A local boy has cut his hair as part of a fundraiser for a mental health charity.
9-year-old Felix cut off his long hair earlier this week to help raise money for Mind in Harrogate District.
The fundraiser was set up by his family in May and aims to raise enough for a new mental health service for local children.
It aims to raise £10,000 and was launched in memory of Felix’s much-loved great uncle, Dave Keeton.
Mr Keeton took his own life in April this year. He was an educational psychologist, who worked with children and young people for most of his life, so the family felt that it was fitting to raise money for services directly supporting them.
According to Tina Chamberlain, CEO of Mind in Harrogate, 72% of young people in Harrogate District have experienced mental health issues since the pandemic.
She told The Stray Ferret:
“The lack of essential mental health services for young people means that when they eventually pluck up the courage to seek help there is often a lack of adequate support and long waiting lists.”
On their Just Giving page, the family added:
“Opportunities for young people to meet and build relationships face-to-face have disappeared as youth centres and swimming pools have closed, fuelling an epidemic of loneliness.”
The new proposed support service will attempt to alleviate this problem. It will integrate programmes like Drawing and Talking as well as support groups for issues like post-covid anxiety.
The family hope this will provide an effective way for children and young people to process emotional pain or trauma.
In the last week, the fundraiser has seen a huge boost thanks to Felix’s haircutting event generating an extra £2,500 in donations. It is now only a few hundred pounds away from reaching its £10k target.
Felix’s Grandfather, John Barnes told The Stray Ferret:
“The event has worked wonders to raise money and awareness of the issue. Our fundraiser is now well ahead of target thanks to Felix and we’ll be asking him for more creative ideas”
Felix’s mother Suzannah Hepworth commented:
“I am hugely proud of Felix. We were totally blown away by his decision to voluntarily sacrifice his hair as it’s is such a big thing for a nine-year-old to do”
“Felix’s hair is a huge part of his look and his vibe, so to him, cutting it is the biggest sacrifice he could’ve made to show how much he cares and get people to donate”
If you would like to donate or find out more please click the link to the fundraiser here.
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Business Breakfast: More senior promotions at Raworths
The Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis, will be held on March 9 at the Pavilions of Harrogate. The event will celebrate success and business excellence across the Harrogate district. It’s a night not to be missed! There’ll be a fabulous prize draw for all attending and Richard Flinton, the incoming Chief Executive of North Yorkshire Council, is guest speaker. You can purchase tickets here.
Raworths solicitors in Harrogate has announced the promotion of Adam Colville-Robins to an associate in the Dispute Resolution team.
The new role will see Adam continue his work for commercial and private clients on cases involving property or contractual disputes, as well as debt recovery.
Adam’s appointment is the latest in a series of senior promotions over the past year overseen by managing partner, Simon Morris.
Mr Morris said:
“We are committed to nurturing talent across the firm at every level, from working with our trainee solicitors to complete their qualifications to supporting senior team members develop specialist knowledge in their chosen fields.
“In addition to providing legal training and support to its staff, Raworth’s has also trained three of its employees to become ‘mental health first aiders.”
Deborah Boylan, Raworths’ people partner, said:
“It’s a challenging recruitment market and candidates are now looking beyond salaries and client portfolios; it’s also about workplace culture and a supportive environment.”
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Bettys supports Brain Tumour Charity
The Bettys Bakery and Cookery School is raising money for Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC), which marks 20 years of supporting patients and carers in March.
The decision to support the charity comes after Bettys employee, Dave Smith, was diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma.
Dave and colleague on walking challenge to raise money
Dave’s colleagues at the cookery school have raised more than £7,000 for YBTC since November, with a target to raise £20,000 by the end of the year.
The £20,000 goal commemorates both the charity’s 20th birthday and the 20 years Dave has worked for Betty’s.
During Brain Tumour Awareness Month, which coincides with the charity’s birthday in March, YBTC will encourage supporters to wear flat caps and meet for a pint or a cuppa as part of their Flat Cap Brew campaign.
Bettys will be hosting their own Flat Cap Brew in the bakery, and running a ‘wear your best hat’ photo competition.
Marie Peacock, CEO of YBTC said:
“We want everyone to get together for a Flat Cap Brew that is bigger, better and more ‘Yorkshire’ than ever to help us celebrate 20 years of funding research and support for patients and families.”
Harrogate estate agents take on The Three Peaks to raise over £5,000 for charity
The team behind Harrogate estate agents Feather Smailes Scales has raised more than £5,000 for charity by taking on The Yorkshire Three Peaks.
In total, 13 staff took on the mammoth challenge, which covers 24 miles and 1,585 metres of ascent on Friday, April 8.
FSS Property chose to support Maggie’s Cancer Charity with the hike. Maggie’s has centres across the UK where people with cancer and their families can access support.
Daniel Brumfitt, a partner at FSS, said:
“Maggie’s Cancer Charity is an organisation close to the team’s hearts. So many of us have seen loved ones lose the dreadful battle of fighting cancer.
“Our Just Giving campaign hopes to give back something to a group that does such fantastic work. The least we could do was hike the beautiful Yorkshire Three Peaks!
“Reaching the top of Ingleborough is a fantastic feeling; the view over the moors is even more breathtaking than the hike itself.
“Everyone finished in good spirits without any injuries, aside from a few blisters and some sore legs!”
Three Peaks Challenge
The iconic hike is recognised as one of the UK’s best walks. It is often chosen for charity hikes for its difficulty level and stunning views of the North Yorkshire Moors.
It takes in the peaks of Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen y Ghent with stunning views of the surrounding Yorkshire Dales skyline.
Everything went to plan on the day the team at FSS put on their walking boots.
They aimed for 12 hours and managed to complete it well under that, punching in a cool 10 hours and 30 minutes.
You can still donate by clicking or tapping here to help those impacted by cancer take back control of their lives.
FSS are one of the area’s only comprehensive estate agents and know the Harrogate district like the back of their hands. So the community where they are based is key.
Help FSS raise money for Maggies Cancer Charity by supporting their Just Giving page.
Harrogate Council raises £15,000 through cremation metal recoveryHarrogate Borough Council has presented the Motor Neurone Disease Association with £15,000, raised through recycling metals recovered from cremations.
The Yorkshire Dales branch of the MNDA was presented with the cheque on Thursday.
Every six months the council picks a charity to raise money for by recycling metals such as coffin parts and replacement joints, with consent from families.
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a condition that attacks the nerves and spine to stop muscle movements. It kills more than half diagnosed within two years and there is currently no cure.
The Yorkshire Dales branch of the association is one of eighty across the country providing care for those with the illness and researching potential cures.
Councillor Andy Paraskos said;
“I’d like to thank those families who, during a difficult time, have consented to us recycling metals recovered. By raising this money, everyone involved has done their bit to helping local charities such as Motor Neurone Disease Association.”
The council has used this scheme in the past to raise money for charities such as Dementia Forward who received £10,000 in 2020.
Jenn Dodd, regional fundraiser for the MNDA, added;
“Without generous donations like this one from Harrogate Borough Council the Yorkshire Dales Branch and MND Association simply would not be able to provide its vital support services, fund research to find a cure and campaign and raise awareness of MND.”
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Masham teenager with cancer is raising thousands for charities
A Masham teenager who was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer earlier this year is raising money for the charities who have been supporting her through her illness.
Lucy Verity, 19, was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in February and has been undergoing gruelling treatments ever since.
Over the next few months she will go through 14 chemotherapy sessions, radiotherapy and proton therapy at different hospitals across the north of England.
Rather than raise money towards her own treatment expenses, she decided to fundraise for the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Bone Cancer Research Trust, who have been supporting her over the past four months.
She set up her fundraiser on JustGiving last Saturday and has already reached £3,900, more than three quarters of her £5,000 goal.
Before becoming ill, Lucy was an avid sports player and loved to look after her animals in her home in Masham. She hopes to get back to this as soon as possible, and run her own fundraising events.
She said:
“We’re in a lucky position where we’re able to support ourselves to travel for my treatments; that’s why I chose to raise money towards these charities instead of for myself, as they have a great team of dedicated nurses and youth workers who helped me to not feel alone when I wasn’t allowed visitors in the hospital.”
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Her family and friends have been rallying around to raise money towards her goal. Her brother will be running 24 miles in 24 hours on June 19, and her friends and cousin will take part in the Leeds 12km Total Warrior in July.
Lucy and her family have given suggestions for people who want to set up their own fundraisers for the cause, such as coffee and cake mornings, clearouts or tombola raffles.
Ewing’s sarcoma is a rare form of bone cancer that can cause bone pain, tiredness and constant fever. For many the illness can go undiagnosed for a long time due to its rarity.
The Bone Cancer Research Trust aims to find a cure for this and other types of bone cancer through scientific research. You can find out more about Lucy’s fundraiser or donate here.
Final volunteer call for cat charity Harrogate hotel abseil
Yorkshire Cat Rescue is calling for final volunteers to abseil down Harrogate’s Crowne Plaza Hotel in a daring fundraiser.
There are six slots left for those willing to take the plunge on the 3rd of July. The spaces were previously filled but due to a handful of last-minute dropouts there is space left for those wanting to sign up.
The abseil scales 140 feet and those taking part will be trained on the day by professionals.
Participants will need to pay a registration fee of £25 and are also asked to raise a minimum of £100 for the charity.
So far the charity has managed to raise more than £10,000 through the event but are aiming to reach £15,000 in the final few weeks.
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This isn’t the first daring exploit run by the charity; last year it held a ‘firewalk’ in Skipton where participants walked over burning coals.
Yorkshire Cat Rescue has been taking in unwanted cats and kittens and giving them homes for nearly 20 years. As an independent charity, it relies on fundraising to keep going.
The money it raises will go towards rescuing more cats, food, vet bills and shelter.
Harrogate cyclist prepares to pedal 300 miles in 24 hoursA cyclist from Harrogate is preparing to embark on a mammoth challenge this month to raise money in memory of his aunt.
Simon Gregory will attempt to cycle 288 miles in just 24 hours to raise £10,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Simon’s aunt, Reverend Ruth Scott, died from cancer in February 2019.
She was a presenter on the BBC Radio 2 show Pause for Thought, along with Terry Wogan and Chris Evans for 25 years, and was one of the first female vicars.
Simon said he was inspired by his aunt’s charitable nature and her similar physical challenges; she once cycled from Rome to Jerusalem with little training.
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Last weekend Simon held a fundraiser in Harrogate and raised nearly £1,000 in one day.
He said of the money raised;
“It would cover specialist care nurses, and support for others whose loved ones have cancer. Macmillan provided my aunt and her husband huge support and we couldn’t have got through it without them.”
Macmillan’s funding has been cut drastically over the course of the pandemic, receiving £10 million less over the past year than in previous years.
His journey is mapped out from Harrogate to Southampton on June 18. Besides his brother Paul, who plans to meet him at regular checkpoints, he will make the journey on his own.
Simon will have to cycle an average of almost 12.5 miles an hour for 24 hours to hit his target.
He has several strategies in place to ensure safety during his journey, including regular 10-minute intervals for drinking and a strict rule of consuming 75 grams of carbohydrates every hour.
Donations to Simon Gregory’s fundraiser can be made by clicking here.
Friends shave heads to raise £1,500 for MacmillanIn a matter of minutes Andrew Waite and Michael Brown went from hirsute to hairless – and the bald facts speak for themselves.
Their head shaves have raised more than £1,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support, which is providing support for their respective brothers Martin and David.
Hats will be de rigueur for Andrew (left) and Michael for the next few weeks. (Photograph: Pat Waite)
Martin, who now lives in Gloucestershire, was diagnosed with lymphoma in October 2020 and is receiving chemotherapy treatments.
David, who is chair of Nidderdale Young Farmers, discovered that he had leukemia in 2019.
His treatments have been provided at the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton.
Both have been supported by Macmillan over the course of their treatment.
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Pat Waite, who co-owns and runs the Sandwich Box takeaway in Back High Street, Pateley Bridge, with newly bald husband Andrew, said:
“Through the JustGiving page and other donations collected, he and Michael have raised more £1,500 and still counting.
“They would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all who have donated.
“Thanks also go to Russ Pool, who designed the poster to promote the event, and to Andrew Smith at Beauty Boutique for donating his time and skills to shave their heads.”
Anybody wishing to make a donation can do so via the pair’s Bold&Bald JustGiving page.
Macmillan to benefit from bold fundraiser in Pateley Bridge
Two friends will be making a Bold & Bald gesture of brotherly love in Pateley Bridge on April 17 and shaving their heads.
Andrew Waite and Michael Brown have very personal reasons for getting involved.
They are doing it to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, in thanks for the help that their respective brothers have received in battling the disease.
Andrew’s brother Martin, was diagnosed with Lymphoma in October 2020 and has so far received six rounds of chemotherapy.
Michael’s brother David, discovered that he had Leukemia in 2019, but is now recovered and has returned to his Nidderdale farming roots.
Andrew and Michael have their roots in the farming community and are already receiving donations from the people of Nidderdale
Pat Waite, who jointly owns and runs the Sandwich Box with her husband in Back High Street, Pateley Bridge, told the Stray Ferret:
“Martin has lost his hair through the chemotherapy.
“The hardest thing for Andrew, is the fact that his brother now lives in Gloucestershire and due to covid, they have only seen each once in the past year.”
She added:
“The first Martin will know about the Bold & Bald head shave, is when it is streamed live on Facebook from the Beauty Boutique in Pateley Bridge.”
David, who is chair of Nidderdale Young Farmers, will also see it online. The Bold & Bald theme, follows on from the Macmillan Brave the Shave challenge. This saw people of all ages across the UK have their hair cut off to raise money for the charity.
Pat, pointed out:
“David has been supported throughout his illness by his brother.
“He was treated at the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton.”
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Martin and his family have also been supported by Macmillan over the course of his treatment.
Around £500, including £150 from local company DTMS of Fellbeck, has already been raised through donations made at The Sandwich Box and via the justgiving link here.
Pat, said:
Harrogate boy to cycle 100 miles for Henshaws“We would like to thank all who have already donated and hope that we can boost that figure as Andrew and Michael prepare for their Bold & Bald challenge.”
A 10-year-old from Harrogate will start a 100-mile cycling challenge today to raise funds for Henshaws.
Ewan Clarkson is a keen cyclist and wants to use his hobby to help others.
He will split the distance over three consecutive days, cycling at home on an electronic bike. During training, Ewan said he has watched TV “to keep me going”.
He said:
“I’ve been on the indoor bike building it up – over the past few days I’ve been doing 50km.
“Cycling is my passion. When I was little I went round the garden and the arts and craft centre which I loved. I wanted to raise money for them because how they help disabled people is amazing.”
Ewan’s initial fundraising target was £100 but by Friday he had already raised more than £240. To support him, click here.
Ewan often cycles with his dad, Ian Clarkson, and his parents were always supportive of his pledge. Ian said:
“We’ve always told him it’s not a race – it’s about getting the distance done. When he saw the challenge he wanted to do it straight away.
“He knows he can do the distance as long as his legs don’t give up. He’s taken his training seriously and he was determined. I think he’s ready.”
The charity said lockdown has left it struggling financially, initiatives like this are helping.
The Henshaws Hundreds challenge is a new fundraising initiative launched by the charity to raise vital money. It has experienced shortfalls this year which it attributes to coronavirus and the lack of charity events taking place.
Gemma Young, Henshaws’ fundraising manager for Yorkshire, said:
“Launching at the start of National Eye Health Week on September 21, for 10 whole days we are challenging supporters to do ‘your hundred, your way!’
“Inclusivity really is at the heart of this challenge. It’s possible to cover your chosen distance in a wheelchair, using a walking frame, walking on your hands, or by running, walking swimming or cycling.”
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