Christian Sait
Challenge Christian - raising money for Donna's Dream House
Fundraising for Donna's Dream House
Story
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"Once upon a time, a beautiful and desperately ill young girl made three very special wishes. She left a little red box at her bedside where they were found - with messages of love for her family and her young husband - after she died on New Year’s Day, 1996. Donna Curtis had just turned 20. She had spent her last four years fighting cancer. In that time Donna saw the suffering of many terminally ill children, and vowed her legacy would help them live a little more happily in the time they had left. Her parents, Len and Barbara Curtis, have made it their labour of love to fulfil their only daughter’s fairytale dream as a lasting tribute to her courage (and if truth be known theirs). Len, chairman of the resort’s private hoteliers' association admits, ”I was ready to jump off a pier. My family businesses, it all suffered. It’s a wonder we didn’t go under.” Instead, they set about making the dream of their late daughter a reality. "
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Donna’s Dream House is a holiday home for children with life-threatening or terminal illnesses, situated in the heart of the town, on Chapel Street, Blackpool. Once a derelict hotel, which was volunteered by the Council for a peppercorn rent, the property is now a haven by which any child would be overwhelmed. The keys were handed over on Donna’s birthday, and Len and Barbara’s 35th wedding anniversary, which the couple found particularly moving. Most of the facilities of the house have been donated, and many local businesses, hoteliers, nightclub owners, cafe proprietors, shopkeepers and well meaning individuals provide help wherever possible, including raising much-needed cash which helps with the ongoing running costs of the house.
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People may have seen Donna's Dream House on the news just before Christmas. During the night, arsonists broke into the office building, stole essential computer equipment, then set fire to furniture, destroying photographs, paperwork and a lot more. Stealing computer equipment was one thing but piling personal belongings in the middle of the room and setting fire to it was plain evil.
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I couldn’t believe that someone could do such a thing, particularly just before Christmas so decided that I could do a little to help reaffirm Len and Barbras faith in humanity to raise some money to help with the renovation
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When my sister drunkenly said she wanted to do a tandem parachute jump, she didn't remember, but I did, so I decided we were both going to do one. I then decided to see what else I could challenge myself to, or get friends and family to challenge me to, over the next 12 months and at the same time raise some money for charity, I then heard about Donna's Dream House and the list below is what we came up with, Some of these are just a question of bottle, i dont like heights, so Bunjee and jumping out of plane is going to be interesting, others are going to take some training, i have never run more than 3 miles so 14 miles and a Marathon are going to take some training, thanks to Ben Reah for his coaching and help with this:
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Challenge 1
Challenge - Tandem Parachute Jump
Challenger - Claudine
Date - May 11
Completed - Yes (with my sister Claudine)
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Challenge 2
Challenge - firewalk
Challenger - Mum and Dad
Date - 5th Feb 2012
Completed - done and no burnt feet!
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Challenge 3
Challenge - bungee
Challenger - myself
Date - 20th Feb 2012
Completed - Done, brilliant!!
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Challenge 4
Challenge - Coniston 14
Challenger - Ben Reah (because Ben Cottom hated it)
Date - 31st March 2012
Completed - Done, and quicker than I thought 1hr48mins, Robbie also did it in 1hr44 and Ben managed in 1hr 22min and came 6th (think he didthe old school cross country trick and hid in a bush smoking fags then got out when he saw other people coming)
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Challenge 5
Challenge - Edinburgh Marathon
Challenger- Scott, Robbie, Adam, Ben and Kelly (they are doing it too)
Date - 27th May 2012
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Please help to support a great cause and get Donna's Dream house back on its feet again.