Would anyone be interested in helping me raise money for a little girl who suffered 90% burns in a house fire?
The Charity: TerriCalvesbert was nearly two when in 1998 a fire burnt down her house. She suffered 90% burns. She lost hands, toes, ears, nose and of course nearly all of her skin. Her story was featured on a one hour documentary aired on ITV on 9th June. It is one of the most moving pieces of television I have ever seen.
Terri has had 16 operations in the last 3 years and will have operations every year for the rest of her life. Despite what she has suffered - and will suffer - Terri's character, her impishness, chirpness, her spirit, call it what you will, came across in an extraordinary fashion. Terri's father Paul is no less remarkable. His wife left the family not long after the fire - her burning cigarette was responsible for the fire and her guilt caused her deep trauma. She too is a victim. So Paul found himself as a single dad - and he was all Terri had. Paul would clean up at the 'devoted, courageous fathers' Oscars.
The Terri Calvesbert Trust was set up by the local Ipswich paper The Evening Star. They aimed to raise £5,000. To date they have raised £150,000, some 4+ years on. This is nowhere near enough for what Terri will require in the years ahead - including paying for private plastic surgery to avoid her waiting in queues. She has a very painful future ahead.
The Swim; Three of us (Rob, Mark, Jeremy) will be swimming a distance equivalent to the English Channel ? 22 miles or 35kms ? in the Harbour Club pool. We will swim one km on, two km off etc over a 12 hour period. We are rank amateurs so it won?t be a doddle. At the same time, 35 members of my local health club will be participating in a swim, each swimming one km. On the same day, similar swims (the three people version) will be taking place in Sydney and Perth in Australia. I have roped in brothers-in-law and a few friends.
How you could help
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Are you a swimmer? Would you be interested in being involved in a similar swim - of 3, 5, 10 etc people. Doesnt have to be just 3 who swim the distance. It would be great if we could get other "English Channel Swims (but warmer)" going in other cities around the world. I'd love to hear from you wherever you are.
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Would you be prepared to send an email (irrespective of whether you swim or not ie this is how the majority of people may be best able to help) to your network of people to raise money? When I sent an email to 50 people in May (for a 50 mile 'Round Surrey Ride' to raise money for CARE Intl - i do a charity effort every 6 months or so - £600 came in in 10 minutes. £2000 in total. So simple as only took me ten mins to sort out email. I have a draft of an email i can send that people can use as they see fit. Very simple fundraising, no rattling of tins etc. [people then send you cheques payable to Terri Calvesbert Trust - in this case - which are then forwarded to the Trust etc. So all v v easy.]
ITV and four other companies have very kindly organised, free of charge, for numerous VHS copies and 400 DVDs of the programme to be cut. If you missed the programme but would like to see it let me know and I will send you one.
If you would be interested in participating in the swim, and/or raising some money/sending an email, I?d love to hear from you.
Rob Mather
Tel: 020 7371 8744
Mob: 07711 263 725
Email: [email protected]
Further information:
About the programme: www.angliatv.co.uk/coverstory/livingdoll.html
About Terri?s Trust: www.eveningstar.co.uk/Content/features/terri/TerriHome.asp
Interesting emails from people who saw the programme. Reading 3-4, you get the impact: www.angliatv.co.uk/coverstory/virtual/index.shtml