Ella's Memory Tree

Last October one of our Customers, Gavin, from Metal Art and Fabrications, undertook the commission of Ella's Memory Tree, a stunningly designed and beautifully created stainless steel tree commissioned for Ella's Memory, a charity set up by Martyn and Emmillie Selley after suffering the tragic loss of their stillborn girl, Ella.

The 2m tree, which Martin polished before colouring using heat to give a stunning rainbow effect, has pre-drilled holes from which to hang laser cut leaves. Parents can request a metal leaf engraved with a message to hang on the tree in memory, with the choice of three different leaf designs in Copper, Stainless Steel and Brass.

The tree is installed at the The Royal Cornwall hospital where Mr and Mrs Selley have raised funds to refurbish the Daisy Suite and memorial garden, the aim being to try and provide a more homely setting for any parents suffering the tragic loss of a stillborn baby.

We love hearing about the work our customer's do, and this project is truly exceptional.

Very well done, Gavin, and to all involved. Thank you for allowing us to share this picture of your work.

To find out more about this wonderful charity, visit Ella's Memory Just Giving Page: https://www.justgiving.com/ellasmemory

Meet Karen & Charlotte, our 10k Super Girls!

10k is the distance two incredible members of our team have volunteered to push themselves this coming June, all by way of raising money for Rapid's 2016 chosen charity, "Guide Dogs for the Blind Portsmouth & District".

Karen Read, our lovely Gas and Service Dept. Administrator, has been running since May last year, and 10k will be the furthest she has ever challenged herself. Charlotte Mansfield works in accounts, and following an operation on her femur has set herself this goal to "get back to normality as well as being an amazing cause to support others in tough times." It's a big ask for our girls, but when you look into the admiral work Guide Dogs for the Blind do and the amazing changes it can make to people living with visual impairment, you begin to understand the motivation behind their willingness to undertake such an almighty task.

Guide Dogs for the blind has helped over 30,000 visually impaired people achieve life-changing independence. Guide dogs are supported by the charity from birth to retirement at a cost of £50,000 per dog (this includes training whilst still at the centre and continuation of support once they are with their new owners, this can include vet bills, further training and even food). A guide dogs working life can last from 6-7 years and many people can require around 8 dogs in their lifetime!

Sadly the charity receives no Government help (national or local) to its
costs. They rely solely on the generosity of the general public.

If you want to show your support, help Karen and Charlotte reach their target of £500 and change someones life for the better, then please follow the link below to their JustGiving page and join us and everyone who has donated so far in making a difference.

https://www.justgiving.com/Karen-Read8/

Well done Karen and Charlotte!

Next week the team at Rapid are doing something collectively to help others. We have decided to give blood & join the Bone Marrow Register.

It all came about when one of our team made us aware of a family member with Leukemia. Having undergone chemotherapy and isolation, and with the best possible outcome being a bone marrow donation, we all wanted to do something to help. An office meeting followed, during which it was decided the best way we could show support to our colleague and his family was to give blood and join the British Bone Marrow Registry.

What is the British Bone Marrow Registry? 

The British Bone Marrow Registry is a division of NHS Blood and Transplant, working in co-operation with the other UK bone marrow/blood donor registries, Anthony Nolan, a charity dedicated to saving the lives of patients needing a stem cell transplant and the NHS Cord Blood Bank. Stem cell donations from cord blood can be made at specialist hospitals within the NHS. For more information see www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/cordblood/.

With the Rapid machine in full swing, we discovered several blood donation sessions in Portsmouth coming up, and as such, a number of us are turning up to face the needle and give blood, as well as join the register. It seems like such a small thing to do, but when it affects those close to home, you soon realise what a massive thing it is for someone in need.

Another of our team is fundraising via the Just Giving Crowdfunding website. Here's a little bit about their situation:

We're raising £10000 to have pre-implantation genetic diagnosis because It could give my Grandson Alfie a happy life.

Alfie is a happy 5 year old boy. He has a condition called X-Linked Hyper igm Syndrome.  It's a condition that affects the immune system and only occurs in males. Alfie is prone to catching recurrent infections that could be life threatening, and as such receives weekly infusions of Immunoglobulin and is on permanent antibiotics. The cure for his condition is either a bone marrow transplantation or cord blood stem cell transplantation from a matched donor.

 Please pledge to my Just Giving Crowdfunding Page and help make it happen:

https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/AlfiesWish?utm_id=2

With Just Giving Crowdfunding, anyone can raise money to fund their own project - anything from setting up a food bank to buying a wheelchair for a relative or even saving a local football club. If you're interested in raising money to make good things happen, why not start your Crowdfunding Page today at https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/?utm_id=3

 Thank you for reading