Celebrating our supporter community
It is down to the inspirational fundraising efforts of supporters like you that our cancer research at the Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre and Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre continues to thrive. Here we profile three fundraisers - hopefully they will inspire you too!
Victoria Lewis
Claire Tomlinson
Friends for Impact
Tell us your fundraising story
Victoria
I was living in Paris in 2013, when the sonographer told me I was having a little girl, and I was overjoyed. He told me she would have long thin feet and would grow up to be a dancer. When Sophie-Hélène was born, she was the daughter I always longed for.
In May 2018 shefell down her dad’s stairs and broke her left arm. It was to be the day that changed our lives forever.
Sophie-Hélène was admitted to hospital and within two weeks she was diagnosed with a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and she was given a life expectancy of nine months.
On 24 September, at 11:50am, Sophie-Hélène passed away at the hospice, in my arms, listening to her favourite song, ‘Let it Go’ from the Disney musical Frozen.
Sophie-Hélène is an inspiration. We all enjoyed a wonderful four and a half years together, and she made a huge difference to the world around her.
Claire
I was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2017 and wanted to create something positive from the experience.
I helped to organise 'The Boobie Ball 2' in 2018 which raised £17,000 for the Nottingham Breast Cancer Research centre and I also set up my own initiative 'The Bosom Buddies Project' which sells tote bags designed to jog people awareness of self examination.
These can be found on my Facebook or Instagram page @bosombudproject.
Friends for Impact
Friends for Impact was established in memory of Alfi Mjeshtri, who died of a brain tumour at the age of just four in December 2011.
Alfi died of a rare brain tumour – a tumour so rare the children's cancer department at Nottingham Queen's Medical Centre had only ever seen two cases of it before.
Alfi's father Halim had moved from Albania to the UK looking for a better life and met Suzanne, originally from Nottingham, at work in Leicester.
She gave birth to Alfi in September 2007 and they had several years of happiness before Alfi fell in 2011, diagnosed with a rare, and fast-growing brain tumour – medulloblastoma anaplastic metastatic.
The family, with two daughters Roselina and Isabel, inspired by their memories of Alfi, have set a target of raising £100,000 for the Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre.
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How much have you raised to date?
Victoria
£27,000 - with £22,000 going to the Children's Brain Tumour Research centre.
Claire
Around £5,000 through Bosom Buddies, as well as the aforementioned £17,000 as part of the Boobie Ball team.
Friends for Impact
Over £75,000
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What has been your biggest fundraising success?
Victoria
The Glitter Ball, which was held at the Nottingham Belfry on 27 April 2019.
Claire
Obviously the Boobie Ball I organised with a group of other ladies has been the most successful financially - but boy was it hard work!
Friends for Impact
Our annual 'Alfi Day' has been the biggest success, seven years putting on a community family fun day and our 1st sponsor challenge - a five day 100 mile walk from Nestle in York back to Eddie Stobart in Bardon, Leicestershire.
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Is there one piece of advice you would give to anyone looking to fundraise for the first time?
Victoria
We were new to this and spent time researching how to go about holding a ball. I was fortunate to have a committee of six wonderful ladies (all friends from my son's school) who helped advertise our cause. I also found advertising the ball on local radio helped and I was interviewed by BBC Radio Nottingham which was really important to me.
Claire
My advice to anyone looking to fundraise is definitely use social media as it reaches those that otherwise might not have come across your efforts. Also if you have an idea go for it... what's the worst that can happen?
Friends for Impact
Try to speak to businesses personally and build up relationships with them. Have all the relevant information at hand about the charity and why you are doing your fundraising.
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Have you learnt anything unexpected during your fundraising activity?
Victoria
That I can raise a large amount of money! People were right behind me and I thank everyone that was involved.
Claire
The generosity of people always surprises me and that the totes actually have worked in a number of cases!
Friends for Impact
Yes, big businesses have policies and that you need to follow the rules in place. People you wouldn't expect to support you do and those you do don't!
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What inspires you?
Victoria
My daughter Sophie-Helene who died at the age of four and a half after battling with a DIPG for just four and half months. I dedicate my life to her and to my son Dylan.
Claire
It inspires me that the money raised actually makes a difference and we hear what the money we raise is being used for from the NBCRC team. Whatever is raised they appreciate and if it goes a little way to furthering research into breast cancer and hopefully effective treatments then I'll carry on raising money.
Friends for Impact
Alfi Mjeshtri, the Mjeshtri family on how they cope with Alfi's tragic death and the amazing staff at the Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre.
If you are feeling inspired, why not visit our fundraising pages online or get in touch for some advice on how to begin your own fundraising journey.