RNLI Thanet Fundraising Group and Thanet & District Caledonian Society
On 22 July we were delighted to welcome Helen and Jenny from the Thanet and District Caledonian Society to Ramsgate Station to present a cheque to Coxswain Ian Cannon and Chair of the Thanet Fundraising Group Graeme Fletcher.
The ladies have sent us in a report of their fundraising event:
“On Sunday 6th July, the Thanet & District Caledonian Society held its first ever afternoon Charity Concert. A well-known Scottish Country Dance Band, playing at a dance on the Saturday evening in Faversham, were invited to play for the concert and raise funds for the local RNLI charity.
“It was a very enjoyable afternoon, the church was decorated with tartan bunting, the Saltire flag, the Lion Rampant flag and the RNLI flag. Chris and Julie Dewhurst entertained us as they played a varied selection of accordion music ranging from well-known Scottish tunes, military tunes, sea shanties and other familiar tunes. It was hard to remain seated and resist the temptation to get up and dance the Gay Gordons or Strip the Willow down the aisles, but there was a lot of foot tapping instead. Chris gave an interesting and informative introduction to each set of tunes, explaining the story or location behind each composition.
“Refreshments were enjoyed by everyone at the interval; tables covered in tartan tablecloths and plenty of homemade cakes to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee. The 2nd half went quickly with more well-chosen tunes, and a raffle drawn in the middle. The afternoon finished in the traditional Scottish style, everyone forming a circle to sing Auld Lang Syne.
“Helen Cole (Vice President) and Jenny Humphries (Treasurer) met up with Graeme (voluntary RNLI fundraiser) and Ian (Ramsgate RNLI station coxswain) to present a cheque of £270 to Thanet RNLI. We were delighted to receive an unexpected, framed thank you certificate for our donation.
“Graeme very kindly showed us around the station, answering the many questions we had for him. It was a very interesting morning, and we were pleased to have chosen Thanet RNLI as our charity. Living by the coast, we appreciate the work that the RNLI volunteers do, putting their own lives at risk when answering calls in all weathers.”
A huge thank you from us all to the Thanet and District Caledonian Society from Thanet RNLI. The money will be shared between Ramsgate and Margate Lifeboat Stations.
Pie Factory Music
The Mayor of Ramsgate, Councillor Laurie Hudson, introduced Zoë Carassik from Pie Factory Music and Carl Whitewood from Ramsgate Salvation Army to His Royal Highness King Charles III at a special reception held at Walmer Castle on 10th July to celebrate the charitable and voluntary work taking place across the Cinque Ports.
Zoë and Carl were selected in recognition of the long-standing commitment their organisations have to make a positive impact with local people.
Zoë said: “It was an incredible honour to be nominated by the Mayor of Ramsgate to be introduced to the King in recognition of Pie’s important work in our community.
“I’m so proud of how the brilliant work of the Pie team is held in such high regard by our supporters – all the credit should go to them and our amazing young people who produce such brilliance in the face of some unbelievable challenges.
“Love live Pie and youth workers up and down the country. I would curtsey to you any day of the week.”
Heart screening at King Ethelbert School
A heart screening event took place at King Ethelbert’s School on Sunday 20th July in memory of Therese Field.
Funds were raised by events attended by the local community over the last couple of years. The heart screening event saw 98 young people from Thanet being screened for potentially dangerous heart conditions by experts from the charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).
Every week, at least 12 apparently fit and healthy young (aged 35 and under) people lose their lives to sudden cardiac death in the UK. In 80% of these cases, there will have been no warning signs, until it was too late – which is why CRY believes proactive cardiac screening amongst asymptomatic young people is so vitally important.
An ECG test is a simple way to identify the vast majority of abnormalities that can cause sudden deaths in young people. The test is quick, non-invasive and, if necessary, a further Echocardiogram can be taken on the same day to provide further clarity or reassurance.
CRY’s screening programme is overseen by Professor Sanjay Sharma, Professor of Inherited Cardiovascular Disease and Sports Cardiology at St George’s University of London and the Medical Director of the Virgin London Marathon. Professor Sharma makes no charge for supervising the CRY screening programme and due to this support, CRY can subsidise the programme significantly – privately, these tests could cost hundreds of pounds.
Therese Field died suddenly in April 1997 at the age of 16. Her cause of death was believed to be from an undetected heart condition. Therese was a pupil at Clarendon House where her siblings also attended. Therese was a Year 11 pupil who was popular, well-liked and an active member of the community. A talented dancer and singer, Therese attended Page Mason Dance school and had a bright future ahead of her. Therese’s family set up the Therese Field memorial fund through CRY in 1998 and have raised over £50,000 for CRY.
Therese’s sister Tara Challenor is the South East volunteer representative of CRY and regularly puts on shows, Christmas concerts, quiz evenings and other fundraising events which are well attended by members of the local community. Tara wants to thank everyone who has attended any of the fundraising events over the years that have helped to fund the screening event. She also wants to thank Angela Feuillatre and King Ethelbert’s for allowing us to use their venue for the screening and local quiz master Brett Bone for raising some of the money through a quiz evening held at the Northwood Club. Tara is planning on holding another screening event so more young people from Thanet can have the opportunity to have their hearts tested.
Anyone between the age of 14 and 35 can register to have a free cardiac screening at www.testmyheart.org
SUUK fundraiser – Skateboarding Unlimited UK
A fundraiser aims to raise £6K with possible Thanet council match funding to provide 100 skateboards and safety equipment for Cliftonville children/teens/young people, who’d otherwise almost certainly risk non-involvement – inadvertent exclusion – from the new skatepark being built literally on their doorstep at the former putting site in Ethelbert Crescent.
Brothers Matt and Asa Shoul will be raising funds for the cause with an art exhibition at Joseph Wales Studio from 26.08.25 until 01.09.25.
Asa Shoul has worked creatively in feature films for over a decade on such projects as Ex Machina, The Crown and Mission Impossible, and has created limited edition posters for directors Edgar Wright and Quentin Tarantino. His work explores themes of democracy, religion and identity as well as the exploitation of iconic images.
Matt Shoul studied architecture & animation at PCL, UAL & LMU School of Art, Architecture & Design. Matt’s current sculpture series incorporates & explores monolithic existential minimalism, realised through disparate techniques & technologies primarily in metal, involving CNC laser & lathe fabrication, bronze welding, artisan & industrial surface finishing – utilising natural & manufactured mixed media/found objects – these sculptural compositions explore existential themes of altered states/sentience, anthropomorphism, surface & geometric monumentality.
Matt said: “We both skateboarded as teenagers, in the mid 1970s, when the UK’s first skateboarding craze was at its height and are extremely keen that this fantastic community sports facility, being built in one of the highest poverty index rated neighbourhoods in the country, is enjoyed as widely as possible by local children, teens and young people – we very much hope this fundraiser becomes an ongoing annual skateboarding equipment scheme for those at risk of inadvertent exclusion.”
Find the fundraiser at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/skateboards-unlimited-united-kingdom
Wildernesstowonderland
Big thanks to Darcy’s Westbrook for sponsoring a celebration breakfast for Wildernesstowonderland volunteers who maintain community gardens throughout Margate.
We have to raise all our funds to stock and maintain the community gardens we all enjoy throughout Margate. Big thanks to Darcy’s and other members of the community who support my fabulous volunteer with random acts of kindness and words of thanks when passing by.
Pink Glitter Ball for Breast Cancer Now
Six years after the first event sold out in record time, best friends Kerry Banks BEM and Jo Allen are bringing back the Pink Glitter Ball for Breast Cancer Now in a glitzy new venue!
The black tie and ballgown event, which promises to be a fabulous evening of entertainment and fundraising for Breast Cancer Now, will be held in The Grand Marquee at The Holiday Inn Dover, on Saturday 8th November, with a welcome cocktail on arrival to the sultry voice of the extremely talented Singer – Emma Black at 6pm.
Guests will also receive a fantastic three course meal starting at 7pm along with top class entertainment which includes a DJ Set to take you through the event until Midnight with Sponsors- The Boombox UK.
Tickets are £45.
There are Sponsorship packages available from just £250.
The evening will include a bumper raffle ,heads and tails for a cash prize plus a grand auction!
Why not make a real night of it and book a room at the venue with a discounted rate of £75 per single room inc breakfast or £85 for a double room including breakfast.
How to book under the discounted room rates:
* Via Phone – Any discounted room rate enquiries the guests have to select option number 2 for the hotel reception and mention the date and event name Pink Glitterball for Breast Cancer Now to book the rooms.
* Via Email – Email [email protected] and mention the date and event name Pink Glitterball for Breast Cancer Now to book the rooms.
Alternatively ,carriages at midnight please.
To book , Sponsor or provide a prize, please call or text the ticket hotline on 07708913976 or alternatively email [email protected]
Kerry said: “We are incredibly excited to be delivering this event again with such a beautiful venue -please join us for this spectacular evening and help raise as much funds for this amazing charity that is very close to so many of us!”
Kerry has been voluntary fundraiser, campaigner and ambassador for Breast Cancer Now for nearly 20 years after her friend Julie Mortimer passed away in 2010 aged just 41 years old.
She has been involved in many of their campaigns over the years with one most recently the charity’s National Wear it Pink Campaign which this year falls on Friday 24th October.
She took part in the campaign photo shoot with her Aunt Pauline Woods, who is also a survivor of Breast Cancer and friend Sarah Richards who is co- owner of Superior Healthcare Group.
If you would like to sign up to take part in Wear it Pink 2025 , please visit https://breastcancernow.org/wear-it-pink/sign-up-for-wear-it-pink
