Here at Donation4Charity.org HQ we received the following email from an old friend (but not that old as he tells us!) Zane Maynard speaking about his participation in the Great North Run. Although he ran over 5 months ago we’re unable to substantiate claims that he has only just recaptured use of his bodily functions to write the following email! He says he would have sent it whilst running if he’d had broadband on the move!

“On September 30th 2007 I took part in the Great North Run. This world famous, 13 mile half Marathon race is in its 26th year of running.
 
I decided to dedicate my challenge by raising funds for the National Autistic Society (NAS). The reason I chose the NAS in the end was a very simple one. Over the last 3 years I have worked at the well know Sandfields Comprehensive School in Port Talbot South Wales. Attached to the school we have a provision which caters for young people with Autism.
 
The NAS champion the rights and interests of all people with autism and aim to provide individuals with autism and their families with help, support and services that they can access, trust and rely upon and which can make a positive difference to their lives.
 
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them. People with autism have difficulties with everyday social interaction.
 
Overall the race proved a huge personal success and I came a very pleasing 1,269th out of an estimated 50,000 runners. I recorded a time of 1 hour 34 mines 44secs which helped me smash my previous best by over 10 mins.
 
I managed to raise over £550 for the NAS on the day and would like to thank all my kind sponsors for their donations and encouragement. In particular I would like thank Mr Neil McDermott for his generous sponsorship on behalf of Venturian Media Ltd (owners of Donation4Charity.org).

I first met Neil in September 1997 on our first day of Staffordshire University, and as well as being classmates for 3 years we have remained in close contact 10 years on, although geography of the UK has not allowed us to meet often as we would like in person.
 
May I take this opportunity to wish all the readers of this blog the best of British and hope to see you all at the start of the 2008 Great North Run.”

Thanks for those kind words mate - rather you than me in running all those miles!!!

Following on from our article here Megan and Emma Whitehouse have sent us over the final flyer to promote their sale for Cancer Research UK. We hope everything goes well for you girls!

Make your mother’s day with an alternative charity gift from Cancer Research UK. They have a range of thoughtful and unusual gifts that are a great alternative to the usual flowers or chocolates. Your gift could fund research into breast cancer or buy essential lab equipment for their team scientists.

Any alternative gift you choose will directly fund CRUK’s life saving work and help beat cancer.  They have charity gifts for all budgets - from £6 to £600, so you will be sure to find something to make your Mum smile on March 2nd.

The Cancer Research Send and Give online shop also offers a great range of eCards so if you’re worried about getting a card to your Mum in time or just want to save paper, why not personalise one of the thoughtful, funny or touching eCards. You can even upload a photo of the two of you.

By donating the money you would have spent on a paper card you will be helping to beat cancer.

>> Buy online at the Send and Give with Cancer Research UK Shop

>> Read more about how you can  donate to Cancer Research UK

>> View the Top 10 Charity Gifts for Mothers Day

Mothers Day falls on Sunday March 2nd this year (2008) and the World Vision Alternative Gifts Spring Catalogue is full of perfect charity gifts for Mums, like providing baby healthcare and nutrition (£16), there are more reasons than ever for celebrating Mothers’ Day with a World Vision Alternative Gift. Requested by the communities they work with, each gift is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of someone living in poverty. And with gifts that do things like reuniting a child with her family (£48), your mum will be pleased that her special day will make a Happy Mothers’ Day for another family too.

Each gift comes with :

• your choice of personalised Mothers’ Day card with over 300 designs specifically for Mum, so you’re bound to find one she will love
• you can even drop in your own special photo, to give it a homemade feel
• and if you’re running late, there’s always the option of an e-card to make sure it gets there on time

World Vision Alternative gifts are ideal for all sorts of occasions this spring and summer, from birthdays and anniversaries, to weddings, christenings and Fathers’ Day. And because each gift is wanted, they really do mean more. It is so easy to order, visit their website and choose from a wide range of gifts to send on 2nd March.

So why not thank your mum for the care she has given you and, at the same time, train a caregiver for a child orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Ghana (£28)?

>> Buy Online with the World Vision Alternative Gift Store

>> Top Mothers Day Charity Gifts

I attended the premier of Shark Water in London recently and highly recommend that everyone watches this film.  It sends a clear message and shows that sharks are very vulnerable creatures that desperately need protection. Crocodiles kill more people in one year than sharks will in 100 years - crocodiles are protected, sharks are not. 100 million sharks are killed worldwide every year, mainly for their fins - even the majestic whale shark is not safe from this cruel practice. Shark fin soup is a popular delicacy in China, and is eaten in Chinese restaurants around the world including china town in London.  A multibillion dollar industry now exists to meet restaurant demand for fins for the ‘prestigious’ sharks fin soup dish. Regardless of age, size, or species any shark is taken and numbers of some shark species have dropped as much as 90% over the last 50 years.  

Sharkwater took more than four years to make and director and underwater photographer Rob Stewart travelled through 14 countries to collect the stunning footage. The film began as an underwater documentary, but became a shocking expose into the horrific and illegal global finning trade.

Let’s hope that this film will change the way people view sharks and the ocean, further information can be found at :

http://www.marineconnection.org/news/general/sharkwater_documentary.htm

We are please to announce that the Marine Connection a UK charity, who work both nationally and internationally for the protection and conservation of dolphins, whales and porpoises have signed up to have a dedicated section of our charity blog. One of the Marine Connection’s main objectives is to ensure everyone understands the importance of protecting these marine mammals and their natural habitat. One way we achieve this is through a mix of campaigning, education and research.

The Marine Connection has contributed to many important victories for dolphins and whales, however whilst we are an actively campaigning organisation, education also plays a vital part of the charity’s work. Education and raising awareness is the first step towards sustainable conservation as legislation alone will not change attitudes.

>> See how you can help the Marine Connection

If you would like to give your own charity a focused area on our blog please get in touch.

A Cancer Research UK press release hit our inbox today and we felt we should share it with you guys.

“Cancer Research UK scientists have used the immune system coupled with a virus found in horses and cattle, to hunt and purge cancer cells through the lymphatic system, a study reveals in Nature Medicine.

Studying mice, the researchers found that the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), carried by a type of white blood cell called T cells acted as a ‘cancer hunter’, tracking down tumour cells in the lymph nodes, liver and spleen, and killed them, leaving normal healthy cells unharmed. At the same time, VSV also helped to trigger an immune response against the tumour, significantly improving the anti-cancer effect.”

Read the full story here - http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news/archive/pressreleases/2008/january/394168

We received a great email from Megan (aged 12 - nearly 13!) and Emma (aged 9) Whitehouse who wanted us to help publicise their jumble sale taking part in February in aid of Cancer Research UK. They are aiming to make up to £50 for this great cause and sent us the following information.  The final date has been confirmed as Friday 29th Feb 2008.

The sisters have worked really hard to put this thing together and if anyone lives in or around Kings Sutton (near Banbury) your help or attendance would be most welcome in helping them achieve their £50 target! Below is information they provided us with :

“We all know that many people in this village have been effected by cancer, either through friends and relatives or you yourself but now is your chance to do something about it! 

Time: 3-30pm
Date: Friday 29th Feb 2008

Place: King’s Sutton Primary School, Richmond Road, Kings Sutton. (near Banbury).
Telephone: 01295 811289

For more information phone on 01295 812363

You can also visit the Cancer Research website at http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/  Any donations for the sale should be left at 52 Richmond Street, King’s Sutton.

Last year, the Government put housing at the top of its agenda with the promise to build 3 million more homes by 2020, some of them social rented. Shelter and their supporters, were key to this success.

Now Shelter need your help to show the new Housing Minister Caroline Flint MP (pictured) that the pressure to ensure the new homes are affordable is as strong as ever. In particular, the Minister must prioritise building the social rented housing that is necessary to provide decent, affordable and permanent homes for those who need them most.Without this, families stuck in run-down, overcrowded or temporary housing could still be suffering in ten years time.

Email the minister today - it will take only a couple of minutes to show your support.

>> Read More about the Shelter Charity

News has reached us that the WWF Credit Card has won the Charity Credit Card of the Year 2008 at the prestigious Card Awards. This is fantastic news for all animal lovers out there who show their support by signing up for a charity credit card. The Card Awards are organised by Card Partnerships Limited with the main focus on raising the profile of best of breed programmes in the market.

WWF is just one of the MBNA Charity Credit Cards and helps it’s users to donate to charity each time they make a purchase and for each year they keep the credit card.

 >> View more charity credit cards

>> Sign up for a WWF Charity Credit Card