A night at the Windlestrae and my name in print!

Last night my friend Vicki and I went to a tribute night at the Windlestrae Hotel, the venue for my ceilidh to check out how popular a function there would be and to enjoy the entertainment. The doors opened from 7pm and by 9pm there was a good turn out so I am feeling confident about my ceilidh! I just wish I had thought to print flyers and leave them on the tables, encouraging people to return in 4 weeks for another cracking night! The Tribute Act consisted of a couple who in full costumes delighted us with the music of the past 50 years, performing as Dusty Springfield, Elvis, Cher, Ozzy Osbourne, Tina Turner and Michael Buble to name a few. We also enjoyed a good old disco with the DJ happy to play our requests. We took a taxi home just after 1 and grabbed a few business cards to ferry the masses home after my event!

This morning I popped down to the local grocery store to purchase the latestt edition of the Kinross newsletter (www.kinrossnewsletter.org) and was delighted to find my article regarding the Great Wall Challenge printed in black and white on page 15. Page 72 also has an advert for my ceilidh with details of how to obtain tickets so fingers crossed that generates more interest from the locals!

Skyline's Update and training

Skyline (the company we are going to China with) held an information day in London last week, due to other commitments and cost I decided to give it a miss but was kept well informed of all the lastest news via email. It's just a shame that by missing the meeting I have not had a chance to meet the rest of the group. However Skyline does have an online forum so I think it's about time I introduce myself! I called the headoffice today just to clarify a few questions which the latest updates raised and spoke to a lovely girl called Laura who is also going on the trek, so she was able to reassure me about visa, training, flights etc. Our chat made everything seem more real and I realised it is only 15 weeks until we go! That seems like a long time but I still have so much money to raise and training to do!

I've found it difficult to fit in my excercise routine recently what with one thing or another but my session with Ollie yesterday made me realise I should give it more priority! I followed his advice and went out for a good run this morning and plan to go for a big hill walk or cycle rain at the weekend, regardless of the weather! I have also been focused on my diet recently as a health practitioner has advised me I am intolerant to wheat, cheese and onions amongst other things! Having cut these foods out (and believe me it's incredibly difficult to do!) I have been forced to be more attentive to ingredients and can't believe how many additives are in products. I have been doing a lot more home cooking and feel the better for it! I am still in two minds about the validity of the results but I am game to omit the products for the next month and see if any differences are apparent.

Advertising and Raffle

Last Wednesday I collected my posters and leaflets hot off the press from Danscot Print Ltd. (01738 622974) and was delighted with the results. I would like to say a big thank you to Trish for all her hard work and to Vicky & Mary for their support! Danscots is one of the best known businesses in Perth and I would highly recommend them for all your office and stationary needs. Armed with my new posters I set out to convince local companies to display them on their noticeboards and windows. The majority of my responses were positive and I hoped the tartan themed posters would grab people's attention. In addition to my own efforts around Perth and Kinross posters have been put up further afield thanks to family and friends and Facebook and Hotmail has enabled me to promote my ceilidh online! Tickets are beginning to sell and with pay day this Friday I am hopeful requests will be flooding in by next week!

I have continued to make follow up calls to companies regarding raffle prizes and have now received
- 2 generous baskets of goodies from Baxters
- 2 vouchers for Dean's shortbread
- 2 vouchers for a family visit and guided tour of Dewar's World of Whisky, Aberfeldy
- A £10 voucher to spend at "Le Jardin Cafe" in Kinross

In order to target as many people as possible I have decided to hold two different raffles. The first will be held at "Brennan's" in Perth on Saturday 4th July as Aviva has arranged a "Talent Night" for it's employees and I feel it's the perfect opportunity to encourage people to dig in their pockets for a good cause and be in with a chance of winning a great prize. The second raffle with be held at my ceilidh on the 25th and will offer similar prizes with a focus on Kinross businesses.

Don your dancing shoes, it's party time!

Following a little indecision on my part (predominantly due to cost) and the fact that Saturday 25th July seems to be a very popular day to get married and a number of local bands were booked up months ago, I have finally booked a band to provide the Scottish music for my traditional ceilidh next month! Thus I am delighted to announce that "The Eden Ceilidh Band" www.edenceilidhband.com will be entertaining us on the night. The band consists of Davey Summers Jnr on Accordion & Midi Bass, Brian Ness on the Fiddle and Davey Summers Snr on the Drums and hopefully Davey Jnr will also call the dances to keep us all right! I have also secured a DJ from "A2B Entertainment" www.a2bevents.mfbiz.com to provide us with a party atmosphere and disco music towards the end of the night.

"Danscot Print" has kindly agreed to print my tickets and posters free of charge and should be ready for collection any time now! Tickets are priced at £15 and include a light supper. They will be sold on a first come, first served basis and are available by emailing me directly on sarah_miller18@hotmail.com and I hope as many of you as possible can make it!

Passed my first milestone!!!

Today I opened a golden envelope ..... it contained a check from Aviva, my employer, for £350 towards my cause! I was ecstatic because this extremely generous donation met I have raised over a £1000 and am two thirds of the way towards my target!

THANK YOU AVIVA!!!

In addition my Dad had send out a request to the franchisees in his area of work encouraging them all to part with £1 in aid of my appeal. Within 2 days ten of his "colleagues" had kindly donated online and gave much more than was hoped, raising a further £72 towards my target! So I would also like to say a very warm

THANK YOU to SERVICEMASTER

and it's network companies!! It means a lot, particularly when people who have never met me are prepared to give their time and money by making a donation.

Adding together these amounts with recent donations from people in the community my grand total to date is

£ 1,195!!!

(anyone fancy popping in a fiver, just to round it off to a nice even number?!)

The ongoing quest for raffle prizes

Fundraising is rather like applying for a job, you write upteen letters to companies and individuals in the hope that someone will consider what you have to say. The majority of letters seem to go awol, end up in the bin or cast aside, left lying at the bottom of the "to do" tray. Lack of response is a certainty, but there are times when you come rushing home from work to find an intriguing envelope lying on the table and full of hope you rip it open to me met with the standard "on this occasion we have to say no" and feel despondent once again. It's back to the drawing board, with follow up emails and telephone calls and letters to companies further afield.

But just now and again you have success, someone shows interest in you and more often than not this interest comes from an unexpected source. Although I find it a little disconcerting strolling up to "Customers services" and asking to speak to the manager, this is allowed me the opportunity to become more confident and have more faith in what I doing. Moreover some individuals I have met and conversed with by phone in recent weeks have been incredibly supportive and encouraging. In particular I would like to thank Paul and Suzanne at "Boots", Ian at "WHSmith", Emma at "Red Earth" and Isabel at "The Famous Grouse" for looking at my challenge so favourably. Undoubtedly I am grateful to every business who has donated a prize to my proposed raffles but these individuals were especially kind and supportive. Their support will definitely encourage me to stay loyal to their brands in the future, whereas there are some well-known stores who have have declined to contribute or indeed respond and whilst I can understand their decision I can't say it wont have an effect on my future shopping habits....

In addition to the raffle prizes I mentioned on an earlier post I have now received

- A voucher for a guided tour of "The Famous Grouse Distellery" for the winner & their guest, Crieff

- A voucher for a Cut and Finish at "Charlie Taylor's", Perth

- A voucher for a Cut and Finish at "ScottRobb Hairdressing", Falkland

- 2 vouchers for a family swim & a voucher for the health suite at Perth Leisure Pool

- A second complete car valet kit from "Halfords", Dunfermline

- A voucher for a game of golf for 4 at Milnathort Gold Club

and I would like to extend my gratitude to them :-)

Just to keep the momentum going I will end with the total raised so far

£757.28!!!!