Newsletter 23 – Eve of Gala Celebration
Playing catch-up on a plethora of events that have been completed in the last couple of months, such is the pace of this O2e year. This newsletter will be arriving on your virtual doorstep a few days before our gala celebration night at The Paris Grill right next to Fenchurch Street Station. This is consistently the best O2e night of the year and ticket prices are great value at £77 per head, all food, beer and wine included. Small number of tickets still available from Slatts (Slatts@O2e.org); it would be terrific to see as many of you there as possible.
Anthony “Boris bike” Padgett and team step it up
Anthony followed up his Big Kev Bike Ride heroics with this challenging and pioneering event – to climb and descend all the steps on all the stations on the circle line (that’s 32 stations, 72 floors and more than 15,000 steps). He took with him 4 brave steppers in Sandra, Jessica, Marianne and Meghan and started very early to avoid the crowds. The team raced through the challenge with youthful vigour and ended with 3 foot blisters, 2 sore knees and a £1,613 partridge in a pear tree ( www.justgiving.com/fundraising/anthonypadgett2019 )! Fabulous work you lot, hope the blisters and knees are healing well with the help of “magic hands Ant”. 
Wadhurst posse quiz night
Qu: Who turned 60 this year and has marked this personal landmark with a series of magnificent O2e activities and fundraisers?
Kev and Sue Smith continued a hugely impressive year with a quiz night in Wadhurst village hall for more than 100 budding masterminds (and David Turner was there too). Quiz meister David kept the crowd in order and the magnificent and very healthy food was provided by Wadhurst locals. This was a very well organised event, ran like a dream with what seemed like a small army of efficient helpers, far too many to mention individually here. But thank you to you all from us all at O2e. Great job xx
Tony Brooks birthday generosity
Long-time O2e supporter Tony Brooks continued his enthusiastic support with a generous birthday gesture, inviting family and friends to donate to O2e instead of buying presents. A total of £150 was duly raised. Well done Big T; always a pleasure to chat to you on the many bike rides we have done together and thank you for your continued support. Tony is now appealing for pants and socks if anyone has some to spare….
Wadhurst Art for O2e event
Another blockbuster from the Smiths and a very different sort of event from the usual sweating and panting : ) Sue’s brother Steven Rouse and partner Judy Fishel organised and hosted a 2-day event “Art for Change” at their home in East Bridgford. There were 20 talented artists and crafters present and Steve and Judy opened their home to many visitors, family and friends, all looking for the next Rothko. Thanks to many people, not least Sandra Wroath (refreshments), Pat Rouse (Mum) for badgering everyone to buy raffle tickets, Manya helped out with the catering and Sheila Thacker looked after the wonga, along with all the friends and family who provided food and cakes. The event raised a magnificent £1,200 for O2e so well done to all, what a fantastic idea and beautifully done!!
Cheryl Padgett knits for O2e
That’s knits, not nits. Cheryl is a joyous O2e supporter who will be recognised by many, not least for her enthusiastic support on the Big Kev rides. She must have been knitting cuddly toys for years now and recently held a sale of her favourite toys to raise valuable funds for O2e. Magnificent work Cheryl and thank you; there is no truth in the vicious rumour that Robin (to whom she has been happily married for millions of years) is now bereft.
Look at what all your hard work does….
Next Saturday night will be a chance to celebrate all the events and hear from our magnificent charities how your fundraising is helping to improve the lives of terminally ill and disabled children. This is life-affirming stuff and wonderful feedback which motivates us all to get out of our comfort zones. Here below is just one example….
St Elizabeth’s Special School new outdoor activity area
St Elizabeth’s is a special school providing residential care and education for profoundly disabled children, many of whom have severe epilepsy as well as other conditions which mean they are not able to attend mainstream schools. The children relish the chance to get out in the open air and run about, play, get some exercise in areas which are safe for them to do so. The tennis court area at St Elizabeths had fallen into disrepair and was becoming dangerous for the children. However, this has now been completely rebuilt with the help of YOUR hard work and donations to provide a specially designed surface to cushion and protect the children should they fall or have a seizure whilst exercising. The effects on the children and the school staff cannot be underestimated; not just the shiny new facility, not just the generosity that has made it possible, not just your efforts that went in to raising the money….but the knowledge that they are not forgotten, they are not alone and there are people out there who care. Give yourselves a huge O2e pat on the back xxxxx
And finally…..
O2e best wishes to David Plews, who is recovering from having a successful ablation of his coronary arteries, which should enable him to sign off the year healthy and happy with his SOIM event. Speedy recovery David
See you all at the gala celebrations on Saturday, from 6.30pm for drinks and nibbles
Lots of love
Chairman DD Big Cheese xx
07764682332
dd@O2e.org.uk
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