NAILSEA
PEOPLE
the online community newspaper for Nailsea people, their family and their friends
March 2018
Our town is a very nice town
Nailsea - caring town that keeps on giving
On our February front page we wrote about our caring community which has many good causes and charities close to its heart. This is an update about those highlighted last month and other current fundraising campaigns to help others
Luke’s Army for Muscular Dystrophy UK
When a four-year-old Nailsea schoolboy was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy last September family, friends and supporters of mum Lisa Cramphorn decided to do something positive and raise money for medical research.
In six short months they have raised a whopping £30,000 plus but still have a way to go to reach the ambitious £100,000 target they set themselves..
Duchenne MD is a rare muscle-wasting condition which decreases the life expectancy of sufferers - mostly boys.
Globally approximately 20,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
At the beginning of February there was a Go Orange event with schools, pre-schools, childminders and businesses joining a fundraising and awareness day.
Nailsea School raised £700, Birdwell School at Long Ashton added £320.52, Nailsea childminder Jo Jones and Butterfly Travel also added monies to the fund.
Emmerdale soap star and London-based comedienne Louise Howells who went to school in Nailsea and is close friends with Lisa has rallied support and contributed more than £3,000 to the funds.
Louise did a sponsored Sober October.
Spinathon, clothes swap, M&Co fashion show, people running, cycling, jumping out of a plane the list in seemingly endless of those who want to help.
Tesco Nailsea community champion and friend Hayley Watson hopes to raise hundreds of pounds with a sponsored sky dive on Saturday, March 17.
You can help Hayley by clicking HERE.
Lisa said: “We thought Luke just needed a physio.
“We knew he wasn't running or climbing stairs like his brother was at his age but we certainly didn't think anything serious was wrong.
“To go from that mind set to then finding out that he had a progressive muscle wasting disease - where there is currently no cure - rocked our world.
“Life suddenly looked very different and it took everything we had to get up in the morning and continue being parents..."
To contribute go to the Just Giving online page by clicking HERE.
Claire Tavener remembered
Nailsea has been devastated by the untimely death of Claire Tavener.
Her friends have turned their grief into something positive for her two small boys.
Her funeral service on Tuesday, February 27, reflected that grief when poignant words written by Claire’s parents Steve and Sarah Willmott were read out by the Reverend Philip Auden at the South Bristol Crematorium.
The 27-year-old mum who worked at the Old Farmhouse died from multiple stab wounds at her Brendon Gardens home on January 8.
To read a full report of the funeral service in the Bristol Post click HERE.
Her husband Andrew Tavener, aged 45, a tree surgeon, has pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court to murder and will be sentenced on Tuesday afternoon, April 10.
A Go Fund Me page set up with the original goal of raising £1,000 for Claire’s small sons exceeded that amount in hours and now stands at more than £14,000.
To contribute click HERE.
Two fundraising events at Grove Sports & Social Club to remember Claire are planned to add to this fund.
The first is a charity football match on Sunday, Aprl 1, 1-6pm with barbecue and family activities. SORRY CANCELLED DUE TO BAD WEATHER
And on Saturday, April 21, from 7pm a social with live band and raffle is being held.
See posters for more details.
STOP PRESS: Photos from the Grove gig which made a whopping £15,000 plus are in the Gallery 2018 HERE and new date for football match is Saturday, May 5.
More details on the What's On page.
Bouncing for Bella
Friends of young Bella Mildon are raising monies to buy safe bedroom furniture for the autistic youngster.
When desperate mum Samantha posted on social media a distressing video of Bella having one of her many meltdowns it broke your heart and the story went global.
Television, newspapers, magazines and online publications told of Bella's plight and her parents' frustration at not being able to get the professional help they need for a child with 'complex issues'.
The video posted here is by Fox News the US cable and satellite television news channel.
Bella, aged nine, is non-verbal and can't tell people where she hurts.
The result is she self-harms by throwing herself about - hence her broken bed and damaged little body.
Currently Sam and dad Dave are only allowed a few hours each week of respite care and being the sole 24/7 carers with little sleep and frequent trips to the A&E in Bristol is all beginning to take its toll.
Caring neighbour Abi Grey set up the crowdfunding page.
She said: "We can often hear Bella crying or screaming, but we can also hear her laughs and giggles.
"Sam and Dave put everything they have into caring, supporting and looking after Bella by themselves.
"It's such a shame that people who really genuinely need the care system are let down.
"Bella is such a loving and caring little girl and is a credit to her parents, they are always there for Bella, but who's there for them?"
One of the first people to help was Gemini Gymnastics Club, at Blackfriars Road, who organised a Bounce For Bella sponsored session.
Bella has been enjoying therapeutic one-to-one trampoline sessions with owner Jill Pope at the gym for some time.
Sam said: "I want to thank everyone so much for all their kindness and generosity.
"We want to buy Bella some sensory equipment and toys to calm her while having seizures and meltdowns.
“Also we want to buy padding for Bella's walls and floors as she headbutts and throws herself at the walls and on the floor."
One of the first things on the shopping list will be a bubble tube recommended by Baytree School where when well enough Bella attends for a few hours a week, added Sam.
Head teacher Ed Bowen-Roberts said when Bella is at Highlands Lane campus this is the one item which claims her down.
Colour changing bubble tubes provide multi-sensory stimulate the visual system.
Other great supporters of the family are Cadbury House master chef Marco Pierre White and North Somerset MP Liam Fox.
Dr Fox organised a specialist car seat when the family became housebound after the original travel seat was broken and outgrown.
The total collected so far is £750 from Just Giving and £500 from Gemini.
If you would like to help click HERE.
Team Oli
Lorraine
Andrew
Josh Bartlet
Pippa Benton
Kirsty Cotterell
Danny Cotterell
Lou Dan
Chris Dodsworth
Imogen Edney
Charlie Hughes
Jo Hughes
Tessa Hughes
Louise Morgan
Emma Newland
Ben Newland
Emily Noke
Matt Noke
Laura Pearce
Jenny Pearce
Jo Pinkney
Lilly-Rose Smith
Kate Stone
Jane Strophair
Terina Williams
Running Bristol 10K for Oli
A 20-strong team from Nailsea will be running the GREAT BRISTOL 10K on Sunday, May 13, for Southmead intensive care unit.
The 2018 course follows a route along the river Avon and under the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge with spectacular views of the Avon Gorge before returning to the city centre.
Thousands of sponsored runners will be raising monies for their charities.
Team Oli is consists of family and friends of motorcyclist Oliver Pearce who was seriously injuried in a freak accident on Christmas day.
Oli, aged 22, was on his way home in the early hours from his job as a bartender at Aqua restaurant at Portishead when he crashed into a parked car on Trendlewood Way, Nailsea.
The accident devastated parents Jenny and Rickie Pearce and his two sisters.
Jenny said: “At 3.30am on Christmas morning every parents’ worst nightmare came true for us.
“The police at our door to tell us that our son had been involved in an accident.
“There were no other parties involved except for a parked car.
“He came off his motorbike and sustained massive head injuries."
Oli was cared for in the ICU at Southmead hospital before awaiting transfer to a Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre.
In May mum Jenny and daughter Laura, 22, will be among the runners.
Jenny added: “Oli has a long road to regaining his independence.
“A group of whom have decided to run; walk; crawl the Bristol 10k with an aim of raising money for Southmead Hospital Charity, and in particular the ICU.
“Anyone is welcome to join us, cheer us on or sponsorship via the Just Giving page Running 4 Oli any amount gratefully received.”
More than 20 runners have signed up already and to date £2,308 already been raised.
If you would like to contribute or join the run cllick HERE for more details.
Vietnam trek for Springboard
Nailsea dog walker Marianne Elwin is stretching her legs in south east Asia later this year and will be using the experience to raise monies for a special needs school.
Together with a small group of friends who exercise at Millennium Park with the Carpe Diem boot camp they want to raise awareness of the pre-school.
To boost funds they have set up and JustGiving page and organised a scoial at Grove Sports & Social Club on Saturday, April 14.
Marianne said; "We are totally self-funding our trip and all the money we raise will go to Springboard.
"Our team target is £5,000.
"Last year I took part in a challenge, it was a huge success personally and for the amount myself and the team were able to raise for charity.
"This year I am doing another challenge to help raise awareness of a charity that help change the lives of pre-school children with additional needs and disabilities.
"Springboard is a friendly, local charity supporting children from birth to five years.
"Its vision is that every child from birth to five in North Somerset has the care, education, support and opportunity they need to reach their full potential, to live fulfilling and independent lives.
"Having worked with children with and without additional needs/disabilities, and as a parent/grandparent this charity I feel needs all the support we can give it.
"Raising awareness through doing a challenge is my way of helping them to help North Somerset's pre-school children.
"For 2018 I will be trekking up Tram Ton, the highest mountain pass in Vietnam.
"I will be staying in a variety of accommodation, camping, hostel and one night with a family of the Red Zao people.
"The route follows the fringe of the rain forest of the Hoang Lien Son Mountains, ascending through forest and terraced rice paddies and corn fields to Nam Toong.
"Here I get the opportunity to spend an afternoon in a local school.
"This challenge will be amazing and tough.
"It will also be totally funded by myself - all the money raised will go directly to Springboard.
Marianne' individual target is £1,000 target and will just £80 so far she has a way to go.
If you would like to help buy tickets for the disco or click HERE to go to her Just Giving page.
STOP PRESS: Marianne and her Carpe Diem team would like to say a big thank you to all their supporters as they raised a grand £467.60 at their fundraising disco for Springboard on Saturday.
Jacqui Nelson's charity headshave
Retired nanny Jacquie Nelson is aiming to go one better than a mohican haircut!
She said: "The past couple of years have been difficult, losing family and friends, not just to cancer, but also other illnesses.
"I wanted to do something to remember them, to raise funds to try and eradicate these diseases and to do something outside my comfort zone.
"And shaving my head in front of an audience at the age of 58 seemed a good idea - at the time.
"I really hope to have support, not just on the day, but leading up to the event.
"The date is Saturday, April 7, between 3~7pm at Nailsea Social Club.
"I am hoping to have lots of stalls at the charity event and everyone is welcome."
To support Jacqui click HERE.
STOP PRESS: To read about Jacqui's sponsored event go to the Charity Peeps page by clicking HERE.
school
Togs
-
Schoolwear: uniforms, shoes, nametapes
-
Sportswear: PE kits and more
-
Footwear: football boots, Wellington boots, trainers, shoes, velcro daps
-
Dancewear: RAD approved ballet, tap, modern, jazz
-
Uniforms and accessories: Beavers, Rainbows, Cubs, Brownies, Guides and Scouts
Colliers Walk, Nailsea
Tel: 01275 857491
Twitter: #schooltogsnailsea