The End of My Sponsored Slim

My 3-month sponsored slim ended two weeks ago today.

We collectively lost around 250 pounds! It was an amazing journey and I ended up with some really lovely friends as well. I've just felt so honored to be a part of it all.

Last weekend we threw two fundraising parties in one day. We had a childrens party for two hours in the afternoon and it was great. We had an entertainer there playing music for the kids to dance to and to play games with them. There were loads of other games like a tombola and lucky dip. We had cake, and party bags and face painting and so much more! It was so cool. Izzy really enjoyed it and so did his cousin.

In the evening we had another party with a DJ, dancing, a silent auction, a huge raffle, sponsored waxing for the guys (funny stuff) and more. I spent three hours selling raffle tickets there. Even the staff at the club got involved with bidding in the auction and buying raffle tickets.

Next week we should have a total for how much money we've rasied. We've got it figured at somewhere between £3,000 and £4,000 ($4,800 - $6,400)! The newspaper did another article and even though Nic gave them the estimate of £3-4,000 they published "over £4,000."

Here is the article anyway:

More than £4,000 raised for stillbirth charity in memory of Alfie-Joe

By Pamela McGowan 

Last updated at 12:56, Wednesday, 09 May 2012

A Carlisle community has raised at least £4,000 for stillbirth charity Sands in memory of a baby boy.

Alfie-Joe Pattinson was stillborn just over a year ago. To commemorate the anniversary of his death friends of mum Kirsti Harrison and her partner Ashley Pattinson launched a fundraising campaign.

It culminated on Saturday with a children’s party followed by an auction night at the Railway Club in Harraby.

Organiser Nic Grierson said it was a huge success.

“We’ve raised about £4,000 but still have some more to come in. When we set out we only thought we’d get a few hundred.

“But it has just grown and grown. It’s just been amazing how much support people have given us. We’ve all been overwhelmed,” she said.

The children’s party was attended by about 50 youngsters with entertainment provided free by Glitter Cumbria. There was a disco, games, puppet show and face-painting, along with an appearance by Mickey Mouse.

The room was donated free so more money will go to the charity Sands, which supports families affected by stillbirth and miscarriage.

The auction night was also a great success, with men in the audience having body parts waxed to raise extra cash. Auction prizes included an afternoon recording a single to be released on iTunes and a signed Carlisle United shirt.

At the end of the night Kirsti released balloons in memory of her baby son.

Any items that didn’t sell will be auctioned on eBay with profits being ploughed into the total.

Other funds have come from a sponsored slim, which saw more than 20 of Kirsti’s friends together shed a total of over 19 stone.

Bikers from Hein Gericke motorbike accessory store in St Nicholas Street, off London Road, also held a memorial ride out on the anniversary of Alfie-Joe’s death and collected donations along the way.

But Nic said it is not just the money that has made a difference.

“It really has helped Kirsti and Ashley get through the first anniversary,” she said. “Kirsti has found it a real comfort that people are now talking about Alfie-Joe, saying his name.

“While we’ve been doing this we’ve realised just how many people have been touched by stillbirth or miscarriage. They have really started opening up, which is how it should be. They are still mums and dads.

“It’s great to know that all of that money is going to help other families. I just can’t believe how much of an impact this campaign has had.”