Submitted on 11-07-2013

NameSharon Platt
SubjectCharity help please
Nature of EnquiryWe have a bag pack organised in the Morrisions food store in Barrow in Furness on 26/27th July to raise funds for our Kilimanjaro climb in aid of Alices Escapes (a local charity – see below). We were wondering if the guides and brownies would be able to assist us in raising funds for our climb by helping with the bag pack please. We are quite happy to give any references to the girls as supporting evidence towards their badges (I used to be a brownie myself many years ago) Can you advise if you can help in this instance please Many thanks Sharon Platt and Steven Skelham Alice’s Escapes is a charity run by a team of volunteers (but mainly by her mum) committed to providing free holidays for families with a seriously ill child. The idea for Alice’s Escapes came after Alice and her family spent a week being looked after by the Torbay Holiday Helper’s Network (THHN), based in Devon. All accommodation, food, outings and activities were given with the compliments of local businesses. After many years of gruelling treatments, Alice and her family were able to step back and experience ‘normal’ family life. The aim is to give this opportunity to all such families to ‘escape’ and enjoy some peace and relaxation in the beautiful Lake District. This is completely FREE funded by the charity with donations of trips, food etc from the local community. Each holiday is tailored to the family and even includes any siblings in the mix aswell as if there are birthdays while they are here the child is given a gift and a party. The children also get individual gifts when they first come to the holiday home. We have now become one of Alices ‘purple army’ that have now taken on her mission. The charity took delivery of its frist home in January this year which unfortunately Alice did not see but the charity are now fund raising to purchase a 2nd home especially designed for their less able families. Every family is treated as individuals and itenarys are matched to the family and the accessibility of the family – but at Alices Escapes, it isn’t just about the child that is ill, they include the whole family so if there is a sibling with a birthday whilst the family are up here – a birthday surprise is planned for the birthday person. Below is Alice's Story My name is Alice and I’m 16 years old. I’ve been fighting cancer for 5 years. I’ve had lots of different types of chemo, a stem cell transplant, two lots of radiation and lots of little surgeries. Nothing has worked and now I’m terminally ill – that means that I’m not going to get better. In June 2011, I decided to start a blog and I published a list of things I wanted to do before I have to go – it became really big in just one day. I have managed to get over 40,000 people to join a bone marrow register somewhere in the world which I know will give someone a chance that they might not have got. I also launched my charity which is something I’ve been working on for a long time and I didn’t know if I’d ever see it happen. It’s really nice to be giving holidays to other kids and nice to know that we will make life a bit happier for a while. I hope that you will support me and keep it going for me. Love Alice x ALICE SADLY GAINED HER ANGEL WINGS ON SATURDAY 12th JANUARY, 2013 And by now you will probably be asking yourself - why am I climbing Kilimanjaro for Alices Escapes and why is it so important ??? One of Alices bucket list items was to go to her school leavers prom - considering she hadnt been to school for 4 years and the doctors certainly didnt think she would make it to her prom - she did go to the prom wearing one of our dresses (see picture above). Through this, we also offer this to other young ladies who are like Alice through the charity so that we can make their day aswell. Alices outlook on life was not to focus on the negative but on the positive - consequently getting over 40,000 people to join the bone marrow register, getting the government to change its policy on letting children over 16 go on the bone marrow register (previously you had to be 21) and setting up Alices Escapes. Alices Escapes have just taken delivery of their first mobile home for the charity (unfortunately Alice did not see this). Through her fund raising activities she has been bestowed honours such as a BEM, Pride of Britain award, Child of Courage, the Diana, Princess of Wales award and many more but alices whole aim of this much attention was to get people to join the bone marrow register. Alice truelly was an inspiration and currently her facebook page has over 27,000 followers and her alices escapes page has over 5,000 followers. Alice always had a smile on her face no matter what and she never really understood why her bucket list had caused so much attention - liek she says 'she only made it for her friends so they knew what she wanted to do before she died' - this bucket list went viral on facebook and was worldwide within hours of her publishing it. Alice did complete her bucket list of the things she was allowed to do before she gained her wings. Sharon platt and Steven Skelham Owner – Promise Bridal (Barrow)
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