Category: Charity

The People’s Strictly Blub-Fest

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The People’s Strictly kicked off last night – and shares in Kleenex must have soared!

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With an audience potentially split between this, The Brits and Wolf Hall, it quickly became clear that for depth of character, drama, passion and all round life affirming goodness, BBC1 was the place to be.

This wasn’t just any emotional rollercoaster. This was us being more emotionally rollercoastered than ever before, as we met three of the deserving Strictly Come Dancing fans being given their chance to shine in the Strictly ballroom.

Michael, Cassidy and Heather are three of the most inspiring people you’ll ever meet. Their selflessness in the face of shattering adversity in their own lives just serves to remind us how powerful the human spirit really is. Read all about them below, along with Trishna, Anna and Phil, who we’ll be introduced to next week and whose stories are just as incredible.

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From left to right of the above image (top row and then bottom):

The couples will compete for the People’s Glitter Ball in a live show on March 11, hosted by Tess and Claudia. We’ll vote for our winner, who’ll be crowned The People’s Strictly champion during Comic Relief on March 13.

The Twitter timeline was awash with virtual tears and tributes to these amazing people. Here’s a selection (to prove it wasn’t only me sobbing my heart out!)

The Three Heroes (click to read the quotes) 

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The Heartbreaking One

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The Men Sobbing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Competitive Edge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Unashamed Tributes (a fraction)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Last Words

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Official images courtesy BBC

Super Sacre to tackle London to Paris Bike Ride

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Shape Arts

Medway artist Christopher Sacre is setting out on one of his biggest challenges yet – cycling to Paris from London in aid of the disability arts lead charity Shape Arts.

Having established himself on the arts scene locally, Chris’ big breakthrough came in October 2010, after discovering a happy marriage between condoms and plaster.  ‘See what this man gave birth to after using 2000 condoms in 22 days’ is an extraordinary installation of 2000 of his plaster ‘babies’ which form the basis of his project ‘Adoption’. Find out more on his website.

Super-busy work-wise and having begun work on the In-SITE Artist Commission, Chris already has another commission lined for for 2016. He says: “I plan to tackle the 300 mile London to Paris bike ride this April 2015, raising money for Shape Arts, which has played an important role in my development as an artist since 2000. Please dig deep and help me to raise my £1500 target!”

Chris

Visit Chris’ Just Giving Page here

Oakley Orange Appeal

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Guest blog by Stephen Jenner

A huge fund raising event for 7 year old Oakley Orange has been announced at Headcorn Airport on the 10th April.

Oakley is the little boy fighting for his life after an allergic reaction to medication. Rushed to hospital after a rash appeared on his chest, his parents Steven and Lorraine watched in horror as their son became unrecognisable over the next 24 hours.

He was diagnosed with the rare life-threatening skin condition called Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), where the top layer of skin becomes detached from the lower layers.

Oakley’s condition rapidly deteriorated to the worst form of the condition, known as Tens, and he had to be transferred to a specialist burns hospital. SJS develops into Tens when more than 30% of skin is lost; Oakley has lost 100% of his skin, as well as his fingernails, toenails and hair.

Funds are being raised to send Oakley Orange and his family to Florida, with SkyHigh Radio taking up the lead in helping raise this money. The event at Headcorn is a tandem parachute jump and if you’d like to be involved, or just lend your moral and financial support, please get in touch via the Facebook page or donate here.

For S.O.P.H.I.E – the GOMK charity book

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A wonderful side effect from my involvement in the Rochester Literature Festival was being asked by one of our exhibiting artists, Richard Jeferies, to write for his charity book, Goth on my Keyboard.

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The Goth character has an adoring public on Facebook and beyond, and is now using her celebrity to publicise a good cause close to home. Myself and fellow writer, Alison Eley, have responded to Richard’s brilliant drawings and character in this book, and Richard himself also adds emotive words to his images, as well as deliver the short and sweet cartoons that are GOMK’s usual platform. It’s a true life mix of humour and poignancy and frankly, well worth your time to read it. I’m thrilled and honoured to be a part of it.

Most of us are free to express ourselves in any way we see fit, whether through our choice of music, art, or the way we dress. Sadly, even these days, there are those who seek to destroy anything they don’t understand, or like, or is different, and Sophie Lancaster paid the worst possible price for this.

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The book is  now published and all the proceeds go to the S.O.P.H.I.E Lancaster Foundation, a charity set up to help fight hate crimes, following the horrifying attack that led to her death. Kicked to death for looking different. In the 21st century, in a civilised, mainly tolerant society, how can this happen? The book, including VAT, costs just £2.39. Please buy it by downloading from the link, and aid this cause in the following aims:

  • To create a lasting legacy to Sophie.
  • To provide educational group-works that will challenge the prejudice and intolerance towards people from alternative subcultures.
  • To campaign to have the UK Hate Crime legislation extended to include people from alternative subcultures or Lifestyle and Dress.

To find out more about the S.O.P.H.I.E Lancaster Foundation, visit the website here.

Stamp Out Prejudice, Intolerance and Hatred Everywhere. Thank you.

Day of Dance

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Whitstable based fundraising organisation, Trust Sulha, are holding a Day of Dance on Sunday, November 24th at the Horsebridge Arts and Community Centre.

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For the paltry amount of just £10, you’ll be able to spend the whole day learning four different dance styles: Ballet, contemporary, street and Spanish, under the expert tutelage of Hasland Dance Studios, the Page Mason School of Dance and Drama and Phoenix Performing Arts.

You must be at least 16 years old and no dance experience is necessary although comfortable shoes and clothes are a must. Bring along a plate of vegetarian food too, for a shared lunch. The day will run form 10am – 5pm.

Trust Sulha helps to educate young Afghan refugees and aims to bring peace through education. To book your ticket, visit the We Got Tickets page here.