2010 - Summer

2010 - Summer

2½ years since we set up the charity and over this time we have all been very touched by the support that we have received from so many people. To set up a charity is hard enough, but to keep it going with volunteers and funded is no easy feat, but because of the fantastic support that you all give us we have grown both in awareness and in funds.

The rapid growth in our fund raising has recently enabled us to purchase our second respite holiday home, which is now available for those families who really need a break during very difficult and trying times. We are so fortunate to have a great team of trustees and committee members who give up their time so readily to help with our events and the cleaning of the caravans, but without the kindness of all of our supporters we would not be where we are today and still growing. This newsletter covers once again some of the amazing challenges and fund raising activities over the last few months, but also a letter from young Ellis and his family who stayed at the caravan, as this is what we are all about. 

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Recent Events

Hastings Half Marathon

97 runners completed the Hastings ½ Marathon and raised an amazing £18,000! We were proud to win the Bill Bailey Charity shield a great achievement by everyone. Thank you to all our runners, walkers and supporters we could not have done it without the whole team. We so nearly achieved our target of 100 entries for the trust so if you know anyone who would like to run for us please let us know. To all our helpers who arranged the pre marathon pasta evening, thank you, it was a very enjoyable night, and helped bond us as one team. 

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Kathy Jackson ... the challenge for one runner!   ​

I'm not a fit person, and have never been sporty - I even failed my agility badge in Brownies because I couldn't climb a rope. I've never been able to do a handstand or a cartwheel. I've joined 3 gyms and paid for the annual membership, only to attend for the first month. I was a podgy kid, and I've been overweight for most of my adult life.

You get the picture…
Last October I bumped into Tracy Barnett at a London tube station and she somehow managed to persuade me that it would be a good idea to run a half marathon. So against my better judgement my husband Nick and I started training, but by the end of the first training session I had come up in a rash of itchy hives, making me look like a creature from Dr. Who. The rash appeared every time I broke into a sweat. I concluded that I was officially allergic to exercise! 

​After weeks of discomfort I realised that I was allergic to fabric conditioner, so I was finally able to run in relative comfort. Until one Friday night I had bad chest pains and by 3am it still hadn't subsided, so I rang NHS direct for advice. The next thing I knew there was an ambulance crew at the door and I was carted off to hospital. They did loads of tests and thankfully concluded that everything was OK, and I didn't have any further problems. Somehow I managed to get myself in shape for the race. The night before we travelled down to Hastings to stay in the Travelodge to ensure we were up nice and early for the race on Sunday morning. Even this turned out to be a learning curve! Having gone to bed early we were awoken by strangers letting themselves into our room, but having dozed off again the receptionist banged on the door to enquire what we were doing in the wrong room, yet they had given us the key! I sent him off with a flea in his ear and settled down again. Then Nick's alarm on his new stopwatch decided to go off at 2am, and regular 30 min intervals. I wrapped it in a towel and stuffed it in the bathroom. Coupled with loud snoring from the room next door, road traffic, and a rather uncomfortable bed, I managed about 2 hours sleep. Suffice to say I wasn't little Mrs Happy in the morning. But the camaraderie of the OCT Team and supporters, the crowds, and some unknown inner strength got me through the run, and I completed the half-marathon ahead of my 3 hour target in 2 hours 29 minutes.

​So it just goes to show that if I can do it, anyone can. I may even be persuaded to have another go next year! 

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​THE TRUST OPENS SECOND HOLIDAY RETREAT 

On the 9th May trustees, committee members and patron Mark Benton were proud to officially open and celebrate the Trust’s second caravan situated at Combe Haven in St Leonards on Sea. Mark cut the ribbon along with Dillon the Dolphin and Combe Haven’s own bear! Since the opening, families have already been enjoying holidays ​at the new caravan. 

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​From the Visitors book… 

Young Robert writes a letter to the trust Dear Oliver Curd Trust,
"We had a great time at your caravan at Hastings in Crowhurst Park. We had a wonderful time playing crazy golf, going to the aquarium and generally have a really good three days in Hastings. W

e were all in the caravan Dad, Mum, Ellis and I. Ellis had a bad cough so we could not go swimming, instead Ellis, Dad and I went to crazy golf a lot and it was brilliant.
It was particularly funny on the last hole when the speaker said a funny comment whenever you missed.
We also went to smugglers cave where the smugglers used to smuggle goods into England. On the last day we went to the aquarium where we saw all kinds of different fish. We also saw stingray and others. We played one last game of crazy golf before departing.

I got a hole in one which we will use next time we come to Hastings. Thank you once again for giving us the opportunity to have so much fun in Hastings.

​Love Robert, Ellis Mum and Dad."

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​Be A Wally for Oli day 28th May

Schools in East Sussex and business’s took part in a new event for the trust which was a competition who could be the best Wally. Participating schools were Peasmarsh Flying Start Pre-School, Rye Pre-School, Brede and Peasmarsh School, Ferry Road Doctors Surgery and Horrells Chemist. OCT balloons were purchased and released with the furthest balloon reaching Putte in Belgium.
​The best Wallys received a £10 WH Smith voucher and the balloon prize was a £25 voucher. Our thanks to Next and Peacocks for supplying free to the charity over 200 pairs of large boxer pants to help promote the day, and to Howard Taylor for your fantastic support helping to put this together. If you know of any school or business who would like to join us for “Be A Wally for Oli” Day next May please let us know. 

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OCT receive gift of three lap tops

​The William Fagg Lodge no 9986 (Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, Grand Lodge of England) kindly donated an amazing gift to the trust of 3 laptops which will provide the facility for many families to use the internet whilst at the holiday home To everyone at the Lodge, Thank you.
​Our thanks also to CARDEN COMPUTERS, BRIGHTON who have supplied us free wireless access 

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A Great Challenge which raised £6,000 JOHN O’GROATS TO LANDS END BIKE RIDE

​Over 8 days John Doughty and David Townsend cycled 874 miles with Richard, Graham & Frank supporting. For 88 hours they kept us glued to our Twitter and Facebook sites as we followed their journey. Dave’s dairy of the event. Sunday 4th April, the day had arrived. First decision of the day go for healthy slow release high carb porridge or Curdy’s fry- up. No contest really. 

Day 1

7.00am we hit the road. First 3 miles out of John O Groats all up hill, didn’t notice that on the way up in the camper van! Looking at the map it looked quite straightforward, follow the green line down the east coast of Scotland, should be lovely & scenic.

​7.30pm arrived at Lovat Bridge campsite just 124 miles. On arrival shower, fo​od, no strength to drink any beer, bed, all snuggled up the five of us, ‘good night john boy’.

​Day 2

Scotland, rain, wind, & a bit more rain. Before setting off at 7.00am a meeting with our dietician who recommends another Curdy breakfast. John’s already managed his second puncture, luckily we have Frank who can fix it and re-fuels both bikes in 6.3 seconds. Passed Loch Ness, no monsters to distract us! A tough day finishing on the shores of Loch Lomond, rain, wind, no mobile signal, rain. Aah…………..Scotland. 

Day 3

​Loch Lomond to Lockerbie, more rain & Glasgow. John’s 3rd puncture! Toughest day, two wet fed up cyclists in need of inspiration and a bit of sun. Come on Olly! 

Day 4

Suns up, plenty of updates on facebook, and the moneys rolling in, it’s going to be a good day. Passed through Gretna Green, Graham & Curdy felt the need to tie the knot, lucky for Sarah, office closed. Shap Fell, 10 miles straight down to Kendall, pedal once & hold on. Welcome to England!

Day 5

​Chorley to Worcester. The roads are definitely flatter, suns out, sky is blue, boys are flying. Finishing our days cycling around 5pm which gives everybody time to relax and unwind. Great campsite just outside of Worcester. Morale excellent stacks of messages on facebook and money on just giving. 

Day 6

​Worcester to Taunton, John and Dave agree that both have become fitter as the week has gone on. On entering Bristol stopped for a cup of tea at a roadside café. Another example of people’s kindness and support was the free egg & bacon roll. Finally arrive at Taunton and stay the night at 40 Commando Royal Marines. Great night had by all. Good food, beer, our own beds and a bit of live boxing for Graham. Big thanks to WO2 Tim Mortimer RM. 

Day 7

​Taunton to Bodmin, who said Devon was flat, both having flashbacks to Scotland. Both travelling over 40mph down the A30, couple more punctures for John, What’s going on? Tony and Fay Curd cheering John & Dave as they pass which was a little bit emotional. A great day cycling covering 96 miles. Brilliant night in Bodmin, free caravans for all the team, thanks Mary, another act of kindness and a great meal at the pub….nearly there.

Day 8

​Bodmin to Lands End, 56 miles, just a fantastic, emotional day. All the families waiting at Lands End, everybody else is waiting for the updates on Facebook. The last mile to Lands End, John and Dave leading the camper van in, with Oli’s big smiling face on the van. The Oli Curd red t-shirts stood out a mile especially against the turquoise sea. We could certainly hear them cheering as the team came in. Plenty of laughter and tears and unforgettable memories…Dave, John Richard, Graham & Frank 

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