Fundraise on the First: Readers raise £25,000 for First Step
Third-place team The Firm on Tour at the Recorder's pub quiz for First Step - Credit: Archant
Readers have continued to rally around the Recorder’s Fundraise on the First campaign, raising a fantastic £25,556 so far.
Jean Rayner, 80, completed a sponsored swim for First Step on her birthday - Credit: Archant
Since our campaign with children’s charity First Step launched in January, members of the public have enjoyed fitness challenges, quizzes and coffee mornings.
With five months still to go, why not take inspiration from these recent fundraisers?
Sponsored swim
Jean Rayner enjoyed a birthday with a difference – taking on a sponsored challenge in aid of First Step after being inspired by our campaign.
Ellen Owen (left) and Havering Museum chairman Peter Stewart (back centre), Eleanor Fifield from Greggs (back right) and volunteer Marion Rist (right) with members of the public at the coffee morning for First Step - Credit: Archant
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The 80-year-old, of Heaton Avenue, Harold Hill, swam 64 lengths on Saturday, at Central Park Leisure Centre, in Gooshays Drive.
She has raised more than £1,200.
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Jean said: “It was fantastic and a great success. I did it in one hour and 10 minutes.
“I had hoped to make a thousand.
Mary Griffiths is running yoga sessions in Raphael Park in Romford for the Recorder's Fundraise on the First campaign with First Step - Credit: Archant
“I’m pleased I did it for First Step.”
The leisure centre supported Jean by having a donation box on the day.
She celebrated with a party at home, where her family and friends donated to First Step instead of giving her presents.
Havering Museum
Third-place team The Firm on Tour at the Recorder's pub quiz for First Step - Credit: Archant
Delicious goodies and tours were on offer at a coffee morning.
Havering Museum, in High Street, Romford, hosted the event last week for Fundraise on the First.
Visitors, including a family from Perth, Australia, enjoyed pastries, sausage rolls and tours in exchange for a donation to First Step. £100 was raised.
Guests were served by volunteer Marion Rist, who dressed as a Lyons Corner House “nippy” – waitress.
Sergei Ksaveriev and Matthew Collett are about to take part in the British 10k London run for First Step. They are photographed with Michelle Mitchell from the charity - Credit: Archant
The museum has a mini-exhibition on Romford’s branches of the tea rooms in the 1950s and 1960s.
Chairman Peter Stewart said: “Greggs generously provided a tasty selection of treats. The morning was enjoyed by the visitors.”
A second event is in the pipeline.
Bowling
An evening of bowling fun netted First Step £2,600.
A group of 120 people descended on Dagenham Bowling last week for two games and a hot buffet.
The winners were Don Jones, Tony Riddle, Bernie Macdonald, Brenda Giovnilli and Joe Giovnilli from the New Friends Social Club, a long-term supporter of the charity.
The event was organised by Jeremy West, of funeral director West & Coe.
The businessman is a patron of First Step.
He said: “I am really grateful to the 120 who took part.
“It was a great evening, raising a fantastic amount of money for such a wonderful organisation.”
Yoga
Summer yoga sessions are proving a hit.
Instructor Mary Griffiths has been running classes on selected Sundays at the bandstand in Raphael Park, Main Road, Romford.
So far, £65 has been raised.
Mary said: “Thank you to everyone who has come to my classes.
“I am really enjoying them and it’s wonderful to be able to help First Step in this way.”
One-to-one and small group classes are also available.
Visit bodyandsoulyoga.org.
Quiz
Quiz fans enjoyed questions on Henry VIII and Mambo No. 5 at a Recorder fundraiser.
The event took place on June 18 at The George II pub, in High Street, Hornchurch, attended by 11 teams made up of Recorder and First Step staff, clubs and more.
The winners were the Recorder Reprobates, who pipped Recorder Originals Etc to the post by three points.
The quiz raised £557 for First Step.
Fundraising manager Michelle Mitchell said: “It was great fun, even though our team sadly didn’t win! Thank you to all the teams.”
10k runs
Two teams of runners are getting ready to take on challenges.
Recorder staff are taking on a 10k race in Regent’s Park on Sunday, while members of the public are running in the British 10k London next week.
First Step’s team includes Matthew Collett and Sergei Ksaveriev.
Sergei, who works at Zizzi restaurant, in Station Lane, Hornchurch, was previously featured in the Recorder as his son Samuel has been supported by the charity.
Sergei said: “First Step helped us through a difficult time. We want to give something back.”
Zizzi is hosting its latest First Step coffee morning on Monday.
Visit justgiving.com/FundraiseontheFirst and justgiving.com/Sergei-Ksaveriev.
If you are hoping to host your own fundraiser, email bethany.wyatt@archant.co.uk.
