Donations to date
See below for our donations gallery. Listed are the very generous donations we receive – including events and memorials.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support MDS UK.
Amsterdam Marathon Runners – Celgene Amsters
The Celgene Amsters have announced their superb success at raising £7601 for MDS UK – thank you so much to all involved in the team – well done everyone! Here is what their page says:
We did it! After a gruelling run, all runners completed the Half and full Marathon in Amsterdam. Congratulations to Emma, David, and Alex for running your first Marathon! Congratulations to Kevin for your PB and to Nadjet for your first Half! Conditions were a little windy but generally good for running. Big THANKS to all of you who have already supported our charities. If you haven’t already donated, now is your chance.
Celgene Amsters raised funds for both MDS UK and Myeloma UK – and Celgene matched the sum raised again – thank you so much! Your continued help and support are extremely valuable – as well as the dedication of all the staff at Celgene.
Truly grateful for your assistance.
Theatre and “Calendar Girls”
This amazing theatre group from Tarrystone donated £2,172.86 from the proceeds of their production of “Calendar Girls”. Take a look at their website – and photos of the play: http://www.tarrystoneplayers.co.uk/ We thank Jonathan Yates, Chairman and the cast and crew of The Tarrystone Players. In addition, The Rotary Club of Cookham Bridge, who run the bar for the Tarrystone Players – also donated the bar proceeds to MDS UK – amounting to £566.84. Thank you so much to all. Well done on you brilliant production – we wish as much success for the next one!
In memory of Padraic Lynch – Meath Association
Padraic Lynch, together with his daughter Karen and the Meath Association had been a wonderfully active and generous supporter of MDS UK. Sadly Padraic passed away very recently and we have received £505 in donations in his memory from William Farrelly, Joanne Gardener - friends and colleagues from Colt Technology Services. Many thanks for your generosity and support.
His daughter Karen – with the Meath association – is again setting up another dinner and dance event on the 7th December – with proceeds to come to MDS UK. Many re-newed thanks to Karen, Meath Association and everyone attending.
Michelle Redford – Great North Run Marathon
Michelle Redford ran the Great North Run last year – in memory of her Dad Tony Azurdia. She raised and amazing £2,607 via the Virgin Money Giving page – as well as some off-line donations.
See her mention and photo in our 3rd Newsletter 3 as well. Thank you so much Michelle.
Helaine Carey – Memorial donations
MDS UK received a very generous £1000 which were raised following the funeral of Helaine Carey in October 2012. This was organised by Helaine’s daughter in law Kim. We are very grateful for your support. Many thanks to all donors who have contributed to this donation.
April 2013:
Kim told us she had a baby end of February – we congratulate her and her husband on the new arrival.
Kim’s husband and friends are also planning a charity football game on 1st June. They hope to raise funds & awareness of MDS. Friend John Pearcy is organising the event.
We very much thank Kim, her husband, John and all the football team for their support and we look forward to news and photos of the game.
In Memory of Keith ‘Wally’ Webb
We are very grateful to all those who donated to MDS UK in memory of Keith ‘Wally’ Webb. Friends and family of Wally have donated an extremely generous amount totalling £859.50.
Wally was a very prominent, active and well loved figure in his local village of Walberswick, on the Suffolk coast, where he worked running his own building business.
In a piece in the village newsletter celebrating his life, Wally is described as having had ‘an energetic presence and particular brand of humour’.
His memorial service on August 19th 2012 was attended by over 500 people.
We are very grateful for this very kind donation.
Guess the Weight of the Marrow Competition 2012
MDS UK committee member Chris Dugmore came up with an ingenious way to raise money at lunchtime for MDS UK, following the theme of marrows. Supplying one of the organic marrows she and her husband Stephen had lovingly grown in their allotment, Chris raised an amazing £75.85 by asking for donations from forum attendees to Guess the Weight of The Marrow.
The lucky winner of the marrow was Fiona Pirilla (also an MDS UK Committee Member!) who came closest to guessing the correct weight of 4 lbs 5 1/4 oz (1,965 g) with a guess of 4.5 lbs. Click here for full story.
Matt Snell Skydive
Matt Snell, son of Jayne Snell who had a Bone Marrow Transplant earlier this year, bravely completed a skydive to raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust, Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research and MDS UK. Matt raised an amazing £2921, split between the charities, with a very generous £500 going towards MDS UK. Thank you very much for your amazing acheivement and donation!
See left for a picture of Matt and his mum Jayne.
Waitrose Community Matters Bayswater
A big thank you to Bayswater Waitrose who featured MDS UK as part of their Community Matters project and have donated a cheque for £384.00. Pictured left are MDS UK Committee member, Joanne Anderson, with Bayswater Waitrose staff member, Golam Gaus. A big thank you to Joanne who organised our participation in the project. We encourage MDS UK supporters to ask their local Waitrose to feature us. Click here for more information.
More Waitrose branches have now also joined the scheme – on request from their customers diagnosed with MDS. Chris Dugmore asked her branch in Chelmsford and Sharon Berger’s family signed up the Brent Cross Waitrose – more news to follow.
Why not ask your own branch?
Wimbledon via Oxford donation
We received a generous donation of £350 from Prof Paresh Vyas – prompted by the very kind gift of some Wimbledon tickets by MDS patient Nicola Maskens to Prof Vyas. We thank them both and wish Nicola all the best as she is preparing for her transplant.
Rotary Club of Easthampstead
MDS UK and the Aplastic Anaemia Trust had the pleasure of being invited by the Rotary Club of Easthampstead in May 2012 to give a talk on MDS and AA. Nana Benson Quarm – AA Clinical Nurse Specialist CNS at King’s College Hospital gave a detailed talk on both conditions, whilst Anna Martin (AAT Chief Executive) and Sophie Wintrich gave an overview of their respective charities. Each charity received a very kind donation of £125.00. Our host there – Kevin Izod (or Peter as he is better known) is a patient himself and an active member of the Rotary Club. The members there hold regular talks, events, social gatherings and more – all for the benefit of various local charities. To get a better idea of the extent of their helpful work, visit their website. The work they tackle is very impressive. It was a most pleasant evening in great company – we thank all involved.
In Memory of Peter Maksymowych
Peter Maksymowych and his son Stephen got in touch with us in September 2009 – after Peter’s diagnosis – and came to see us in our office at the Rayne Institute at the time. They very kindly donated funds several times throughout Peter’s illness. Peter sadly passed away in December 2011. His sons Walter and Stephen sent us some information about their amazing Dad, which we’d like to share with everyone.
Ruby Wedding Anniversary
A huge thank you and congratulations to Peter and Sandra Cornwell who donated an amazing £350, raised at their Ruby Wedding Anniversary. The donations were made at the request of Mr and Mrs Cornwell as gifts to celebrate their 40 years of marriage. Thank you so much for you support!
Watch Night Service at Dornoch Cathedral
A cheque for £300 has kindly been donated by those at the Dornoch Cathedral in the Scottish Highlands, pictured left. We received the very generous donation from Hugh Anderson, the cathedral’s treasurer, following a collection at their Watch Night Service. Thank you very much for your support.
60th Birthday Gifts
We are very touched to receive an amazing cheque for £325, sent by Annie Clark who raised money by asking for donations rather than gifts on the occasion of her 60th birthday. Thank you Annie, for your generosity and your support.
Greetings Cards Stall at Hospital
Thank you to Bethan Maguire and Janet Whitter for their kind donation of £40, made from sales of their lovely home-made greetings cards and bookmarks (pictured left). The stall was set up in their local hospital. We especially like the MDS UK Patient Support Group bookmark!
Rotary Club of Southborough and Pembury Collection
Thank you to the Rotary Club of Southborough and Pembury who donated a brilliant £253.68, the proceeds of a collection by the Club at the annual Southborough School of Dance Charity Concert held at the Victoria Hall, Southborough. We are very grateful to be supported by the Rotary Club.
Bournemouth Male Voice Choir - In Memory of John Medhurst
A cheque for £25.00 has been sent by the Bournemouth Male Voice Choir (pictured left). The donation was kindly given in memory of the late Chorister, John Medhurst by a fellow Chorister James Bowman DFC.
We are very grateful to receive the cheque in memory of John. Thank you for your support.
Bric-a-Brac Sale at Village Festival
Southend & District Ladies Amateur Darts League
We are delighted to be supported by the Southend and District Ladies Amateur Darts League with a cheque for £100. Two teams from the league of 13 teams have chosen MDS UK as their charity to support. Thank you so much for your generosity.
Adult Community Learning and Colleagues at Essex County Council Staff
Thank you very much to the employees of the Adult Community Learning and Colleagues at Essex County Council who donated a brilliant £38.50 to support MDS UK. The money was donated by staff instead of sending individual Christmas cards. The money was donated in support of one of the staff at the council who has been diagnosed with MDS. Thank you for your donation!
Turkish Themed Charity Night
A big thank you to Bethan Maguire who raised a brilliant £352.65 by hosting a charity evening with a Turkish theme.
The evening was held in memory of Bethan’s late mother, Shirley Maguire. We are very grateful for the kind donation.