a genocide of this size within my life time, I’d studied A-Level History which covered the Second World War, ironically at the time that the genocide was taking place in Rwanda and yet I had no recollection of it.  The more I read about the atrocities that took place in 1994 and the remarkable re-education programme that is taking place now so that it never happens again the more interested I became in learning more.

In 2003, the Aegis Trust was invited to build the first national Rwanda Memorial and Education Centre in Kigali and to advise on rebuilding the community, specifically using commemoration.  The Centre’s groundbreaking programmes challenge divisive ideology in schools and the Community, document the genocide and provide practical support for orphans and widows.  Its programmes help to build community cohesion and encourage work experience and employment.

I have been given the opportunity to go on a one-week field trip to learn more about the genocide and its effects on Rwanda and its people.  I will have the opportunity to engage with leading women in Rwanda, visit Memorial sites and hear from and share experiences with genocide survivors.  Engage with Rwandan Educators and students, and discuss the role they are playing to help shape their Country, gain a deeper understanding about the Rwandan genocide and its relevance to community cohesion and integration in British Communities today.  I will also have the opportunity of visiting Gisimba Orphanage, which sadly still homes some of those children orphaned during the genocide to see how their lives have changed since 1994.  The field trip will fall between the 1^st and 9^th April, a period of which will includes 2 days of Rwanda’s national week of mourning,

On my return I want to be able to share the stories that I hear and the culture that I’ve experienced.  To show what people can achieve, even after facing unimaginable horror and hatred.  To show how people can learn to look beyond the past and move towards a better future together.

To enable me to go to Rwanda I have to fundraise much of the money myself.  Amazingly I've already raised £700 but I still have a little way to go. 

On the 3rd February I will be hosting a charity/fundraising Race Night and Auction in Lincoln.  Tickets will be available during January at £5 each.  If you would like to purchase a ticket you can e-mail me at lynseycollinson@gmail.com   

I am also looking for raffle and auction prizes so if there are any organisations that would be willing to donate please get in touch.


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Race Night & Auction

Happy New Year

I would just like to take this opportunity to wish all my followers a very Happy New Year. I've still got a little way to go over the next few months to be able to achieve my goal of going to Rwanda on the 1st April but I know that with the support of all my family and friends I will achieve this.  I can't wait to share my journey with you all.

Thank you for all you support

Lynsey x

Preparing for the next Fundraising Event

Charity/Fundraising Race Night/Auction

3rd February 2012 

7pm - 12pm

The Trust Suite, Lincoln City Football Ground

Tickets £5 each 

On sale in the New Year

For more information please get in touch

Fundraising Update 2

I've just about collected all my sponsorship money from my first fundraising event at the beginning of October. I'm completely overwhelmed and proud to announce that the first event raised £730.00.  Thank you so so much for all your support.  Unfortunately I still have a little way to go but this was definitely an amazing start.

I'm finding it really difficult to update my blog at the minute, writing about a place you haven't visited yet is really hard.  I've just started reading a book called "A People Betrayed" by Linda Melvern in preparation for my visit.  It has an amazing write up and as I make my way through it I'd really like to share a little of what I read with yourselves.

Once again thank you for your continued support.

WE DID IT - 25 Mile Sponsored Walk

At 9.30am on what turned out to be the hottest October day on record, myself and an amazing group of friends embarked on my first fundraising event for Rwanda, a 25 mile sponsored walk around Rutland Water.

During the week leading up to the day we agreed on the route we would take and plotted stop off points around the map.  Rutland Water runs in a circuit so at the end of the day there were only two directions we could go in.  We all agreed to leave the peninsular section until the end just incase people wanted to leave that bit out.

We all headed off eager and looking forward to the day ahead .... it soon became apparent that out of the only two directions we could go in .... we started off in the opposite direction than originally planned ... oops ... this meant we walked the peninsular section first which in the end proved to be the best route to take, it was one of the hardest sections and we were all relieved that we did that be first.

After the initial blip and a quick re-arrange of stop off points we settled comfortably into the walk and started to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.  The heat was a problem and we all had to keep reminding ourselves to drink plenty of water.  Unfortunately after about 14 miles the heat became too much for Annie and sadly she retired at that point along with her daughter Joanna.  A huge well done and thank you to both of you, your support was hugely appreciated.  The remaining seven had a well deserved half hour lunch break and then continued with the walk.

The last 4-5 hrs of the walk was definitely the toughest.  Feet were hurting, joints were aching and the sun was still pounding down on us all.  Despite all of this we kept going, stop offs for some became shorter through fear of not starting again, for others they were relished and a chance to take on extra fluid and a fifteen minute break.  For the last four miles we had separated into two groups, both determined to finish but at their own paces.  Discussions had become one worded sentences and at times not even words just grunts.  Every walk up and descent of a hill became a mini challenge in itself, especially when every muscle in your body is fighting against you.

I would like to mention at this point that the final sign to the Horse & Jockey Inn (our finish line) which stated "one mile to go" was quite clearly a blatant lie and should have read "at least two miles to go" .... nuff said.

At 6.30pm, nine hours after we started the first group which included myself, Martin & Tracey reached the finish line and a well deserved pint.  Every muscle and bone in our bodies hurt and we weren't entirely sure how we were going to sit down and drink our pint but the sense of achievement was overwhelming.  At 7.15pm Jo, Jeanne, George & Johntie finished and were more than ready for their celebration drink too.

Writing this one day on from the walk, how am I feeling? Well, apart from the fact that every muscle in my body still hurts and walking around  is proving to be an issue ..... I am also feeling an immense sense of achievement and pride, not just for myself  but for everyone who walked with me.  I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined me, despite the heat and pain it was a fantastic day and its all down  to an amazing group of friends and their support.  Thank you & well done x