As we are already about half way through 2008, it seems to be an appropriate time for us to look back on what has happened so far and to look forward to the rest of the year and beyond. We have arranged a number of fundraising events and hope that you will find something of interest for you, your friends and your relatives. If you have other ideas that you would like to share with us, please contact us, we shall be delighted to hear from you.

For details of all our events and activities, or to keep in touch with fundraising developments, please phone our Appeals Manager, George Turner on 01772 753706 or you can email him at george.turner@galloways.org.uk.

You can also help us to keep in touch with you by letting us have your email address.

Fundraising Events during 2008

The Prague Half Marathon

Our congratulations and thanks go to Michael Briggs, who completed the Prague Half Marathon on 29th March and raised more than £1,300 for Galloway’s Society for the Blind.

We didn’t even know that Michael was doing this until he told us about the achievement and now he will be representing us in the BUPA Great North Run, so well done, Michael.

Flora London Marathon – 13th April 2008

Congratulations to everyone who ran on behalf of Galloway’s in this year’s Flora London Marathon. The money raised is still coming in, but we hope to be able to announce a final total soon.

At the time of writing, we have a couple of places left for 2009, so if you fancy taking part in one of the world’s most prestigious marathon races, please contact us as soon as possible.

If you manage to obtain a place through the ballot, please consider raising sponsorship money for Galloway’s Society for the Blind. We shall be delighted to hear from you.

Spring Ball – Bartle Hall – 18th April 2008

Following the success of this year’s event, we have already made arrangements for 2009.

The date will be 17th October and once again, Stephen Bayliss will be providing the entertainment. Watch this space for more details.

BUPA Great Manchester Run – 18th May 2008

Congratulations to everyone who represented Galloway’s Society for the Blind in this year’s Great Manchester Run. We are already booking places for next year’s run, so please contact us if you would like to represent Galloway’s in this most enjoyable event.

British 10K London Run - 6th July 2008

Taking you past many of London's most famous landmarks, this is a great opportunity to have a weekend away and to take part in a really enjoyable fundraiser. We have a limited number of places, so if you would like to be involved, please let us know as soon as possible.

Abseil 120 feet down Peel Tower - 30th August 2008

Last year nearly 40 people abseiled down the 120 feet Peel Tower at Holcombe, near Ramsbottom and had a great time raising money for Galloway's. We have provisionally arranged to do it all over again on 30th August and places are bound to go quickly, so please reserve yours soon.

Seven Parks Walk - 14th September 2008

We will once again be working in association with Preston City Council to promote their 7 Parks Walk around the parks of Preston.

This year the walk is to be held on a Sunday and we hope that many of the walkers will use the event as an opportunity to raise sponsorship monies for Galloway's Society for the Blind. As soon as we have more information, we shall post it on our web site, but if you would like to register your interest now, please contact us.

Casino Night - 19th September 2008

Darrel Edwards Entertainments Agency is kindly organising a Casino Night at St Theresa's Parish Centre in Queensway, Penwortham to raise funds for Galloway's Society for the Blind.

More details will follow as soon as we have them, so watch this space.

Walk the Lights - 26th September 2008

Every year, more and more people join in the fun and see the famous Illuminations in the best way possible - on foot!!! Why don't you? Book your place early and look forward to a great night out.

Books and Audio Sale - 28th September 2008

Following the success of the sale in February, we are pleased to host a further Books and Audio Sale in association with Peter Boulton's 2008 Everest Base Camp Challenge.

Doors will open at 10.00am and we recommend that you get here early to grab the best bargains.

Lancashire Loop Cycle Challenge - 28th September 2007

Whether you cycle regularly or just occasionally, we have places available to suit you on this great cycle challenge through some of the county's most beautiful countryside. This year, the organisers have arranged three courses ranging from an almost flat, 25 miles course that's suitable for occasional cyclists and family groups to a more testing 100 miles course that's ideal for the enthusiast. So, please contact us for more details about how you can have a great day out and help Galloway's Society for the Blind in the process.

BUPA Great North Run - 5th October 2008

We are delighted to announce that all our places in this year's BUPA Great North Run have been filled. We are hoping to get extra places later in the year, so if you fancy representing Galloway's, please contact us so that we can put you on the list of reserves.

In the meantime, good luck to all our runners

Trek to Everest Base Camp - 31st October to 17th November 2008

Good luck to Peter Boulton, who will be taking part in this year's trek. Peter is trying to raise at least £10,000 for Galloway's Society for the Blind and will be arranging a number of events to support his fundraising activities.

If you would like to know more about Peter's adventure, you can phone him on 07752 695312.

Throughout The Year

Chorley Building Society

Many thanks to the Management and Staff of Chorley Building Society for nominating us as their Charity of the Year for 2008. Watch out for details of our joint fundraising events.

Did you know that Chorley Building Society has launched a series of Affinity Accounts which offer competitive rates of interest and, at the same time, benefit Galloway's Society for the Blind? Ask us about the Young Galloway's Instant Access, a great way to get the younger members of your family into the savings habit, the Notice Galloway's Account or the Galloway's Regular Saver Account.

Monthly Donations

As a small charity, we are not in the position to advertise on television or to take expensive advertisements in newspapers and magazines. This does not mean, however, that we do not need your monthly donations of whatever you can afford. If you would like to help, please ask for a donation form and return it to us as soon as possible.

Legacy Months - April, July and October

Legacies represent a major source of income. Could you help us by encouraging others to remember us in their wills?

Other Challenges

You will already have read about the challenges being undertaken on our behalf by Helen Sydenham and Peter Boulton.

Do you have plans to do something exciting that might encourage your friends and colleagues to sponsor you to help Galloway's Society for the Blind.

Have you ever dreamed of doing a similar adventure, but not known where to start? Well, maybe we could help you make your dreams come true.

Call us today and you never know - we might be able to help you. Surely, it's worth the cost of a phone call!

Pedometer Challenge

Following the success of last year's Pedometer Challenge, we have decided to do it again, but with a difference.

This year, you can set your own challenge - how far you will walk, over what period of time and how much money you will be trying to raise.

There are no limits! So, please contact us as soon as possible and we will do the rest to get you going.

Parachuting

Well done to the dozen or so people who took part in our parachute jumps last year.

We are able to arrange for you to jump on most weekend dates throughout the year, so please give us a call to find out more about this fantastic experience.

Adventure Days - Various Dates

We are hoping to organise a number of fundraising Adventure Days involving visually impaired and sighted people. If you are interested, please let us know.

Virtual Gym Challenge

We hope to have more details of this year's Virtual Gym Challenge soon. This will be your chance to renew those fast fading New Year's Resolutions, or to get ready for the summer. So please watch our web site or the local press for more details.

Flat Pack - Loose Change Box Appeal

Our loose change box appeal has been very successful during 2006 and 2007. We hope to do even better this year, so if you don't have a box already, please contact us and we will send one to you right away.

Preston North End - Premier Weekly Draw

We are proud to be a part of the Preston North End Premier Weekly Draw. There are great prizes to be won and 50% of your subscriptions paid by Standing Order go towards the cost of maintaining our minibuses. Whether you are a football fan or not, you can join in and help Galloway's.

Fluffy Toy/Lancashire Hot Spots Card Competitions

Could you sell a ‘fluffy toy' or football card in your workplace, pub or club?

Sponsored Pool/Darts/Quiz or Race Night

Could you organise a fundraising event in your pub or club? We'll happily help.

Street and Store Collections - Throughout our area, throughout the year

We will be continuing our vital street and store collections and are very grateful for all the help we received from volunteers last year. We need even more help this year and want to update our list of volunteer collectors. So please let us know if you would like to help. If you have volunteered previously and we haven't been in touch for some time, please accept our apologies and contact us again. We also need volunteer drivers to take visually impaired volunteers to and from collections. Could you help with this vital work?

The Mall (St George's) Thursday Collections

Last year, we held a collection at The Mall, St George's, every Thursday between 11.00am and 3:00pm. We collected over £8,500 during the year. This is a tremendous amount of money and we are very grateful to the stalwart volunteers who help with the collections on a regular basis. We now have a full rota of collectors, but need reserves to go on our ‘stand by' list to cover holidays, illnesses etc. Could you help us by sparing just a few hours now and again? Please contact us if you can.

Friends of Galloway's

Would you be willing to organise a coffee morning, afternoon tea or a supper evening, a bring and buy or jumble sale? Have you got any ideas of your own about raising funds for Galloway's? Or would you like to help, but want to chat things over first? Please get in touch.

Galloway's Monthly Draw

Our 200 and 201 clubs have merged and for just £12 a year you could be a member, with a chance to win great money prizes every month. Phone Stuart on 01772 753700 for more information.

Christmas Cards

Why not ask to go on our Christmas Cards Mailing List and be first to get details of our 2008 Christmas Card Selection?

Christmas Gift Wrapping Service

Thanks to all our volunteers who did such sterling work in 2007. We are delighted to confirm that the management at The Mall has agreed to allow us to Gift Wrap again for Christmas 2008. If you would like to help, please let us know.

Recycling Scheme

Please let us have your used mobile phones and printer cartridges for recycling. You will be helping the environment and raising valuable funds for Galloway's.

Payroll Giving

This is an increasingly popular way of supporting Charities by having regular amounts deducted directly from your Salary. This method of giving also enables you to Gift Aid your donation, producing an additional 28p in the £ without extra cost to you. Ask your employer to contact us for details.

Poster and Leaflet Delivery

We are always on the look out for volunteers to help with the distribution of posters and leaflets advertising our various events.

Raising Urgently Needed funds to support blind and partially sighted people. If you are interested in any of the events detailed, please contact:

George Turner, Appeals Manager
Galloways Society for the Blind
Howick House, Howick Park Avenue,
Penwortham, Preston. PR1 0LS
Telephone & Fax (01772) 753706
Mobile Phone 07743 825818
email george.turner@galloways.org.uk

I look forward to hearing from you, George