The Journal has just voted the Merlin charity into their top 25 in the world! This amazing recognition saw the magazine assess different charities on their -

• Innovation
• Effectiveness
• Impact
• Efficiency
• Transparency
• Accountability
• Sustainability

alongside their financial and strategic management. To be voted into the top 25 charities in the world is some feat, something Merlin officials are over the moon about.

Merlin Chief Executive, Carolyn Miller, said -

I’ve been Chief Executive of Merlin for seven years and I’m immensely proud to see that Merlin has been named in the top 25 charities in the world by Global Journal. For a lesser known charity like Merlin to receive such recognition is high praise. Many of the other organisations on the list are far better-known or bigger, so for our achievements to be in the spotlight is great to see.

Merlin is not one of the best known charities, but their life saving work across the globe is just as important as the tasks carried out by their more esteemed colleagues. Their medical teams work in some of the most poverty stricken countries in the world and treat around 9.5 million people each year.

Currently working in 15 countries, plans to increase this number will see Merlin’s front line workers treat up to 15 million people by 2015, quite an astounding figure! Congratulations to them and all their staff in receiving this amazing honour and long may their work continue in helping those most in need get back on their feet.

> > Click here to make a donation to Merlin

Semi Finalists in Britain’s Got Talent, Out of the Blue, will be performing in aid of the UCARE health charity on Saturday 3rd March 2012 at the Holywell Music Room in Oxford. The local a cappella group, will be delivering a sumptuous vocal spectacle combining irrepressible energy with infectious musicality for one night only.

All profits from the show will be in aid of UCARE (Urology Cancer and Research Education), who’s aim is to improve the treatment of cancer patients not just through research, but also education.

Out of the Blue, who have recently toured the States and Spain, are one of UK’s premier acts after their show stopping performances on Britain’s Got Talent. To ensure your tickets, please call 01865 767777 or email ucare@ucare-oxford.org.uk for what promises to be an amazing evening.

> > Click here for more information in UCARE

Football hard man turned actor Vinnie Jones has found the time between Hollywood blockbusters to star in this hilarious advert for heath charity The British Heart Foundation. Known for his no nonsense attitude both on and off the screen, Vinny uses his tough guy persona to perfection here as he explains the best way to help revive someone with hands only CPR.

Believe me, you have to see this to believe it!

Vinnie said -

There really shouldn’t be any messing about when it comes to CPR. If you’re worried about the kiss of life just forget it and push hard and fast in the centre of the chest to Stayin’ Alive. Hands-only CPR should give have-a-go heroes the confidence to step in and help when somebody is in cardiac arrest.

Brilliant eh?! What a fantastic way to advertise a simple method of possibly saving someone’s life. Nice to see Errol from ‘Snatch’ getting his groove on in the background, looks like he’s been at the pies a bit though!

> > Click here for more info on The British Heart Foundation

The Merlin charity has recently opened four new maternity waiting homes across the Kweke district of Zimbabwe. These homes are perfect for pregnant women to stay in before they give birth as they are only minutes away from trained health workers. With up to eight women dying every day due to complications during birth, these maternity homes will not only provide shelter, but also save lives.

With Zimbabwe witnessing a dramatic decline in health service delivery over the last 10 years, Merlin is now working with the internal Ministry of Health to try and help increase survival rates during childbirth. The harsh reality is that without these homes, pregnant women will have to travel miles on foot to reach a health facility before going into labour, putting extra strain on both mother and child.

Merlin’s Director of Health and Policy, Linda Doull, said -

These waiting homes provide a crucial safety net for women who would have otherwise given birth at home, often alone or with an untrained birth attendant. They will help to lower both child and maternal mortality.

Each maternity waiting home can accommodate up to eight women, and has bedrooms, cooking and laundry facilities, plus a toilet and shower. The waiting homes were also created using contractors from the local community, and built with locally sourced materials. More of these homes are being planned to help prevent unnecessary maternal deaths, so if you would like to make a donation to help fund this amazing project, simply click on the link below to make a pledge.

> > Click here to make a donation to Merlin

Bubbalicious is the UK’s first ever social networking website specifically designed for teenage mums and dads. There’s loads of interesting things to do on the website and if when you register you will be entered into a free prize draw to win a ‘grobag’ baby’s sleeping bag.

On the website you will find great info and advice on breastfeeding, how to stop smoking during pregnancy and tips on how to get your baby to sleep. The site also caters for young dads too, so don’t think that Bubbalicious is just for women. There’s also a really helpful Q&A section where you can asking questions and chat with other people who are going through the same things as you.

Simply click on the link below to register with Bubbalicious, or simply have a look around the website. If you’re a young parent, this is a great place to talk to other people and share your experiences in a friendly online environment.

> > Click here to visit Bubbalicious

Why not ‘Send a Snowflake’ with Breakthrough Breast Cancer this Christmas to show a friend or loved one that you really care. Everybody has a chance to join in leaving a message on the pink snowstorm, and it’s free! You can access the campaign through Facebook by simply clicking on the link at the bottom of this post to show your love, and turn this year’s festive season pink.

It’s the perfect way to brighten up someone’s day, you can even leave a personal note to show someone you care. There’s an option to make a small £3 donation to help provide funds to save the lives of people affected by breast cancer. So why not get clicking today and show someone you care about them by sending a snowflake this Christmas.

> > Click here to Send a Snowflake via Facebook

Health Lottery officials are trying to track down the £200,000 top prize winner of their 10th draw. The winning ticket was purchased from a Tesco Express in Redditch on Friday 9th December 2011, so if you bought a ticket and live in the area, I’d go and grab them quick and check for this number -

EH0007547126

as it could be you. Now that would be a nice little Christmas present!

Head of Marketing at The Health Lottery, Sarah Tinsley, said -

The Health Lottery and the 51 local society lotteries want to keep exciting customers with new promotions and offers, so to celebrate the 10th Health Lottery draw Health Contact offered them a chance to win £200,000 rather than £100,000. We are launching a tireless campaign to find our first £200,000 winner in time for Christmas. We won’t rest until they’ve been found. I’d ask anyone in Redditch to check with family and friends to see if they bought a ticket on 9th December.

The draw last Saturday saw the first ever £200,000 top prize, and even though no one had all 5 numbers to win, one ticket was selected at random, though who they are remains a mystery. Over £10 million in prizes has already been paid out since Octobers fittest draw, with a whopping 130,000 individual winners created in that time. The health lottery has now raised an amazing £5.5 million for health related good causes around the UK  whilst also managing 51 separate society lotteries.

If you would like to purchase a ticket, simply click on the link below to be in with a chance of winning big money whilst helping to raise much needed funds for charities across the UK. I can think of 200,000 reason why you should play it!

> > Click here buy a Health Lottery ticket

Merlin charity officials are continuing their hard work in East Africa as the food crisis continues to claim thousands of lives. Take for example little Amaret, who was brought to Ladwar hospital when he was only 18 months old and weighing just 12 pounds. His mother Amekwi had already lost two children from disease and feared she may be about to lose her third as Amaret was severely ill.

Amaret was immediately given antibiotics and placed on a high nutrient and calorie diet to increase his weight. Within one week Amaret’s main symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting had stopped and within another seven days he was able to play with his mother and feed himself. His mother only earns £2 a month so she would never have been able to pay for the medicine, but staff at the Hospital had pooled their resources to ensure he receives continued treatment as Amaret still remains severely malnourished.

Amerat’s mother, Amekwi, said -

If Maureen and Echapan were not here, my child would not be alive. I see them pay so much attention to my child, now I have hope that he can survive.

Merlin charity workers are now teaching Amekwi on correct feeding practices as well as helping to enrol Amaret at the Outpatient Therapeutic Programme in the closest health facility to their home. Here Amaret’s condition will be closely monitored to ensure he grows to be the correct weight for his age.

Merlin is the UK’s leading charity in sending doctors and nurses to global emergencies and help save the lives of people effected by war, floods and earthquakes. You can help Merlin stop needless deaths across the globe by making a donation and giving the gift of life to children like Amerat.

> > Click here to make a donation to Merlin

With Christmas just around the corner, why not beat the rush for presents and purchase all your goodies from the Cancer Research Gift Shop? There’s a whole host of fantastic charity gift ideas for all the family to choose from, plus a great selection of festive necessities including -

• Advent calendars
• Tree decorations
• Wrapping paper
• Christmas Crackers
• Gift Bags

Remember that all the purchases from the Cancer Research Gift Shop help provide funds to tackle this killer disease. The health charity receives no government funding and with cancer survival rates almost doubling in the last 40 years, it’s thanks to your generous donations that, together, we can all try and help beat cancer once and for all.

Help Cancer Research with a Charity Gift

You can also help by purchasing a charity gift from the Cancer Research gift shop. There is a great selection of gifts to choose from, plus they offer a great gift wrapping service and super fast delivery. Plus you have the piece of mind to know that all profits are going towards the fight to help beat cancer.

> > Click here to visit the Cancer Research gift shop

Other top charity gifts

After this, Alex then underwent over two years if maintenance chemotherapy, which saw Alex wheelchair bound for much of the treatment.

The fantastic news is Alex is now back at school and playing the sports he loves whilst taking part in creative writing sessions which has seen the creation of ‘The Heaven Flower’ story, which was published in 2010

> > Click here for more info on The Heaven Flower

Alex’s mum, Julie, said -

Alex is such an amazing teenager. I want other kids who are going through cancer to be inspired by Alex. But we will never have our carefree life back again – if there is even a slight problem of illness with Alex, I switch to the day of diagnosis again.

This amazing success story is only possible thanks to your kind donations. Cancer Research health charity receive no government funding, and it is thanks to you that they are able to continue their live saving work. With Cancer survival rates almost doubling in the last 40 years, it’s thanks to your generous donations that, together, we can all try and help to beat cancer, once and for all.

Help Cancer Research with a Charity Gift

You can also help by purchasing a charity gift from the Cancer Research gift shop. There is a great selection of gifts to choose from, plus they offer a great gift wrapping service and super fast delivery. Plus you have the piece of mind to know that all profits are going towards the fight to help beat cancer.

> > Click here to visit the Cancer Research gift shop

Other top charity gifts