December 2011 Newsletter Impact Young Heroes

Welcome to the very festive December charity newsletter.  It’s hard to believe that Christmas is yet again upon us, the last twelve months have simply flown!

In this special extended edition we have a whole host of fundraising ideas for the new year, the latest cancer news and charity sporting activities to challenge your body and mind in 2012.   We also share with you ways to ensure you have a healthy and happy new year by making a few simple changes to your everyday lifestyle.

In this month’s Beat Cancer with Nutrition we take a look at the benefits of garlic and share another delicious recipe, roasted garlic and lemon soup; the prefect winter warmer for these cold days.

As the end of 2011 draws near, I would like to say a big thank you to everyone for your wonderful feedback about the newsletter. I can honestly say writing the newsletter every month is an absolute joy and since my first edition I have met some amazing people including fundraisers, Young Heroes and their families and general supporters of the charity.

I look forward to bringing you more newsletters in 2012 but until then I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Regards

Kim Doran

Editor

Young Heroes and Trailblazers

Impact Young Heroes are partnering up with Rock UK Trailblazers to offer you the opportunity to take the trip of a lifetime, whilst raising sponsorship funds for our charity.

Trailblazers are a UK based non-profit company that have extensive experience in organising charity challenges, and will organise and oversee your trip from start to finish.

Rock UK are committed to using adventure to provide you with endless and exhilarating worldwide fundraising opportunities including climbing Ben Nevis, Kilimanjaro or Everest Base Camp, trekking the Inca Trail and the Great Wall of China or sailing offshore.

A trip will offer you a real sense of fulfillment, not just in undertaking this exhilarating challenge, but also in impacting the lives of young people with cancer.  It will leave you with new friends, amazing memories and a definite appetite for adventure!

If you would like more information then please contact Sharon Brown on 0114 2431850 alternatively you can contact Trailblazers direct on 0844 8000 222.

Sports Challenge 2011/2012

As part of our winter fundraising drive we are asking supporters up and the country to take part in a range of events and activities to help us raise precious funds for young people affected by cancer.  

Each month we will hand pick a selection of sporting events; so whether you are a beginner, seasoned athlete or general thrill-seeker there is an event for you. 

What? Ho Chi Minh to Angkor Wat Cycle

Cycle through beautiful rural landscapes dotted with ruins of ancient civilisations and small towns where Buddhist temples nestle amongst graceful French colonial buildings and ramshackle houses.

The challenge takes you from Vietnamese Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City, through the rice-paddies and waterways of the beautiful Mekong Delta into Cambodia.  Pedal on through this friendly country towards one of the most impressive sights in Southeast Asia, the Royal Temples of Angkor Wat.

Encounter some rolling hills, but the main challenge lies in the long, hot dusty days in the saddle as you cycle through these remote areas. Fascinating insights into the region’s cultures, ancient and modern, are a real highlight of this challenge.

When? 11th February 2012

Where? London to Ho Chi Minh City

Closing date? Asap to avoid disappointment

For further information: 

VISIT:  http://www.discoveradventure.com/challenge OR call 01722 718444

What? Avebury to Stonehenge Trekathon

The magnificent prehistoric stone circles of Avebury and Stonehenge need little introduction.  Starting in atmospheric Avebury, where you can get up close to the ancient stones before heading via the famous ancient landmark of Silbury Hill.

You will then cross spectacular chalk downs dotted with ancient earth-works, burial mounds and enigmatic white horses carved into the chalk. The route takes in the highest point in Wiltshire (295m) and goes through the most active crop circle area in the world, so keep your eyes peeled!

This is a tough event over the high chalk downs and ridgeways of Wiltshire and Salisbury Plain.

When? 30th June 2012

Where? Avebury

Closing date? Asap to avoid disappointment

For further information: 

VISIT:  http://www.discoveradventure.com/challenge OR call 01722 718444

What? Jurassic Coast Weekend

The Jurassic Coast is England’s first Natural World Heritage Site. The trek starts at Durlston Head, just outside Swanage in Dorset and we trek a total of 23 miles (36km) over two days along on the South West Coastal Path in an east to west direction. The diversity of the area is outstanding and the rugged coastline with serious climbs and decents will provide many a breathtaking view.

When? 11th May 2012

Where? Durlston Head, Dorset

Closing date? Asap to avoid disappointment

For further information: 

VISIT:  http://www.discoveradventure.com/challenge OR call 01722 718444

 

Young Heroes Text Donation Service

Don’t forget you can now donate to Impact Young Heroes via a simple text message, here’s how it works; 

 1) Write one of the following text codes into the main body of your text

MABD01 £1 (use this code will donate £1 to Young Heroes)

MABD01 £2 (use this code will donate £2 to Young Heroes)

MABD01 £3 (use this code will donate £3 to Young Heroes)

MABD01 £4 (use this code will donate £4 to Young Heroes)

MABD01 £5 (use this code will donate £4 to Young Heroes)

MABD01 £10 (use this code to donate £10 to Young Heroes)

Our charity’s code and the amount you wish to donate. 

2) Send a text to 70070
Include your charity’s code and an amount (for example CHAR17 £10) 

3) You’ll receive a text with a link
to a Gift Aid form.
If you’re a UK tax payer, your charity benefits from a 25% boost to your donation 

Why use TextGiving?

1)  The charity gets every penny

This is a free service so no admin fees are taken

2) It’s free to take part

All text messages are free on all networks (except for the cost of the donation sent)

3) Easy and quick

Simply send a text and give up to £10 using your Impact Young Heroes unique six-digit code. 

Please support us by using our text donation service.

 

Makeabigdifference this Christmas with Ebay

Did Father Christmas bring you everything you wanted this year? Or were you left with the usual pile of toiletries, socks or jumpers ?  If so, you are probably not alone. 

This Christmas, people across the country will receive on average £35-worth of gifts each that they don’t really want, according to research carried out for eBay.co.uk, the nation’s leading online marketplace.

More than one in ten Christmas gifts will languish at the back of drawers and the bottom of wardrobes, equivalent to £1.6 billion worth of presents.

Why have them sat in your wardrobe when you could de-clutter

Why not sell an item on Ebay and donate all or a percentage of your profits to
Not only can you make a difference by donating between 10% and 100% of your item’s final selling price, but you also benefit from your listing really standing out. Your listing will be marked with the special blue and yellow ribbon Buyers can also easily search for charity items both on the main site and on the Ebay for Charity hub page. Often this can mean more bids and even more selling success!

After your item sells, your chosen charity will find your donation paid into its bank account, along with Gift Aid (if you’ve ticked the box) and an Ebay fee donation.

The really good news is that, though it will require a little leg-work up front to get you up and running, once you’re registered it requires little extra effort. Just tick the charity box when you’re listing, choose the percentage of your final sale price you want to donate and to which charity, and Ebay take care of the rest.

It takes just minutes to start really making a difference.

 

Beat cancer with nutrition: Garlic

Numerous studies over the years (more than 30 different studies to date) have documented the anti-cancer properties of garlic. The strongest evidence so far has focused on digestive cancers, but garlic appears to protect against all types of cancer, including breast and prostate.

According to the National Cancer Institute, an analysis of seven different large-scale population studies showed that the more raw and cooked garlic a person consumed, the lower his risk of stomach and colorectal cancer; one study found that middle-aged women who regularly consumed garlic had a 50% lower risk of developing colon cancer.

Scientists have isolated 2 active ingredients in garlic, allicin and allyl sulfur, and demonstrated that they prevent and fight cancer in both animals and humans; you can take garlic in supplement form but the capsules must be enteric-coated to protect these active ingredients. Add crushed, fresh garlic to your meals whenever possible; some experts also recommend waiting 15 minutes between peeling and chopping the garlic to get the full effects of the active compounds. 

Sourced from: http://www.nutripro.net/anti-cancer-superfoods-do-they-really-work/

Roasted Garlic and Lemon Soup

This soup is so flavourful and satisfying, combining two of my favourite ingredients: garlic and lemon. Although it takes a bit of time to make, it’s well worth the effort!

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 60 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 large head fresh garlic
  • Olive oil
  • 2 T. olive oil
  • 2 cups chopped yellow onion
  • 1 T. finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1/2 T. finely chopped fresh thyme
  • 15 peeled garlic cloves
  • 4 cups low-sodium vegetable stock, divided
  • 2 T. fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup dairy-free soy milk, preferably a refrigerated variety
  • 3/4 t. salt, plus more to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Sprigs of fresh parsley and lemon zest, for garnishing

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Drizzle the garlic head with olive oil, wrap with foil and place in the oven for 1 hour, or until lightly golden and very soft and fragrant. Let garlic cool until it can be handled. Using your fingers, gently squeeze the cloves to release them from their skins into a bowl, and set aside. Discard the skins.

2. In a medium-sized heavy-bottom stock pock or saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the onions, parsley and thyme and cook until the onions are just softened, about 3 minutes. Add the fresh and roasted garlic, and cook, stirring often, until the onions are translucent, about 3-4 minutes more. Add the vegetable stock and lemon juice, turn down the heat and let the soup simmer, covered, for 35-40 minutes, or until the garlic is very tender.

3. Working 1-2 cups at a time, process the soup in a blender, transferring the soup to another bowl or saucepan. (Note: be careful not to overwhelm the blender; never fill a blender with hot liquid more than half-way full and make sure the lid is on securely before processing.)Transfer the pureed soup to the saucepan, add the dairy-free soymilk and salt, and return the mixture to a simmer. (Do not bring to a boil.)

4. Add additional salt and pepper to taste, garnish with fresh parsley and lemon zest, and serve.

Buying last minute Christmas pressies?

This year why not buy your Christmas presents online through easyfundraising.org.uk and raise money for Young Heroes with no extra cost or effort at all.

Just register at www.easyfundraising.org.uk.  Choose Impact Young Heroes from the list of charities and simply register your name and email address and away you go, simple as 1,2,3.

It is completely free and you don’t pay anymore for your shopping.

The retailer simply donates a percentage of the purchase price straight to the charity via easyfundraising. You can shop with 2000+ Brand Name retailers including Boots, Play.com, Argos, Currys and HMV.

 

Six Steps for a Healthier New Year

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to take control of your health and develop a strategy that will help you reach your goals for the coming year.

Did you know that researchers estimate that about one-third of the deaths from cancer can be prevented? Many types of cancer are related to lifestyle factors such as diet, obesity, smoking, and lack of physical activity. In addition, changing these behaviors can lower your risk for other diseases as well.

Although the risk of developing cancer can be greatly reduced by avoiding risk factors, not all cancers are preventable. Here are seven tips to help you have a healthier and happier new year:

1. Quit smoking.

If you do nothing else, do this. Smoking is the single greatest preventable cause of cancer, and has been linked to cancers of the lung, bladder, pancreas, kidney, nose and mouth, stomach, cervix, prostate, and colon, as well as heart disease, miscarriage, colds, ear infections, and asthma and bronchitis among children living in households where family members smoke.

For more information about quitting and a free Quit Kit please visit http://smokefree.nhs.uk/.

2. Maintain a healthy weight.

Being overweight may increase your risk for cancers of the breast, colon, esophagus, kidney, prostate, and uterus. Having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight and 30 and above is considered obese. A BMI is the measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women. Being physically active for at least 30 minutes each day and eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains can help you maintain a healthy weight. Read more about weight control and obesity and cancer.  For information about healthy living please visit http://www.eatwell.gov.uk.

3. Exercise regularly.

Several studies have shown that regular physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of colon cancer. What’s more, there is evidence showing that exercise may also help in preventing other types of cancer, such as breast, uterine, prostate, kidney, and lower esophageal cancers. Talk with your doctor and health care team about an exercise plan that is appropriate for your medical history and individual fitness goals.  Check where your local leisure centre is or source the nearest gym; they will be able to assist you with an exercise and fitness plan.

4. Limit alcohol consumption.

Alcohol has been linked to cancers of the breast, colon, mouth, esophagus, liver, and larynx (voice box). If you drink alcohol, limit consumption to one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men (whether it’s a glass of wine or bottle of beer) and choose nonalcoholic beverages at meals and parties. If you are a heavy drinker, it is not too late to start cutting down. Scientists recently showed that the risk of mouth and oesophageal cancers drops dramatically in heavy drinkers who stop drinking.

5. Protect your skin from the sun.

Skin cancer is now the 4th most common type of cancer for men and women of all ages. And it’s the most common for women in their 20s.
If your skin has gone red in the sun, it’s burnt. It doesn’t have to be raw or blistering. Sunburn is when UV rays have damaged your skin cells. This can cause them to start growing out of control, which can cause skin cancer.  The best way to prevent all types of skin cancer is to avoid overexposure to the sun.  Do not spend long periods in the sun during the day and make sure you spend time in the shade and cover up with clothes as well as sunscreen.  Sunscreen should be applied around 15 minutes before you go into the sun and reapplied every two hours. If you are planning to spend time in the water, use a waterproof sunscreen.  For more information about skin cancer please visit http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Malignant-melanoma/Pages/Introduction.aspx.

6. Know the seven warning signs of cancer.

Knowing the most common symptoms of cancer is important in helping to detect cancer early. The following are possible symptoms of cancer. Sometimes, people with cancer do not show any symptoms. Or, these symptoms may be similar to symptoms of other medical conditions. Talk with your doctor if there is no obvious cause for one of these symptoms or if you have been experiencing them for several weeks.

  • A change in bowel or bladder habits
  • A sore that doesn’t heal
  • Unusual bleeding or discharge
  • A thickening or lump in the breast or any other part of the body
  • Difficulty swallowing or chronic indigestion
  • An obvious change in a wart or mole
  • Hoarseness or a cough that persists

 

Cancer Families Forced Into Debt Over Costs

Parents of children with cancer are being forced into debt to cover costs during treatment, according to new research.  Families are struggling to meet extra expenses of accommodation, childcare, food and travel, found cancer charity Clic Sargent. 

Around 66% of the 245 parents surveyed said they were borrowing money to make ends meet and 76% said extra costs were having a major impact on family finances.

On average, cancer-related expenses every month amounted to more than £360, the report revealed.

Lorraine Clifton, chief executive of Clic Sargent said: “Everyone is suffering in this economic climate but parents of children with cancer are amongst the hardest hit. The extra costs can be significant.

“It’s shocking to hear that some families felt driven to debt in order to get through financially.

“Unpaid leave from work, travel costs and care for siblings are some of the additional costs that families face once cancer treatment begins.

“Clic Sargent is concerned that Government reforms will restrict families’ options to financial support through the benefits system.

“Which is why we want to work with the Government and other organisations to ensure young people and children with cancer, and their families, have the financial support they need.”

Many parents had been forced to give up work or reduce their hours, with 65% of parents saying they had experienced a loss of earnings as a result of their child’s illness. 

More than two in five (42%) were borrowing on a credit card, while 20% had taken out a loan and over one in 20 (6%) had turned to high interest, short-term payday loans to cope with additional costs.

Of those in debt, 41% had borrowed more than £1,000 to fund extra costs while 27% borrowed more than £2,000.

Sourced from: http://news.sky.com/home

Fundraising idea of the month

Holidays are excellent times to host fundraisers, especially New Year’s Eve. Because New Year’s Eve is such an exciting time, you can host different types of New Year’s Eve fundraisers that are enjoyable and will result in donations for Young Heroes.

Galas

People enjoy the chance to get dressed up and be glamorous once in a while, and New Year’s Eve is an ideal time to do so. Hosting a gala is a way to throw a grandiose New Year’s Party while raising money for Young Heroes. Choose a ballroom for your gala, arrange for catering, sell tickets at a price that will garner funds for the charity and choose a theme for attendees to follow regarding attire, such as evening wear or ball gowns. The more elaborate the event, the more you can charge for event tickets.

Fitness Events

Fitness events are popular ways to raise money because they typically generate a lot of participation. Choose an event, such as a New Year’s Eve 5K race, obstacle course, mud run, sports tournament, or a walking or biking event. Have participants raise money by having friends, family and community members sponsor them. Plan the event to begin, end or take place just before midnight. End the event with a New Year’s Eve celebration.

Auctions

Hosting a New Year’s Eve auction is another way to raise money by celebrating the New Year. Choose whether you want to have a live or silent auction, and then find a location suitable for the event, such as a hotel, a restaurant banquet hall or an auditorium. Ask attendees, volunteers and local business owners to donate their services or products to be auctioned. Or, turn your auction into a dating event and auction off a bachelor and bachelorette. Give the auction a New Year’s Eve theme with decorations and find a way to incorporate the ball dropping at midnight into the event.

Dinners

Hosting a dinner is an easy way to raise money for a cause, especially on New Year’s Eve. Depending on the funds available to you and the number of attendees, you can host several different types of dinners. Choose a location for your dinner, such as a church, school or restaurant. Sell tickets for the dinner, making sure that you cover the cost of the food and have enough left over to make a profit. Ending your event early will give attendees the opportunity to attend both your fundraiser and any other holiday parties or events to which they may have been invited.

Latest cancer news

Some health trusts ‘banning costly cancer drugs’, says investigation 

Cancer drugs approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) have been banned by some UK health trusts because they are too expensive, according to an investigation by GP newspaper.

Responses to a Freedom of Information request by the publication show that medicines approved for NHS use by NICE have been withheld by one in four of the primary care trusts it researched.

Cancer Research UK, which described the report as “very concerning,” said further investigation was needed.

In addition to cancer drugs, medicines used to treat conditions such as heart disease, asthma and diabetes have also been banned by certain trusts.

Eighteen of the 33 trusts that use blacklists have reported that drugs approved by NICE are included on their lists of banned drugs.

Due to cost factors or concerns about their effectiveness, blacklisted drugs are either classified as “not prescribable” or “not recommended for use”.

Sarah Woolnough, Cancer Research UK’s director of policy, said all patients should have access to the best treatments to tackle their cancer. “If a clinician believes a patient will benefit from a NICE approved drug, they should get that treatment. This report is very concerning and should be investigated as a priority.”

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, a member of the British Medical Association’s GPs committee,said: “If an area is blacklisting a NICE-approved drug, it is breaking its duty of care.” 

Longer survival times for people with cancer 

Many cancer patients survive their disease nearly six times longer than they did 40 years ago, but more needs to be done to improve progress across all types of the disease, according to a report from Macmillan Cancer Support.

The overall average survival time is six years; with people with 11 of the 20 cancer types studied surviving their disease for more than five years.

People with bowel cancer have seen the largest surge in survival times, with a 17-fold increase to 10 years from seven months. The survival time for breast cancer has been more than 10 years since the early 1990s, double the figure in the 1970s.

Years have been added to the survival times for sufferers of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

But for the nine other cancers there has been little improvement since the 1970s, with the survival times on average being three years or less. For brain, lung and pancreatic cancer, survival time is still measured in weeks, not years.

Brain cancer survival times are up from 13 weeks to 28 weeks, and lung cancer is up from 11 to 20 weeks. But there has been just a three-week increase in survival time for people with pancreatic cancer, which now stands at 12 weeks.

The study used median relative survival time to work out the averages by calculating when half of patients are still alive after being diagnosed.

Ciaran Devane, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said the report showed “the real picture of how long people are living after a cancer diagnosis.

“But the good news is tempered by the shocking variation between cancer types. Though we can celebrate increasing median survival times for some cancers such as breast and colon cancers, there has been lamentably poor progress made for lung and pancreatic cancer. It is clear that much, much more money needs to be put into research, surgery and treatment for the cancers with the poorest prognosis.

Sarah Lyness, executive director of policy and information at Cancer Research UK, said: “It’s really good news that people with cancer are, on average, living up to six times longer than in the 1970s. This progress is thanks to research that led to better diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and Cancer Research UK played an important role in that work.

“But this success isn’t seen across the board, so it’s important that we continue our research on cancers that have shown little progress such as lung, stomach, oesophageal, pancreas and brain cancer. Spotting cancer early improves the chances that treatment is successful – so if you notice an unusual change in your body it’s a good idea to see your doctor.” 

Sourced from: http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news

NEW FACEBOOK DONATION SERVICE

We love fundraising. We also love Facebook.

Which is why Young Heroes are delighted that JustGiving have launched a brand new service combining the two.

As a charity this exciting new application will allow supporters of our charity to make one-off donations or set up a monthly direct debit scheme.

As one of our fundraisers the new service will allow you to;

  • Share your JustGiving page on Facebook.
  • Friends can sponsor you without leaving Facebook.
  • Make it easier for your friends to tell their friends about your fundraising.
  • Allow you and your friends to start conversations about your fundraising by leaving comments on your page which also appear in their friends’ newsfeeds.

Start using the app now at http://apps.facebook.com/jgdonation

Posted in Newsletters.