How Are We Funded
The Emily Ash Trust generates income from a series of direct fund raising events and donations.
Overton Grange High School and Sam Clarkson
Our thanks go to Sam Clarkson and his team from Overton Grange High School. As part of their GCSE Citizenship coursework they had to lead a 10 minute presentation to their year group (Y10) on their chosen charity – EMILY ASH TRUST. Their fantastic presentation was so well received by the audience of fellow pupils, parents and teachers that they WON! As a result the charity will receive £3000 to go towards helping more families coping with cancer. Thank you Sam and your team.
The London Marathon - 2010
We are so grateful to Mike Balcombe who managed to raise a significant amount for The Emily Ash Trust this year when he ran the London Marathon. The Trust were able to support close friends of Mike and it is for this reason that he chose to support us. Our thanks also to Alex King who ran the marathon for us again this year! We are very grateful to him and all the effort he put into training.
If you would like to add to Mike's or Alex's total, please sponsor them here:
www.justgiving.com/Mike-Balcombe
www.justgiving.com/Alex-King02
2nd Annual Spanish Ball - Saturday 17th April 2010
The success of our 2nd Annual Spainsh Ball was threatened by a volcano! With all UK airports shut down the UK contingent of guests now had no way of getting to the Ball. James Wild, the Ball's organiser, thought the ball would need to be cancelled but Olly Murs saved the day by agreeing to be driven the 23 hour journey to Spain, allowing the Ball to go ahead as planned! The evening was a huge success, raising in excess of £30,000.
Olly Murs talking about how he helped make the Ball a success:
The Emily Ash Trust Annual Ball
We organise several events each year, with the key element of fun or entertainment. The main event is The Emily Ash Trust Annual Ball which is a great night that includes an auction, casino and raffle for over 400 guests. This year's theme is 'James Bond' and is set to be a fantastic evening full of entertainment - and ladies, diamonds really are forever! For more information please contact: Susan May - 07809 781 183
Cardiff Half Marathon October 2009
Well done and thank you to Sarah Ardley who ran the Cardiff Half Marathon on 18th October. If you would like to add to her total sponsorship, just click on the link below to find her JustGiving page.
http://www.justgiving.com/Sarah-Ardley
Tri for Life - Sunday 6th September, 2009
We have recently become a partner in this fabulous fund raising idea, set up by the late Harvey Selby, who had a vision to widen the circle of support given to others. He saw the opportunity to combine the fastest growing sport with that of raising money for charities and set up Tri for Life. It is an event for all the family; it’s fun energetic but with a serious goal, to raise money for those in need. This year it takes place on the 6th September, at Eton College Boating House, Dorney Lake, Eton and Windsor.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, this year’s triathlon provided participants with the opportunity to compete alongside England champion Laurence Dallaglio and football pundit Robbie Earle.
Tri-for-life raises funds for nine different charities and have this year formed partnerships with a number of charities, The Emily Ash Trust being one: www.triforlife.co.uk/charities-partners
With a choice of two distances either 400m swim, 5K run and 20K cycle or an 800m swim, 30K cycle and a 7.5K run, participants were able enter as an individual or a team. There was also a Scootathlon for children between 4 and 8 so everyone could take part!
Parents and boys from Elmbridge Rugby Club took up the challenge, this year 46 agreed to take part and give something back, most of them from the Under 14 team. The boys showed true dedication whilst combining rugby training and games they have been at Liquid Leisure, Datchet every Sunday at 6am for open water swim practice. Thanks to Mike Trees of 2XU who has supplied the boys with wetsuits and along with Richard Stannard (4 x world champion) both providing training tips.
Liquid Leisure: www.llski.com 2 X U: www.2xu.com
The day was enjoyed by everyone with lots of encouragement provided by supporters and participants proud of their amazing achievements. On behalf of the Trust, the children and their families we would like to thank each and every one of of you for taking part.
One participant, Emilie Saintas has provided her thoughts about the day:
My First Triathlon
Perhaps I should start with where I was a year ago compared to where I am today. I would have been recovering from my 7th cycle of chemotherapy, watching my hair grow back and dreading my next operation. It was also at this time that I told The Emily Ash Trust that if I got the all clear then I would do the Triathlon. That operation was my last and signaled the end of my battle with cancer. Month by month my strength built up and I began training for September, to begin with a little exercise would mean I was in bed for days after, I doubted that I could do it but still pushed on, determined. Little by little I saw differences in my strength and endurance. The night before I kept telling myself that I have been to hell and back with the treatment and at some points doubted whether I would even have the strength to keep going. This was going to be a walk in the park compared to that!
Feeling how cold the lake was I started to panic, thinking I won’t get to the end, but my mind was so determined to push me to the end I just kept going. I had the support of my family, my boyfriend Joey, best friend Kerrie and so many other people encouraging me on. But it was so exhilarating! The rush when I got out of the lake and running to my bike was amazing, I just wanted to keep going. The breeze across my face and the buzz of everyone else biking around me was incredible. The sheer magnitude of people kept a smile on my face and kept my legs peddling! The run by far was the hardest but I just kept thinking how close I was and how proud I would feel at the end. Luckily for me I was saved by Alex running beside me and giving me goals to run to and eventually ran right to the end, through the crowds yelling my name and seeing everyone cheering and smiling! I couldn’t believe I had completed it and I still can’t believe it, even with a heat pack on my back to help it recover!
I remember thinking that I would never be the same person I was before I was diagnosed and that it would change me forever. I always saw this as a negative thing but actually thanks to the triathlon and the mountains of support I have, I can see now in a positive way that the person I was before, never would have thought I could beat cancer or train and complete my first triathlon. And that positive thought will keep me going forever.
Click here to view photos of the day.
Three Peaks Challenge
On the 12th of July 2009 five of us took on the challenge to climb Great Britain's 3 highest peaks in 24 hours. Starting with Ben Nevis in Scotland we took off at 7.30 in the morning, managing to reach the peak in just over 2 hours 30mins. After making our way back down, it was on to our bus for the 6 hour journey to the Lake District and Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain. We arrived to gale force winds, rain and hail stones and now had to climb the 980 metres to the summit in the dead of night.Soaking wet through we completed this in 3 hours 50 minutes, now it was a case of taking on food and trying to get some sleep for the final leg.
A 4 hour bus ride to Mount Snowdon in Wales, the whole body was now starting to feel the extent of the challenge, but with a last push we finished Snowdon in 3hours 20minutes, making a total of 22 hours and 40 minutes.
It was a fantastic achievement for all of us who took part, Ronnie Parry, Paul Forester, Harry Parry, Justin Stark, and James Wild, and hope to have raised a fair amount for the Emily Ash Trust.
James Wild
The London Triathlon - 1st - 2nd August 2009
The 2009 Mazda London Triathlon was once again held at the ExCeL centre, London. It is the World's largest triathlon with over 10,000 entrants. The event is open to all levels - from first timers to elites as well as a youth event open to 15-16 year olds. Our thanks and congratulations go to James Wild, James O'Docherty and Stephen Clark who competed on behalf of The Emily Ash Trust:
| Name | Race Number: | Swim: | Bike: | Run: | Total: |  |
| James Wild | 11462 | 00:33:22 | 01:13:50 | 00:46:56 | 02:44:28 | |
| James O'Docherty | 11367 | 00:33:14 | 01:10:59 | 00:52:52 | 02:47:49 | |
| Stephen Clark | 11336 | 00:32:04 | 01:11:44 | 00:52:53 | 02:47:50 |
Sparkles Pre-School Sponsored Sing
“Our sponsored sing was such a success. The children had a full morning with face painting and the parents were over the moon with the children's songs (except the one where they had to stand up and sit down all the time!)
We have raised £240.20 for the Emily Ash Trust, sent with love from Sparkles Pre-School.”
