In The Archives
All the older Play2Give news you may have missed...
All the older Play2Give news you may have missed...
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Night of Fun and Dance Raises Record for Headway - 10 May 2016
Our night of fun and fundraising held early last month raised a record sum of money for Headway Oxfordshire with an amazing £846.40 collected all from just ticket sales, raffle proceeds, and doughnut eating contest!
This was the most amount of money ever raised from a Play2Give evening and the sixth one saw a hilarious doughnut eating challenge where 7 competitors took on the might of 100 jam filled doughnuts with the winner, David Allan, from London who ate 6 in just two minutes! What a sweet accomplishment!
On the night we presented Headway Oxfordshire with a pleasant surprise - we handed them a framed certificate for being our very own 'Charity of the Year 2015/16'. We felt they deserved some recognition and celebration for having supported adults living with brain injuries so well over 28 years, being a small county charity that doesn't get enough recognition, as well as surviving against the odds over the past few months against Oxfordshire County Council cuts in funding.
The fantastic disco provided by the wonderful Utopia Disco got a lot up on their feet dancing the night away, and our mega raffle saw a fantastic 32 prizes donated by lots of local and beyond businesses. We would like to say a huge thank you to Didcot Town Football Club for hosting the event, to Utopia, who also donated £200 back in, to our sponsor Tom Houseman Heating and Plumbing, as well as to Greggs for donating 100 jam doughnuts, all those companies who donated raffle prizes, all those who attended, supporters and to two of our newest volunteers, Luke Norris and Emma Collis.
See all of the pictures from the evening here
In 2017 P2G celebrate our big tenth year and we have plans to host a very special evening to mark 10 incredible years of fundraising and charitable support.
This was the most amount of money ever raised from a Play2Give evening and the sixth one saw a hilarious doughnut eating challenge where 7 competitors took on the might of 100 jam filled doughnuts with the winner, David Allan, from London who ate 6 in just two minutes! What a sweet accomplishment!
On the night we presented Headway Oxfordshire with a pleasant surprise - we handed them a framed certificate for being our very own 'Charity of the Year 2015/16'. We felt they deserved some recognition and celebration for having supported adults living with brain injuries so well over 28 years, being a small county charity that doesn't get enough recognition, as well as surviving against the odds over the past few months against Oxfordshire County Council cuts in funding.
The fantastic disco provided by the wonderful Utopia Disco got a lot up on their feet dancing the night away, and our mega raffle saw a fantastic 32 prizes donated by lots of local and beyond businesses. We would like to say a huge thank you to Didcot Town Football Club for hosting the event, to Utopia, who also donated £200 back in, to our sponsor Tom Houseman Heating and Plumbing, as well as to Greggs for donating 100 jam doughnuts, all those companies who donated raffle prizes, all those who attended, supporters and to two of our newest volunteers, Luke Norris and Emma Collis.
See all of the pictures from the evening here
In 2017 P2G celebrate our big tenth year and we have plans to host a very special evening to mark 10 incredible years of fundraising and charitable support.
Sleet, Snow and Wind Don't Deter Fantastic Five Monster Warriors - 23 April 2016
A fantastic five Play2Givers took on the mighty Monster Race on April 16th - and didn't let dismal appalling weather stand in their way!
The Saturday saw a mudbath at Cornbury Park, venue of the beastly obstacle course, as heavy rain days before made the ground like a boggy pit of mud all round, as well as snow, sleet and nothing but winds but the fabulous five supporters taking it on didn't let that stop them from completing the Monster course - and raising lots of money in the process for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
The five - Craig Harris (pictured far below left) and Tom Houseman, Andy Taylor, Mark Bilby and Maria Webb - all pictured left main with Andrew - all hope to raise up to £500 between them and for most taking on the 10k was a challenge but nothing that could not be achieved. For Maria, she took on 5k and despite dreading it she overcame her nerves and slipped and slide her way down the assault course and loved every minute of it!
For Craig is no stranger to the Monster, as last year he took on the 10k for the first time, and, despite damaging his shoulder in the process, he came back for seconds. Tom has done many similar runs and obstacles before, and is limbering up for the Rough Runner as well as more later in the year. For Andy it was his first time but he extremely enjoyed it, whilst for Mark is a body builder so no challenge was too small for him.
Well done to all of them. We hope to have another team into the Spring Monster in 2017.
Over 1,300 took part in this year's event which, for the first time, also included a mini monsters run as well.
View all the pictures of The Play2Givers 2016 tackling the Monster
The Saturday saw a mudbath at Cornbury Park, venue of the beastly obstacle course, as heavy rain days before made the ground like a boggy pit of mud all round, as well as snow, sleet and nothing but winds but the fabulous five supporters taking it on didn't let that stop them from completing the Monster course - and raising lots of money in the process for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
The five - Craig Harris (pictured far below left) and Tom Houseman, Andy Taylor, Mark Bilby and Maria Webb - all pictured left main with Andrew - all hope to raise up to £500 between them and for most taking on the 10k was a challenge but nothing that could not be achieved. For Maria, she took on 5k and despite dreading it she overcame her nerves and slipped and slide her way down the assault course and loved every minute of it!
For Craig is no stranger to the Monster, as last year he took on the 10k for the first time, and, despite damaging his shoulder in the process, he came back for seconds. Tom has done many similar runs and obstacles before, and is limbering up for the Rough Runner as well as more later in the year. For Andy it was his first time but he extremely enjoyed it, whilst for Mark is a body builder so no challenge was too small for him.
Well done to all of them. We hope to have another team into the Spring Monster in 2017.
Over 1,300 took part in this year's event which, for the first time, also included a mini monsters run as well.
View all the pictures of The Play2Givers 2016 tackling the Monster
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Play2Give Nominated for Two Prestigious Oxfordshire Charity Awards - 7 April 2016
We are delighted to found out that we have been nominated for not one but two prestigious Oxfordshire charity gongs.
The 2016 Oxfordshire Charity and Volunteer Awards (OCVA) evening takes place next month. We were thrilled to receive news on April 6th that we have been nominated for the biggest award of these glittering awards - 'Charity of the Year 2015/16' as well as 'Best Team of Volunteers'. Yes it's official we have a great team of volunteers!
Celebrating all that's great about Oxfordshire's charities, non profit groups and volunteers, and begun in 2010 by OCVA, this is the highest calibre of awards for Oxfordshire's charitable sector. With the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire and the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire likely to be in attendance as previous years, this is set to be a fantastic night showcasing the unsung heroes of the voluntary sector - and we couldn't be more proud to be selected to be recognised as nominees - whether we win or not.
In 2015, as a voluntary run fundraising organisation we celebrated our most successful fundraising year ever, raising a record breaking £13,532.05 for our charities - Oxford Children's Hospital and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund as well as Headway Oxfordshire. The Children's Hospital we raised £9,439 of this total last year, and we have now raised over £46,100 over the past 8 years.
Please wish us all the best of luck for May 11th when the glittering ceremony is held at the Oxford Town Hall, and the winners in 10 categories are announced.
The 2016 Oxfordshire Charity and Volunteer Awards (OCVA) evening takes place next month. We were thrilled to receive news on April 6th that we have been nominated for the biggest award of these glittering awards - 'Charity of the Year 2015/16' as well as 'Best Team of Volunteers'. Yes it's official we have a great team of volunteers!
Celebrating all that's great about Oxfordshire's charities, non profit groups and volunteers, and begun in 2010 by OCVA, this is the highest calibre of awards for Oxfordshire's charitable sector. With the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire and the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire likely to be in attendance as previous years, this is set to be a fantastic night showcasing the unsung heroes of the voluntary sector - and we couldn't be more proud to be selected to be recognised as nominees - whether we win or not.
In 2015, as a voluntary run fundraising organisation we celebrated our most successful fundraising year ever, raising a record breaking £13,532.05 for our charities - Oxford Children's Hospital and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund as well as Headway Oxfordshire. The Children's Hospital we raised £9,439 of this total last year, and we have now raised over £46,100 over the past 8 years.
Please wish us all the best of luck for May 11th when the glittering ceremony is held at the Oxford Town Hall, and the winners in 10 categories are announced.
Easter Raffle Raises an Eggs-Cellent Total - 23 March 2016
Our Easter raffle raising money for the Oxford Children's Hospital was a cracking success - with an eggs-cellent £170 raised.
The draw, held on the morning of March 23rd at Sainsbury's Didcot, in this raffle organised by the store's Lee Crook, saw a staggering 26 Easter eggs donated and with that 26 lucky winners bagging a delightful chocolate surprise.
The raffle which has run for this past month was held to support funds for the Children's Hospital at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Funds raised go towards all areas of children's medical care at the Oxford hospital from the purchase of specialised medical equipment above and beyond the NHS standard, to upgrading of medical equipment, to toys to sensory to distraction items for children undergoing painful procedures to artwork that brightens up a children's room or area, any aspect that makes a difference and brightens up the child and their families stay just that little bit more. Even additional parent beds have been purchased through public fundraising for the Oxford Children's Hospital in the past.
Thanks to all the eggs-totally brilliant supporters who brought raffle tickets, and has edged Play2Give nearer to our goal of raising £40,000 for the hospital where we are now just £3,415 off from achieving this very special target to sponsor our own room on the Melanie's teenage ward.
Well done to all the winners, and commiserations to all those who were unlucky with no winning tickets - but one thing for sure you are all winners for raising lots of money for poorly children in hospital. Well done to all the winners below:-
The draw, held on the morning of March 23rd at Sainsbury's Didcot, in this raffle organised by the store's Lee Crook, saw a staggering 26 Easter eggs donated and with that 26 lucky winners bagging a delightful chocolate surprise.
The raffle which has run for this past month was held to support funds for the Children's Hospital at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Funds raised go towards all areas of children's medical care at the Oxford hospital from the purchase of specialised medical equipment above and beyond the NHS standard, to upgrading of medical equipment, to toys to sensory to distraction items for children undergoing painful procedures to artwork that brightens up a children's room or area, any aspect that makes a difference and brightens up the child and their families stay just that little bit more. Even additional parent beds have been purchased through public fundraising for the Oxford Children's Hospital in the past.
Thanks to all the eggs-totally brilliant supporters who brought raffle tickets, and has edged Play2Give nearer to our goal of raising £40,000 for the hospital where we are now just £3,415 off from achieving this very special target to sponsor our own room on the Melanie's teenage ward.
Well done to all the winners, and commiserations to all those who were unlucky with no winning tickets - but one thing for sure you are all winners for raising lots of money for poorly children in hospital. Well done to all the winners below:-
- 1. Ferrero Rocher egg - Jennie Fetherstone
- 2. Quality street egg- Blue 57
- 3. Large Malteaser egg- Liz Taylor
- 4.Creme egg egg - Anita Steptoe
- 5.Small Malteaser egg- Mags King
- 6.freddo faces egg- Janice Fox
- 7. Mini egg egg - Pete Harrison
- 8. Creme egg egg- yellow 42
- 9. Marmite egg- Lee and Jane
- 10. Harry Hopalot- Mags King
- 11. Creme egg egg- Jennie Fetherstone
- 12. Mini egg egg- Nick Southern
- 13.plastic mini egg- Lee and Jane
- 14.Medium Oreo egg- Nick Southern
- 15. Mini egg egg - Margery Welch
- 16. Freddo faces egg- Angela Norris
- 17. Creme egg egg- Nick Southern
- 18. Egg with icing- Roger and Chris
- 19. Small Oreo egg- Angela Norris
- 20. Mini egg egg- Rupert Nall
- 21. Freddo Faces egg- Liz Taylor
- 22. Creme egg egg- Angela Norris
- 23. Freddo faces egg- Liz Taylor
- 24. Galaxy Minstrel egg- Nick Southern
- 25. Harry Hopalot - Dee
- 26. Pot Noodle egg- Anita Steptoe
Play2Give Kicks off 2016 with Fundraising Match Full of Heroes - 21 March 2016
The P2G Stars and Headway Heroes pose for a joint team post-match pic, despite P2G losing 4-3 to Headway
Andrew Baker with The P2G Cup which was won by Headway Heroes 4-3
This year we hope to achieve our £40,000 fundraising goal for the Oxford Children's Hospital - and with our football match at the weekend - we are edging closer to our very special target, as well as topping up our funds for our friends at Headway.
Saturday evening (March 19th) saw our second charity football match take to the pitch at Oxford City Football Club for an exciting, thrilling clash of the footballing titans which saw a team of P2G Stars take on a team of Headway Heroes in the nail-biting 90-minute game at the home of Court Place Farm - one of Play2Give's longest serving and loyal supporters of many years.
The match was raising money for the Children's Hospital as well as Headway Oxfordshire - the wonderful brain injury support charity based in Kennington - which supports over 400 brain injured survivors and their carers.
Speaking to the Oxford Mail pitch-side, Claire Twinn, Headway Oxfordshire's service manager, said: "It's been brilliant to see so many people come out to support us, I am always impressed that they are willing to give their time up.
She added: "We are increasingly relying on fundraising now that we get less money from local authorities, so events like this are really wonderful."
In September, 2014, we first held our annual match for the charities when P2G Stars won 20-1 against a team of staff from Sainsbury's Didcot. However, this year's champions emerged 4-3 seeing Headway charity team lift the cup to victory by the end of the game, a tense match all round.
This event is just the start to our fundraising year in which after our most successful record year in 2015 that saw Play2Give donate over £13,530 to our selected charities, we hope we will raise many more thousands of pounds, and, hopefully achieve our very special £40,000 goal to name Play2Give's own room on the teenage ward at the Oxford Children's Hospital. We are now just £3,500 away from our goal.
We plan to hold another football match in 2017 when we hope to reclaim back as a team the P2G Cup against next year's opponents.
We would like to say a huge thank you to Oxford City Football Club for generously hosting and donating the pitch, to all the supporters and players, and also to Matthew Crook and Stuart Crook, brothers from Oxford, who helped to organise the P2G Stars team.
Oxford Mail: Oxford Children's Hospital fundraising heroes kick off 2016 efforts with charity football match
Saturday evening (March 19th) saw our second charity football match take to the pitch at Oxford City Football Club for an exciting, thrilling clash of the footballing titans which saw a team of P2G Stars take on a team of Headway Heroes in the nail-biting 90-minute game at the home of Court Place Farm - one of Play2Give's longest serving and loyal supporters of many years.
The match was raising money for the Children's Hospital as well as Headway Oxfordshire - the wonderful brain injury support charity based in Kennington - which supports over 400 brain injured survivors and their carers.
Speaking to the Oxford Mail pitch-side, Claire Twinn, Headway Oxfordshire's service manager, said: "It's been brilliant to see so many people come out to support us, I am always impressed that they are willing to give their time up.
She added: "We are increasingly relying on fundraising now that we get less money from local authorities, so events like this are really wonderful."
In September, 2014, we first held our annual match for the charities when P2G Stars won 20-1 against a team of staff from Sainsbury's Didcot. However, this year's champions emerged 4-3 seeing Headway charity team lift the cup to victory by the end of the game, a tense match all round.
This event is just the start to our fundraising year in which after our most successful record year in 2015 that saw Play2Give donate over £13,530 to our selected charities, we hope we will raise many more thousands of pounds, and, hopefully achieve our very special £40,000 goal to name Play2Give's own room on the teenage ward at the Oxford Children's Hospital. We are now just £3,500 away from our goal.
We plan to hold another football match in 2017 when we hope to reclaim back as a team the P2G Cup against next year's opponents.
We would like to say a huge thank you to Oxford City Football Club for generously hosting and donating the pitch, to all the supporters and players, and also to Matthew Crook and Stuart Crook, brothers from Oxford, who helped to organise the P2G Stars team.
Oxford Mail: Oxford Children's Hospital fundraising heroes kick off 2016 efforts with charity football match
New Year Comes Fresh New Fundraising Year for Play2Give - 16 March 2016
Super balls! Some of the P2G team including Andrew, front (with balls), and sponsors and supporters at the Children's Hospital in January.
As 2016 ticks on so does a fresh new year for Play2Give as its fundraising drives doesn't stop and the next few months are already looking promising with lots of events and activity goings on after our most successful year ever in 2015.
2015 saw us as a fundraising organisation raise the most ever with £13,532 distributed to three local charities - Oxford Children's Hospital benefited from a record £9,439 alone last year.
Our fundraising year kicks off with a special football match host by Oxford City Football Club on Saturday (19th March) which will see two sides compete against each other in the clash of the football titans to see who will come out on top to win the coveted P2G Cup.
Proceeds from Saturday's fun friendly 90-minute match at the football club near the John Radcliffe Hospital will be donated to Headway Oxfordshireand the Children's Hospital. In September 2014 a P2G squad took on a team of staff from Didcot's Sainsbury's in the first ever P2G Match but unfortunately for Sainsbury's it was a case of sour grapes and lemons as our side beat them 20-1 and claimed The P2G Cup.
This year's P2G Stars are eager to retain the cup for a second time, and this time will be taking on much more (hopefully) exciting competition in the form of a team made up of charity representatives and supporters from the Headway charity in Kennington, Oxford - aptly called Headway Heroes.
This fundraising match we hope will net as much as £300 if not more into our fundraising coffers, and all the action kicks off at 5pm on the 3G Arena pitch. Spectators are most welcome to cheer on the sides.
Play2Give has been raising money for Oxfordshire charities since 2007, and over £45,940 has been donated - with over £36,410 of this donated to the Children's Hospital. We have a target of £40,000 to raise in total for the Children's Hospital (CHOX) in which to have our very own named room on the teenage ward at the hospital - we just £3,585 away from this very special goal. Hopefully Saturday's match and our other endeavours this year will edge us closer to achieving this landmark total. Whilst we have given Headway £1,850 since 2014 through various fundraising methods, including book sales, fundraising parties, a team in the Monster race last year and part of proceeds raised by a superheroes spinathon last September.
Speaking on behalf of Headway, the charity's events and publicity manager Charlie Hayes said: "We all have a special place in our hearts for Play2Give and all the amazing fundraising it has done over the years for its charities including for us at Headway Oxfordshire.
"Andy Baker's tireless support for us means a huge amount to all of us and we would also like to thank Oxford City FC for supporting this event."
Our other upcoming events including our charity disco on April 8th raising funds for Headway, together with our current running Easter egg raffle for the children's hospital, on April 16th a team in the Monster Race 2016 and on May 7th a team of Ploddering Play2Givers will again plod on round the Oxford Uni Parks in the annual Oxford 5k Fun Run, and in July a mens football tournament which entries are now open to 6 a side teams.
Oxford Mail: New year starts for footballing fundraiser Andrew Baker
2015 saw us as a fundraising organisation raise the most ever with £13,532 distributed to three local charities - Oxford Children's Hospital benefited from a record £9,439 alone last year.
Our fundraising year kicks off with a special football match host by Oxford City Football Club on Saturday (19th March) which will see two sides compete against each other in the clash of the football titans to see who will come out on top to win the coveted P2G Cup.
Proceeds from Saturday's fun friendly 90-minute match at the football club near the John Radcliffe Hospital will be donated to Headway Oxfordshireand the Children's Hospital. In September 2014 a P2G squad took on a team of staff from Didcot's Sainsbury's in the first ever P2G Match but unfortunately for Sainsbury's it was a case of sour grapes and lemons as our side beat them 20-1 and claimed The P2G Cup.
This year's P2G Stars are eager to retain the cup for a second time, and this time will be taking on much more (hopefully) exciting competition in the form of a team made up of charity representatives and supporters from the Headway charity in Kennington, Oxford - aptly called Headway Heroes.
This fundraising match we hope will net as much as £300 if not more into our fundraising coffers, and all the action kicks off at 5pm on the 3G Arena pitch. Spectators are most welcome to cheer on the sides.
Play2Give has been raising money for Oxfordshire charities since 2007, and over £45,940 has been donated - with over £36,410 of this donated to the Children's Hospital. We have a target of £40,000 to raise in total for the Children's Hospital (CHOX) in which to have our very own named room on the teenage ward at the hospital - we just £3,585 away from this very special goal. Hopefully Saturday's match and our other endeavours this year will edge us closer to achieving this landmark total. Whilst we have given Headway £1,850 since 2014 through various fundraising methods, including book sales, fundraising parties, a team in the Monster race last year and part of proceeds raised by a superheroes spinathon last September.
Speaking on behalf of Headway, the charity's events and publicity manager Charlie Hayes said: "We all have a special place in our hearts for Play2Give and all the amazing fundraising it has done over the years for its charities including for us at Headway Oxfordshire.
"Andy Baker's tireless support for us means a huge amount to all of us and we would also like to thank Oxford City FC for supporting this event."
Our other upcoming events including our charity disco on April 8th raising funds for Headway, together with our current running Easter egg raffle for the children's hospital, on April 16th a team in the Monster Race 2016 and on May 7th a team of Ploddering Play2Givers will again plod on round the Oxford Uni Parks in the annual Oxford 5k Fun Run, and in July a mens football tournament which entries are now open to 6 a side teams.
Oxford Mail: New year starts for footballing fundraiser Andrew Baker
Roll Up Roll Up for an Eggs-cellent Raffle - 13 March 2016
A cracking raffle is currently running and you would be eggs-tremely silly not to support it!
Thanks to our friend Lee Crook who works at Sainsbury's Didcot he has organised an Easter raffle to raise funds for the Oxford Children's Hospital - a charity we have supported since our creation in 2007 and of which we have raised £36,414 towards over the past 8 years.
Lee has been extremely fortunate to secure the donation of 19 chocolate Easter eggs for this yolking great idea which will see the draw for this mega raffle happen on March 23rd. The store itself has supported this eggs-scellent initiative by donating 9 eggs.
Play2Give has a commit to raising a grand £40,000 for the Oxford Children's Hospital in order to enable us as a fundraising organisation to have our very own named room on the teenage ward of the hospital. We are just £3,585.25 away from achieving this very special target that, once complete, The Play2Give Room will become a long lasting vision of reality on the Melanie's Ward - which is where one of our fellow team members Dale Harris's daughter Mya, now 13, will spend a large amount of her time on through her medical procedures and treatment going forward.
Lee has been a wonderful supporter to Play2Give since late 2014 when he learnt of us through the supermarket choosing P2G as their charity of the year during 2014-2015. Lee has done Movember, to a 1000km sponsored walk over 10 weeks and walked six hours from Didcot to the Children's Hospital dressed as Santa with a sack full of gifts all to raise funds accumulating over £1,000.
To buy any raffle tickets for this eggs-traordinary raffle please contact us. Ticket sales will close March 23rd by 10pm.
Thanks to our friend Lee Crook who works at Sainsbury's Didcot he has organised an Easter raffle to raise funds for the Oxford Children's Hospital - a charity we have supported since our creation in 2007 and of which we have raised £36,414 towards over the past 8 years.
Lee has been extremely fortunate to secure the donation of 19 chocolate Easter eggs for this yolking great idea which will see the draw for this mega raffle happen on March 23rd. The store itself has supported this eggs-scellent initiative by donating 9 eggs.
Play2Give has a commit to raising a grand £40,000 for the Oxford Children's Hospital in order to enable us as a fundraising organisation to have our very own named room on the teenage ward of the hospital. We are just £3,585.25 away from achieving this very special target that, once complete, The Play2Give Room will become a long lasting vision of reality on the Melanie's Ward - which is where one of our fellow team members Dale Harris's daughter Mya, now 13, will spend a large amount of her time on through her medical procedures and treatment going forward.
Lee has been a wonderful supporter to Play2Give since late 2014 when he learnt of us through the supermarket choosing P2G as their charity of the year during 2014-2015. Lee has done Movember, to a 1000km sponsored walk over 10 weeks and walked six hours from Didcot to the Children's Hospital dressed as Santa with a sack full of gifts all to raise funds accumulating over £1,000.
To buy any raffle tickets for this eggs-traordinary raffle please contact us. Ticket sales will close March 23rd by 10pm.
Making Headway with Fundraising Evening - 10 March 2016
The Didcot Town FC FA Cup Vase Donated by No Two Things
An array of great raffle prizes are trickling in for our raffle supporting Headway Oxfordshire at our sixth fundraising party (sponsored by Tom Houseman Heating and Plumbing) on April 8th.
So far, thanks to generous donations local and further afield, we have prizes including x6 Paintballing vouchers Donated by Delta Force Paintballing Reading worth £600 in total (£100 each), to a meal voucher for 2 people at a Handmade Burger Co restaurant, to tickets for Cotswold Wildlife Park, Crocodiles of the World and Blenheim Palace to a hairdressing voucher and Oxford open top bus tour to more.
The raffle draw at £1 a strip will be drawn on the night of P2G's fundraising disco on April 8th for Headway at Didcot Town Football Club. All the fun kicks off from 7.30pm.
No Two Things on the Broadway Didcot donated this lovely ceramic vase they made for the Didcot Town FA Cup game last year. This will also be a prize in the raffle on April 8th. Many thanks Di and Beth at this BACA award-winning shop.
Tickets for the Play2Give Charity Disco are available: £4.50 per person (under 10s go free). Contact us for tickets: These can be reserved and paid for on the door, or can be paid upfront via our donation website. At least 80 tickets must be sold - and all proceeds will benefit this wonderful local brain injury support charity based in Kennington, Oxford.
So far, thanks to generous donations local and further afield, we have prizes including x6 Paintballing vouchers Donated by Delta Force Paintballing Reading worth £600 in total (£100 each), to a meal voucher for 2 people at a Handmade Burger Co restaurant, to tickets for Cotswold Wildlife Park, Crocodiles of the World and Blenheim Palace to a hairdressing voucher and Oxford open top bus tour to more.
The raffle draw at £1 a strip will be drawn on the night of P2G's fundraising disco on April 8th for Headway at Didcot Town Football Club. All the fun kicks off from 7.30pm.
No Two Things on the Broadway Didcot donated this lovely ceramic vase they made for the Didcot Town FA Cup game last year. This will also be a prize in the raffle on April 8th. Many thanks Di and Beth at this BACA award-winning shop.
Tickets for the Play2Give Charity Disco are available: £4.50 per person (under 10s go free). Contact us for tickets: These can be reserved and paid for on the door, or can be paid upfront via our donation website. At least 80 tickets must be sold - and all proceeds will benefit this wonderful local brain injury support charity based in Kennington, Oxford.
Playing Santa Pays Off for Lee as a Terrific £200 is Raised for CHOX - 19 February 2016
Lee arriving outside CHOX on December 23rd playing Santa with a bundle of gifts delivered to the kids wards
A huge big thank you and well done to one of P2G's most loyal individual supporters Lee Crook of Sainsbury's in Didcot who raised an incredible £200 for Play2Give.
This fantastic amount of £200 will be donated to the Oxford Children's Hospital (CHOX) which was raised from his sponsored walk back in December.
Lee also raised £200 for the Sue Ryder Nettlebed Hospice - the current charity of the year of Sainsbury's in Didcot - where Lee works on nights.
Lee walked for just over a staggering 6 hours on the day before Xmas Eve trudging through fields from Didcot all the way to the Oxford Children's Hospital whilst dressed as Santa.
Congratulations Lee! Good work as ever! This accumulates to over an estimated £1,110 that Mr Crook has raised since late 2014 for local charities including that for P2G's causes such as CHOX and Headway Oxfordshire .
He has plans in 2016 to run an Easter raffle, to another Sleigh2Give festive fundraising campaign (albeit not walking such the long distance next time round) and another Christmas toy appeal for the Oxford Children's Hospital, and getting the 'P2G' logo tattooed on his body.
This fantastic amount of £200 will be donated to the Oxford Children's Hospital (CHOX) which was raised from his sponsored walk back in December.
Lee also raised £200 for the Sue Ryder Nettlebed Hospice - the current charity of the year of Sainsbury's in Didcot - where Lee works on nights.
Lee walked for just over a staggering 6 hours on the day before Xmas Eve trudging through fields from Didcot all the way to the Oxford Children's Hospital whilst dressed as Santa.
Congratulations Lee! Good work as ever! This accumulates to over an estimated £1,110 that Mr Crook has raised since late 2014 for local charities including that for P2G's causes such as CHOX and Headway Oxfordshire .
He has plans in 2016 to run an Easter raffle, to another Sleigh2Give festive fundraising campaign (albeit not walking such the long distance next time round) and another Christmas toy appeal for the Oxford Children's Hospital, and getting the 'P2G' logo tattooed on his body.
Winter e-Newsletter Hot off the Press - 17 February 2016
Our latest e-newsletter is now available to view.
Click Here to catch up with our edition 13 filled of all our latest fundraising successes, news and forthcoming events, as it's a packed one including our super record total netted in 2015 and edging nearer to our £40k goal for the children's hospital; Headway Oxfordshire makes the airwaves as well as a big cheque presentation and some donutty madcap fun to get in on as well as a fundraising disco, to more.
If you would like to be subscribed to receive future editions of the play2give e-news please contact us and we will add your details to our mailing list.
Happy reading!
Click Here to catch up with our edition 13 filled of all our latest fundraising successes, news and forthcoming events, as it's a packed one including our super record total netted in 2015 and edging nearer to our £40k goal for the children's hospital; Headway Oxfordshire makes the airwaves as well as a big cheque presentation and some donutty madcap fun to get in on as well as a fundraising disco, to more.
If you would like to be subscribed to receive future editions of the play2give e-news please contact us and we will add your details to our mailing list.
Happy reading!
Andrew and Headway Star on ITV Meridian - 22 January 2016
Click image to watch ITV Meridian report
Tuesday (January 19th) saw ITV Meridian Tonight visit Headway Oxfordshire's centre in Kennington to get the charity's reaction to Oxfordshire County Council's proposed £69 million budget cuts that is likely to affect Headway's vital service which supports around some 260 acquired brain injured survivors.
Our very own founder Andrew Baker set up an online petition last November - 'Save Our Headway - Brain Injured Will Battle Against the Cuts' - which has so far gained over 300 and growing signatures - with concerns to the county council's plans which would seHeadway Oxfordshire's service as a brain injury support charity severely reduced. This has already gained great support from the local media with publicity from Oxford Mail and the Didcot Herald as well as the Oxford Mail, BBC Radio Oxford and Oxfordshire Guardian, over the weeks.
Reporter from ITV Kate Bunkall came in to interview both chief executive officer Jamie Miller as well as member and fundraiser Andy who has been attending Headway's Activity & Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) for 4 years on the big impact the support service has had on his life and the loss he would feel if the services they provide had to be cut or diminished.
The "Big Society" says Jamie which PM David Cameron promised with such fanfare before the general election is in fact the very "Big Catastrophe".
Watch ITV's report here
Our very own founder Andrew Baker set up an online petition last November - 'Save Our Headway - Brain Injured Will Battle Against the Cuts' - which has so far gained over 300 and growing signatures - with concerns to the county council's plans which would seHeadway Oxfordshire's service as a brain injury support charity severely reduced. This has already gained great support from the local media with publicity from Oxford Mail and the Didcot Herald as well as the Oxford Mail, BBC Radio Oxford and Oxfordshire Guardian, over the weeks.
Reporter from ITV Kate Bunkall came in to interview both chief executive officer Jamie Miller as well as member and fundraiser Andy who has been attending Headway's Activity & Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) for 4 years on the big impact the support service has had on his life and the loss he would feel if the services they provide had to be cut or diminished.
The "Big Society" says Jamie which PM David Cameron promised with such fanfare before the general election is in fact the very "Big Catastrophe".
Watch ITV's report here
Andy Baker being interviewed by ITV Meridian Tonight at Headway Oxfordshire centre
£9,000 Record Fundraising Cheer to CHOX - 20 January 2016
3 Cheers! A champion total of £9,439 donated by champions to Oxford Children's Hospital from funds raised in 2015. Back, left-right: Helen McMahon and Barry Bear, Newbury Building Society, with Play2Give's Elaine Childs and Dale Harris, with Matthew Heavens from Breckon & Breckon and Penny Hambridge of the hospital. Front, left-right: Andrew, centre, with Oxford City FC's Enrique Guillen and Jose Lapoujade.
Play2Give celebrates smashing its most successful fundraising year ever for local charities!
2015 was the year that was that saw Oxfordshire fundraising organisation Play2Give raise its most ever amount of funds in history with a record £13,532.05 raised over the course of the year!
The group toasted to its success at the Oxford Children's Hospital on the evening of January 13th when the team presented hospital representatives with a grand cheque for the amount contributed to the hospital - which broke the previous year's record - totalling a whopping £9,439.75 scored last year! The group was joined by Barry Bear along with sponsors Newbury Building Society, Breckon & Breckon and Oxford City Football Club. The fundraising champs are now just £3,969 away from achieving their landmark £40,000 goal to name Play2Give's very own room on the Melanie's Ward of the hospital.
In 2014 the fundraising group, founded by Didcot's Andrew Baker, 27, in 2007, broke records with £9,838 raised - however through an ever growing range of supporters and innovative methods and variety of events last year, the £13,532 was the most ever raised in its 8-year history!
2015 saw a wide range of activities and events take place including many through a year's partnership with Sainsbury's Didcot. From bag packing and flower wrapping in the store, to fun runs, monster race, fundraising parties, our annual kids football tournament to superheroes spinathon and support from the Oxfordshire Sports Awards, all this and much more resulted in the incredible record £13,532 achieved!
Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Hospital's Paediatric Eye Fund both also benefited from the endeavours, with £1,765.79 and £2,389.01 donated to each. Over the past 8 years, a grand total of £45,559.43 has been given out to charities by the fundraising organisation, all run by a passionate team of volunteers - including Andrew himself, Dale Harris, Teresa Strike and Elaine Childs.
Andrew was inspired to raise money for charity in 2003 after being treated throughout childhood, including major brain surgery aged 12, in 2001. He began fundraising for the Oxford Children's Hospital aged 14 in 2003 with St Birinus School in Didcot. In 2007, he set up Play2Give, and the group which won Best Fundraising Award at the Business & Community Awards in November, now raises money each year for CHOX, as well as the Paediatric Eye Fund and Headway Oxfordshire. Andrew benefits from weekly rehabilitation and support from Headway due to the brain injury he sustained at birth. Dale Harris's daughter, Mya, now 13, has been treated by children's doctors in Oxford since she was born with Spina Bifida.
The kids football tournament is Play2Give's biggest main event held each summer, and last year a total of £5,732 was netted in for the children's hospital from the event last July.
Play2Give is already assembling its biggest ever team to take on the Monster Race in April and a team in the Oxford Fun Run in May. Its first event of this year will be a fundraising disco with man v food challenge on April 8th at Didcot Town Football Club which will raise funds for Headway Oxfordshire.
2015 was the year that was that saw Oxfordshire fundraising organisation Play2Give raise its most ever amount of funds in history with a record £13,532.05 raised over the course of the year!
The group toasted to its success at the Oxford Children's Hospital on the evening of January 13th when the team presented hospital representatives with a grand cheque for the amount contributed to the hospital - which broke the previous year's record - totalling a whopping £9,439.75 scored last year! The group was joined by Barry Bear along with sponsors Newbury Building Society, Breckon & Breckon and Oxford City Football Club. The fundraising champs are now just £3,969 away from achieving their landmark £40,000 goal to name Play2Give's very own room on the Melanie's Ward of the hospital.
In 2014 the fundraising group, founded by Didcot's Andrew Baker, 27, in 2007, broke records with £9,838 raised - however through an ever growing range of supporters and innovative methods and variety of events last year, the £13,532 was the most ever raised in its 8-year history!
2015 saw a wide range of activities and events take place including many through a year's partnership with Sainsbury's Didcot. From bag packing and flower wrapping in the store, to fun runs, monster race, fundraising parties, our annual kids football tournament to superheroes spinathon and support from the Oxfordshire Sports Awards, all this and much more resulted in the incredible record £13,532 achieved!
Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Hospital's Paediatric Eye Fund both also benefited from the endeavours, with £1,765.79 and £2,389.01 donated to each. Over the past 8 years, a grand total of £45,559.43 has been given out to charities by the fundraising organisation, all run by a passionate team of volunteers - including Andrew himself, Dale Harris, Teresa Strike and Elaine Childs.
Andrew was inspired to raise money for charity in 2003 after being treated throughout childhood, including major brain surgery aged 12, in 2001. He began fundraising for the Oxford Children's Hospital aged 14 in 2003 with St Birinus School in Didcot. In 2007, he set up Play2Give, and the group which won Best Fundraising Award at the Business & Community Awards in November, now raises money each year for CHOX, as well as the Paediatric Eye Fund and Headway Oxfordshire. Andrew benefits from weekly rehabilitation and support from Headway due to the brain injury he sustained at birth. Dale Harris's daughter, Mya, now 13, has been treated by children's doctors in Oxford since she was born with Spina Bifida.
The kids football tournament is Play2Give's biggest main event held each summer, and last year a total of £5,732 was netted in for the children's hospital from the event last July.
Play2Give is already assembling its biggest ever team to take on the Monster Race in April and a team in the Oxford Fun Run in May. Its first event of this year will be a fundraising disco with man v food challenge on April 8th at Didcot Town Football Club which will raise funds for Headway Oxfordshire.
It's a record £9,000 Salute! Oxford Children's Hospital receives £9,439.75 - Play2Give's biggest ever total raised for the hospital
Two Santa's and One Elf Spread Christmas Cheer to CHOX - 28 December 2015
Elf's the Way to do it: P2G's Andrew Baker, left, as Elf, with Lee Crook dressed as Santa on arrival at the children's hospital. Picture copyright Newsquest Oxfordshire
Christmas cheer was delivered in abundance last week to sick youngsters at Oxford Children's Hospital.
Thanks to our first ever Christmas Toy Appeal our very own Andrew Baker together with supporters and campaign collaborents, Lee Crookand Paul Tucker spread joy to two of the hospital wards dressed as Santa and their little helper brightening up the stay of youngsters unfortunate enough to be spending the yuletide period in hospital.
Andrew, dressed as Elf, whilst Lee and Paul played Santas's literally as the big bearded guy, toured Robin's Ward (the children's specialist surgery ward) and Melanie's Ward (the adolescent unit) brimmed with sacks full of donated toys and gifts.
The appeal was part of the December campaign called 'Sleigh2Give'.
Thanks to so many kind-hearted supporters, some from as far afield as Banbury. 3 very full and heavy sacks and more, made up donations totalling a few hundred gifts, which was very gratefully received by the children and their siblings who received the toys including games, puzzles and soft teddies, and we were pleased to see some of the patients on Robin's Ward had been discharged from the hospital when we visited.
For Lee his visit to the children's hospital was even more admirable as Lee had completed an epic walk to the hospital at the John Radcliffe in 6 hours after setting off from Sainsbury's Didcot, where he works as nightshift worker, around 6.15am on the day, arriving at Chox at around 12.20pm after strolling through fields through the countryside to deliver the toys on time.
Lee who completed his sponsored walk whilst dressed as Santa in 29.35 miles has raised just under £400 - proceeds of which will be split between Play2Give for the Children's Hospital and the Sue Ryder Nettlebed Hospice - Sainsbury's Didcot's charity of the year.
For Andrew and Paul visiting the wards was an emotional rollercoaster, for Paul as his son Theo had been treated when he was younger on the Tom's Ward whilst for Andrew being on Robin's Ward giving out the gifts brought back the memories of spending time on the Leopold Ward at the Radcliffe Infirmary (now Robin's Ward) when he was in childhood after spending time on the former ward for major brain surgery, when aged 12.
Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Andrew said: "It was an amazing thing for Lee to do, this epic walk. It was a bit emotional walking around the children's hospital handing out presents.
"It really brought it home for me as I had brain surgery when I was 12, and some of the children were recovering from major brain surgery.
"It was tear-jerking but also uplifting. It was really awesome to spread Christmas cheer."
For Lee, he was inspired to carry out his latest fundraising escapade in the form of this gruelling 6-hour walk after the store chose Play2Give as its charity of the year in July, 2014. By July, 2015 the store in the Orchard Centre, Didcot, had raised its most record total for any supported local charity of the year by raising an overall £4,310 for Play2Give - which saw proceeds raised donated to the children's hospital, and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund as well as brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire.
In November 2014, Lee forewent shaving for a month taking on 'Movember' which raised £116, in the February he walked 6 miles with a team of colleagues from the store from Didcot to Upton and back wearing his summer shirt and shorts on a bitterly cold Sunday, whilst over the course of 10 weeks in the summer he smashed over by taking on a 1000km sponsored walk, to obtaining a signed shirt from a squad of Reading FC Legends at a testimonial match played at Didcot Town FC's Loop Meadow ground, in May. In total, Lee has now raised over £1,115 for Play2Give and cancer research causes.
Thanks to our first ever Christmas Toy Appeal our very own Andrew Baker together with supporters and campaign collaborents, Lee Crookand Paul Tucker spread joy to two of the hospital wards dressed as Santa and their little helper brightening up the stay of youngsters unfortunate enough to be spending the yuletide period in hospital.
Andrew, dressed as Elf, whilst Lee and Paul played Santas's literally as the big bearded guy, toured Robin's Ward (the children's specialist surgery ward) and Melanie's Ward (the adolescent unit) brimmed with sacks full of donated toys and gifts.
The appeal was part of the December campaign called 'Sleigh2Give'.
Thanks to so many kind-hearted supporters, some from as far afield as Banbury. 3 very full and heavy sacks and more, made up donations totalling a few hundred gifts, which was very gratefully received by the children and their siblings who received the toys including games, puzzles and soft teddies, and we were pleased to see some of the patients on Robin's Ward had been discharged from the hospital when we visited.
For Lee his visit to the children's hospital was even more admirable as Lee had completed an epic walk to the hospital at the John Radcliffe in 6 hours after setting off from Sainsbury's Didcot, where he works as nightshift worker, around 6.15am on the day, arriving at Chox at around 12.20pm after strolling through fields through the countryside to deliver the toys on time.
Lee who completed his sponsored walk whilst dressed as Santa in 29.35 miles has raised just under £400 - proceeds of which will be split between Play2Give for the Children's Hospital and the Sue Ryder Nettlebed Hospice - Sainsbury's Didcot's charity of the year.
For Andrew and Paul visiting the wards was an emotional rollercoaster, for Paul as his son Theo had been treated when he was younger on the Tom's Ward whilst for Andrew being on Robin's Ward giving out the gifts brought back the memories of spending time on the Leopold Ward at the Radcliffe Infirmary (now Robin's Ward) when he was in childhood after spending time on the former ward for major brain surgery, when aged 12.
Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Andrew said: "It was an amazing thing for Lee to do, this epic walk. It was a bit emotional walking around the children's hospital handing out presents.
"It really brought it home for me as I had brain surgery when I was 12, and some of the children were recovering from major brain surgery.
"It was tear-jerking but also uplifting. It was really awesome to spread Christmas cheer."
For Lee, he was inspired to carry out his latest fundraising escapade in the form of this gruelling 6-hour walk after the store chose Play2Give as its charity of the year in July, 2014. By July, 2015 the store in the Orchard Centre, Didcot, had raised its most record total for any supported local charity of the year by raising an overall £4,310 for Play2Give - which saw proceeds raised donated to the children's hospital, and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund as well as brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire.
In November 2014, Lee forewent shaving for a month taking on 'Movember' which raised £116, in the February he walked 6 miles with a team of colleagues from the store from Didcot to Upton and back wearing his summer shirt and shorts on a bitterly cold Sunday, whilst over the course of 10 weeks in the summer he smashed over by taking on a 1000km sponsored walk, to obtaining a signed shirt from a squad of Reading FC Legends at a testimonial match played at Didcot Town FC's Loop Meadow ground, in May. In total, Lee has now raised over £1,115 for Play2Give and cancer research causes.
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Making Headway's Day with a £1,850 Gift - 11 December 2015
Andrew Baker presents Jamie Miller, CEO, of Headway, left, with the proceeds of two years worth of fundraising.
Play2Give brought some Headway cheer this week when Andrew Baker presented a huge cheque making life just that bit better for brain injured survivors and their carers.
Andrew, who himself is supported by the Headway Oxfordshire charity, handed over a cheque totalising £1,850.10 to Jamie Miller, Chief Executive Officer of the charity during their Christmas party on December 10th - held for service users, carers, staff and volunteers.
The festivities, at Kennington Village Hall, saw an impressive performance from the staff team with their very own hilarious take on the '12 Days of Christmas' much to rapturous applaud and cheers from the audience as well as a raffle and other fun and games. Andrew was delighted on behalf of the Play2Give team to present Jamie with the cheque raised from proceeds over the past two years of fundraising.
The group raised the money through a wide range of activities and events, from second hand book sale held by Sainsbury's Didcot in 2014 to some of the sponsorship Andrew himself raised early on in 2014 through having his head shaved, whilst in 2015 proceeds came through a fundraising party, a Play2Give team of ten in the Monster Race, a trio taking on the Oxford Fun Run in May with Andrew dressed as Batman's sidekick Robin in a wheelbarrow, £500 - part of the proceeds customers and staff at Sainsbury's in Didcot raised during their year of support, to a Superheroes Spinathon in September organsised by Didcot's Willowbrook Leisure Centre and part of the proceeds the Oxfordshire Sports Awards raised in November, 2014, through a raffle amongst guests.
Jamie Miller, on receiving the generous amount, said: "Everyone at Headway Oxfordshire is so impressed with Andrew and his team's fund raising with Play2Give and we are hugely grateful for the support they are giving us. At a time of such financial pressure on charities, it is particularly important that we receive support from our community to enable us to confirm us providing the essential services that we do to those affected by ABI, like Andrew himself receives through us. Thank you Andrew and all the Play2Give team"
Andrew added: "I am delighted to present this huge cheque to a cause that means so much to me. Headway Oxfordshire do amazing work to support so many living with brain injuries and such as the fact I receive that first-hand like so many others that this inspires me to lend my support to keep Headway's work going. It's a cause that means a lot to all of us at Play2Give, as two of the team's dad has received support from Headway over a year until his funding was sadly stopped after he too had come through treatment years ago. We look forward to raising more in 2016 through more exciting fundraising initiatives and events and hope to continue making headway for such a fantastic cause!"
Play2Give has donated over £45,550 to local charities since it was formed in 2007, and Headway Oxfordshire is one of its key charities, after Andrew, the Play2Give chief, started to receive support from the charity in 2012. It is currently backing a petition set up by Andrew to save Headway Oxfordshire from Oxfordshire county council cuts next year.
Andrew, who himself is supported by the Headway Oxfordshire charity, handed over a cheque totalising £1,850.10 to Jamie Miller, Chief Executive Officer of the charity during their Christmas party on December 10th - held for service users, carers, staff and volunteers.
The festivities, at Kennington Village Hall, saw an impressive performance from the staff team with their very own hilarious take on the '12 Days of Christmas' much to rapturous applaud and cheers from the audience as well as a raffle and other fun and games. Andrew was delighted on behalf of the Play2Give team to present Jamie with the cheque raised from proceeds over the past two years of fundraising.
The group raised the money through a wide range of activities and events, from second hand book sale held by Sainsbury's Didcot in 2014 to some of the sponsorship Andrew himself raised early on in 2014 through having his head shaved, whilst in 2015 proceeds came through a fundraising party, a Play2Give team of ten in the Monster Race, a trio taking on the Oxford Fun Run in May with Andrew dressed as Batman's sidekick Robin in a wheelbarrow, £500 - part of the proceeds customers and staff at Sainsbury's in Didcot raised during their year of support, to a Superheroes Spinathon in September organsised by Didcot's Willowbrook Leisure Centre and part of the proceeds the Oxfordshire Sports Awards raised in November, 2014, through a raffle amongst guests.
Jamie Miller, on receiving the generous amount, said: "Everyone at Headway Oxfordshire is so impressed with Andrew and his team's fund raising with Play2Give and we are hugely grateful for the support they are giving us. At a time of such financial pressure on charities, it is particularly important that we receive support from our community to enable us to confirm us providing the essential services that we do to those affected by ABI, like Andrew himself receives through us. Thank you Andrew and all the Play2Give team"
Andrew added: "I am delighted to present this huge cheque to a cause that means so much to me. Headway Oxfordshire do amazing work to support so many living with brain injuries and such as the fact I receive that first-hand like so many others that this inspires me to lend my support to keep Headway's work going. It's a cause that means a lot to all of us at Play2Give, as two of the team's dad has received support from Headway over a year until his funding was sadly stopped after he too had come through treatment years ago. We look forward to raising more in 2016 through more exciting fundraising initiatives and events and hope to continue making headway for such a fantastic cause!"
Play2Give has donated over £45,550 to local charities since it was formed in 2007, and Headway Oxfordshire is one of its key charities, after Andrew, the Play2Give chief, started to receive support from the charity in 2012. It is currently backing a petition set up by Andrew to save Headway Oxfordshire from Oxfordshire county council cuts next year.
Save Our Headway: Brain Injured Will Battle Against the Cuts - 10 December 2015
Play2Give are delighted to be involved in supporting a campaign to save Headway Oxfordshire, set up by our very own Andrew Baker after the news emerged that 'catastrophic' cuts may force the brain trauma charity to close.
Headway Oxfordshire is one of many Oxfordshire charities and social care services under threat in facing cuts of funding in proposals from Oxfordshire County Council as it bids to save £50m in its budget on top of £292m by 2018 as the council deals with a reduction in funding from central government. About 70% of the charity's funding currently comes from the county council, but its contract with the local authority is due to end next June - at the worse the charity could face staff redundancies or a reduction in the amount of services and ARC activities it currently offers.
Andrew started the e-petition (Save Our Headway: Brain Injured Will Battle Against The Cuts') after learning through the charity's staff that Headway, based in Kennington, is faced with possible closure. His campaign has already generated interest and coverage in the Oxfordshire Guardian, Oxford Mail and Herald newspapers, as well as an interview on BBC Radio Oxford.
The recent £450,000 windfall from the Big Lottery Fund will be spent on Headway Oxfordshire's ABI (acute brain injury) satellite service, which has hubs in Didcot, Bicester, Witney and central Oxford. The satellite service allows community support workers to reach out to people with ABI, who struggle to get transport to its main base in Bagley Wood Road. Despite the £450k it is not enough for Headway Oxfordshire to survive on alone - as it costs around £250,000-£300,000 per year to keep its services going!
Andrew was born with a brain injury and spent his first days fighting for life in the John Radcliffe Hospital's special care baby unit. His injury meant he could not talk until his six years old - and received years of speech and language therapy, as well as special needs schooling for developmental and learning difficulties. At the age of 8, Andrew suffered a further head injury when he was knocked over in the playground at primary school in Oxford - resulting in major surgery at the Radcliffe Infirmary at the age of 12, after years of suffering headaches and a haematoma growth. During the operation, a blood clot formed resulting in complications - but the miraculous surgeons made Andrew pull through. Despite years of treatment for various medical problems and interventions throughout his childhood, the full extent of the brain injury wasn't identified until an MRI scan at the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery in London picked up the injury.
In 2012 Andrew was referred to the Activity & Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) and attends the centre as part of his rehabilitation every Tuesday.
He receives physiotherapy sessions, as well as taking part in tai chi and yoga as well as other forms of therapies, to rebuild his strength, improve balance, plus cognitive and social skills sessions, and help vocationally, as well as having his confidence built back up which lead to gaining a part-time job at Sainsbury's in Didcot.
Andrew said: "Headway has been a valuable and important part of my rehabilitation for my brain injury. If it wasn't for Headway Oxfordshire, I wouldn't have been able to make such big leaps and bounds in my recovery. Thanks to them many aspects of my life have improved.
"The NHS is limited in its resources - particularly for after care support for those with conditions such as brain injuries. There isn't enough support. Headway is really specialised with a brilliant team who really do reach out and care and support not just for us as individuals but the carers too. They are really welcoming and friendly!"
"If the county council cuts the funding for Headway, it would be a huge, devastating loss. Headway is a lifeline for so many people under its care, and for many socialisation is a huge part of that. Without it many would feel more isolated and lonely - as carers receive support, such as respite with breaks and those without transport would not have access to help because the community outreach programme would not exist."
You can support Andrew and help save Headway Oxfordshire by clicking the link below. Pictured below are recent articles as printed in the local press.
Sign the petition
Oxford Mail: Brain-damaged man petitions to save the Headway branch that helped him
Headway Oxfordshire is one of many Oxfordshire charities and social care services under threat in facing cuts of funding in proposals from Oxfordshire County Council as it bids to save £50m in its budget on top of £292m by 2018 as the council deals with a reduction in funding from central government. About 70% of the charity's funding currently comes from the county council, but its contract with the local authority is due to end next June - at the worse the charity could face staff redundancies or a reduction in the amount of services and ARC activities it currently offers.
Andrew started the e-petition (Save Our Headway: Brain Injured Will Battle Against The Cuts') after learning through the charity's staff that Headway, based in Kennington, is faced with possible closure. His campaign has already generated interest and coverage in the Oxfordshire Guardian, Oxford Mail and Herald newspapers, as well as an interview on BBC Radio Oxford.
The recent £450,000 windfall from the Big Lottery Fund will be spent on Headway Oxfordshire's ABI (acute brain injury) satellite service, which has hubs in Didcot, Bicester, Witney and central Oxford. The satellite service allows community support workers to reach out to people with ABI, who struggle to get transport to its main base in Bagley Wood Road. Despite the £450k it is not enough for Headway Oxfordshire to survive on alone - as it costs around £250,000-£300,000 per year to keep its services going!
Andrew was born with a brain injury and spent his first days fighting for life in the John Radcliffe Hospital's special care baby unit. His injury meant he could not talk until his six years old - and received years of speech and language therapy, as well as special needs schooling for developmental and learning difficulties. At the age of 8, Andrew suffered a further head injury when he was knocked over in the playground at primary school in Oxford - resulting in major surgery at the Radcliffe Infirmary at the age of 12, after years of suffering headaches and a haematoma growth. During the operation, a blood clot formed resulting in complications - but the miraculous surgeons made Andrew pull through. Despite years of treatment for various medical problems and interventions throughout his childhood, the full extent of the brain injury wasn't identified until an MRI scan at the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery in London picked up the injury.
In 2012 Andrew was referred to the Activity & Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) and attends the centre as part of his rehabilitation every Tuesday.
He receives physiotherapy sessions, as well as taking part in tai chi and yoga as well as other forms of therapies, to rebuild his strength, improve balance, plus cognitive and social skills sessions, and help vocationally, as well as having his confidence built back up which lead to gaining a part-time job at Sainsbury's in Didcot.
Andrew said: "Headway has been a valuable and important part of my rehabilitation for my brain injury. If it wasn't for Headway Oxfordshire, I wouldn't have been able to make such big leaps and bounds in my recovery. Thanks to them many aspects of my life have improved.
"The NHS is limited in its resources - particularly for after care support for those with conditions such as brain injuries. There isn't enough support. Headway is really specialised with a brilliant team who really do reach out and care and support not just for us as individuals but the carers too. They are really welcoming and friendly!"
"If the county council cuts the funding for Headway, it would be a huge, devastating loss. Headway is a lifeline for so many people under its care, and for many socialisation is a huge part of that. Without it many would feel more isolated and lonely - as carers receive support, such as respite with breaks and those without transport would not have access to help because the community outreach programme would not exist."
You can support Andrew and help save Headway Oxfordshire by clicking the link below. Pictured below are recent articles as printed in the local press.
Sign the petition
Oxford Mail: Brain-damaged man petitions to save the Headway branch that helped him
Oxford Mail - December 21 2015
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The Herald - December 9 2015
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Milton Park Company Gives Christmas Gift of £500 - 9 December 2015
£500... That's the fantastic amount that one Oxfordshire company has donated to Play2Give moved after the father of a son whose best friends with our Andrew Baker was inspired to hear about our work.
Cannon Packing and Logistics Ltd based on Milton Park near Didcot have donated £500 as part of their Christmas charitable scheme donation. This donation will help ensure that Play2Give can continue its work to raise funds for local charities as it will go towards helping towards fundraising costs and initiatives in 2016.
Cannon Packing and Logistics perform contract packing for a diverse range of companies. Cannon has developed into a company that offers over and beyond the expected, as well as offering complimentary services for every kind of contract packing, including packaging engineering, labels and labelling systems, and have come a long way in the past 100 years.
Thanks to Chris Norris for establishing this link and which in turn lead to this very generous donation from Cannon, after Chris filled them in on our organisation and the hard work of the team like Andrew whose best friends with Chris's son, Luke Norris.
Samantha, Account Manager, at Cannon said, of the donation: "
Huge thanks to all the directors and staff - and we wish them a very Merry Christmas for their wonderful generosity and philanthropy! It will make a very real difference to our work, and adds to the £100 we won as prize money from our win at the Business & Community Awards in November when we scooped the 'Best Fundraising Award' honour.
Cannon Packing and Logistics Ltd based on Milton Park near Didcot have donated £500 as part of their Christmas charitable scheme donation. This donation will help ensure that Play2Give can continue its work to raise funds for local charities as it will go towards helping towards fundraising costs and initiatives in 2016.
Cannon Packing and Logistics perform contract packing for a diverse range of companies. Cannon has developed into a company that offers over and beyond the expected, as well as offering complimentary services for every kind of contract packing, including packaging engineering, labels and labelling systems, and have come a long way in the past 100 years.
Thanks to Chris Norris for establishing this link and which in turn lead to this very generous donation from Cannon, after Chris filled them in on our organisation and the hard work of the team like Andrew whose best friends with Chris's son, Luke Norris.
Samantha, Account Manager, at Cannon said, of the donation: "
Huge thanks to all the directors and staff - and we wish them a very Merry Christmas for their wonderful generosity and philanthropy! It will make a very real difference to our work, and adds to the £100 we won as prize money from our win at the Business & Community Awards in November when we scooped the 'Best Fundraising Award' honour.
Winter 2015 Newsletter - 4 December 2015
Our winter 2015 edition containing all our latest news and events is now hot off the press. Included is...
Play2Give Wins Best of Fundraising accolade at prestigious 'Oscars of Didcot' night; fundraisers get in a spin to raise supehero sum; we're supporting a petition to Save Our Headway and our events for the first half of 2016 plus a festive feelgood 'Sleigh2Give' campaign with a sponsored walk and toy appeal and our best year of fundraising ever smashes all records!
View online
Play2Give Wins Best of Fundraising accolade at prestigious 'Oscars of Didcot' night; fundraisers get in a spin to raise supehero sum; we're supporting a petition to Save Our Headway and our events for the first half of 2016 plus a festive feelgood 'Sleigh2Give' campaign with a sponsored walk and toy appeal and our best year of fundraising ever smashes all records!
View online
Oxfordshire Sports Awards Supports Play2Give - 1 December 2015
The glittering room that played host to the awards ceremony
For a second year running, we were delighted to be the chosen beneficiary of the Oxfordshire Sports Awards held on Friday evening (November 28th) in a prestigious awards dinner at the Kassam Stadium, home of Oxford United Football Club.
The Awards - the tenth - celebrated and recognised athletes, coaches, volunteers, teams and unsung heroes for their shine in the spotlight they deserved - and they once again raised money for Play2Give on the night.
At the November 2014 awards, £551.10 was raised by generous guests through a raffle and table bucket collections, and it is hoped this year the guests will have been charitably generous yet again - with prizes this year in the raffle included a signed Cricket Bat and a membership.
The Oxfordshire Sports Awards is an annual event organised and host by Oxfordshire Sport and Physical Activity (Oxspa), supported by official broadcast partner, BBC Oxford, and the Oxford Mail as official media partner. 2015 marked the 10th Awards Ceremony which has grown in popularity, size and stature since its creation (such that this year saw ticket sales sell out in record time and more tables and guests than ever before attended) and is seen as the flagship event of the year for Oxspa.
The Awards incorporates nominations from across the county, raising the profile of sport and physical activity and creating a unified celebration of sporting excellence - this year a staggering amount of nominations was received - more than in any previous year - and particularly the most number of nominations seen in the Junior Sportsperson of the Year - making the task for the Judging panel to pick the winners incredibly difficult resulting in heated arguments and debates! All finalists were invited to celebrate their achievements - be it winners or runners up - at the swish evening which included a 3-course meal, pre awards drinks reception and Jerome Sale, BBC Oxford sports presenter hosting the entire evening!
Our Andrew Baker and Craig Harris represented Play2Give and was awe-struck and sincerely delighted to be in amongst a packed room of hundreds of Oxfordshire's best sportsmen and women, young and old, teams, coaches, sporting schools, active workplaces and unsung heroes - such as Rupert Evans who won the Special Recogntion Award 2015 (Sir Roger Bannister took the gong in 2014).
A huge thank you from us to Zoe O'Neill at Oxspa for once organising such a wonderful, amazing and inspirational evening and for allowing us to attend but also receive the funds raised. Funds raised for Play2Give will be shared between the Headway Oxfordshire brain injury charity based in Kennington, Oxford and to the Children's Hospital at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
We hope long may our affiliation and partnership with Oxfordshire Sport & Physical Activity and in particular being the Oxfordshire Sports Awardschosen charity continue for many years to come - it is a fantastic occasion and a fantastic event to be involved in and one with great networking opportunities for us as a fundraising organisation - so a very big thank you again to Oxspa for their wonderful continued support and to everyone who gave so generously on the night - thank you!
2015 SPORTS AWARDS WINNERS
The Awards - the tenth - celebrated and recognised athletes, coaches, volunteers, teams and unsung heroes for their shine in the spotlight they deserved - and they once again raised money for Play2Give on the night.
At the November 2014 awards, £551.10 was raised by generous guests through a raffle and table bucket collections, and it is hoped this year the guests will have been charitably generous yet again - with prizes this year in the raffle included a signed Cricket Bat and a membership.
The Oxfordshire Sports Awards is an annual event organised and host by Oxfordshire Sport and Physical Activity (Oxspa), supported by official broadcast partner, BBC Oxford, and the Oxford Mail as official media partner. 2015 marked the 10th Awards Ceremony which has grown in popularity, size and stature since its creation (such that this year saw ticket sales sell out in record time and more tables and guests than ever before attended) and is seen as the flagship event of the year for Oxspa.
The Awards incorporates nominations from across the county, raising the profile of sport and physical activity and creating a unified celebration of sporting excellence - this year a staggering amount of nominations was received - more than in any previous year - and particularly the most number of nominations seen in the Junior Sportsperson of the Year - making the task for the Judging panel to pick the winners incredibly difficult resulting in heated arguments and debates! All finalists were invited to celebrate their achievements - be it winners or runners up - at the swish evening which included a 3-course meal, pre awards drinks reception and Jerome Sale, BBC Oxford sports presenter hosting the entire evening!
Our Andrew Baker and Craig Harris represented Play2Give and was awe-struck and sincerely delighted to be in amongst a packed room of hundreds of Oxfordshire's best sportsmen and women, young and old, teams, coaches, sporting schools, active workplaces and unsung heroes - such as Rupert Evans who won the Special Recogntion Award 2015 (Sir Roger Bannister took the gong in 2014).
A huge thank you from us to Zoe O'Neill at Oxspa for once organising such a wonderful, amazing and inspirational evening and for allowing us to attend but also receive the funds raised. Funds raised for Play2Give will be shared between the Headway Oxfordshire brain injury charity based in Kennington, Oxford and to the Children's Hospital at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
We hope long may our affiliation and partnership with Oxfordshire Sport & Physical Activity and in particular being the Oxfordshire Sports Awardschosen charity continue for many years to come - it is a fantastic occasion and a fantastic event to be involved in and one with great networking opportunities for us as a fundraising organisation - so a very big thank you again to Oxspa for their wonderful continued support and to everyone who gave so generously on the night - thank you!
2015 SPORTS AWARDS WINNERS
- Active Workplace Award - Sponsored by Ignite Sport
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Sports Development Project of the Year - Sponsored by Gleeds
- Youth Ambition
- Sporting School(s) of the Year - Sponsored by Oxford City Council
- Sunningwell Primary School
- King Alfred's Academy Wantage (Secondary)
- Young Volunteer of the Year - Sponsored by Oxford United Community Trust
- Chloe Smart (Football & Ice Hockey)
- Junior Sports Team of the Year - Sponsored by Rugby League Inspires
- Didcot Girls School U15s Football Team
- Disability Sports Award of the Year - Sponsored by GLL
- Minster Lovell Inclusive Cricket Team
- Junior Sportsperson of the Year - Sponsored by GLL
- Jade O'Dowda (Athletics)
- Special Recogntion Award - Rupert Evans (Cricket)
- Club of the Year - Sponsored by Fusion Lifestyle
- Banbury & District Canoe Club
- Coach of the Year - Sponsored by Legacy Leisure
- Julie McDermaid (Netball)
- Sports Team of the Year - Sponsored by Rhino Rugby
- Oxford School of Gymnastics
- Unsung Hero - Sponsored by Five on a Bike
- Gary Dent (Ice Hockey)
- Sportswoman of the Year - Sponsored by Brookes Sport
- Demi Lambourne (Football)
- Sportsman of the Year - Sponsored by Brookes Sport
- Jack Brooks (Cricket)
Play2Give Is Best of Fundraising Winner in 2015 BACAs - 16 November 2015
Dale, Andrew (centre) and Teresa, presented with the award by Mayor of Didcot, right, and sponsor Didcot Rotary Club, left
We are thrilled to have won a prestigious Business & Community Award (BACA) at a gala awards evening held on Friday 13th November - and what a lucky 13th it was!
Representatives and the three original team members of Play2Give, Andrew Baker (founder) together with Dale Harris and Teresa Strike attended the gala event held at the Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot and were presented with the Best Fundraising Innovation Award by the judge and award sponsor, Didcot Rotary Club's Colin Campbell and Mayor of Didcot, Des Healy, and given a cash prize of £100 towards our good work in the community supporting local charities.
The ceremony on Friday night was attended by 36 shortlisted organisations, local dignitaries and business leaders, and we were delighted to be honoured in front of 220 guests at a sold-out Auditorium. During the glittering 'Oscars' style event, exciting local Acts including Didcot Sings Choir, Wantage Silver Band and Didcot Phoenix Taekwondo entertained the audience, in between award presentations.
Andrew, 27, said: "We were really surprised to bag the best fundraising award at this year's BACAs and we are immensely proud of our achievement on winning this very special gong. This year has been our most successful year of fundraising to date, so to win this award unexpectedly in our best year yet symbolising our commitment to a catalyst of charities is the icing on the cake for Play2Give!"
Andrew added: "We all work incredibly hard each year to raise as much money as we can for our chosen charities and we look forward to another busy and momentous year of fundraising ahead. Winning this award really means a lot to us as volunteers with a real passion. The event was a fantastic night with lots of incredible talent and the great of Didcot's charitable and business heroes all together in one room!"
Emma East, from Didcot First said: "We are delighted the Judges chose Play2Give to receive a BACAs award, which recognises them for their hard work and dedication to the local community."
This was the 7th year of the BACAs, organised by Didcot First, and supported by Taylor Wimpey. Individual awards were sponsored by Delicious of Wantage, Didcot Chamber of Commerce, Jennings of Garsington Ltd, Rotary Club of Didcot, Wallingford & District Rotary Club, Soha Housing and UTC Oxfordshire.
We would like to say a very big thank you to the BACAs and their Judges for choosing us to win - we are over the moon to have been recognised not just as a shortlisted finalist but as the very best of fundraising winner and we would like to thank all of our very loyal and ever growing supporters who have helped us towards winning this special recognition, and throughout our 8-year history!
For details of all nominated and shortlisted nominees, please see www.didcotfirst.org.uk
Representatives and the three original team members of Play2Give, Andrew Baker (founder) together with Dale Harris and Teresa Strike attended the gala event held at the Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot and were presented with the Best Fundraising Innovation Award by the judge and award sponsor, Didcot Rotary Club's Colin Campbell and Mayor of Didcot, Des Healy, and given a cash prize of £100 towards our good work in the community supporting local charities.
The ceremony on Friday night was attended by 36 shortlisted organisations, local dignitaries and business leaders, and we were delighted to be honoured in front of 220 guests at a sold-out Auditorium. During the glittering 'Oscars' style event, exciting local Acts including Didcot Sings Choir, Wantage Silver Band and Didcot Phoenix Taekwondo entertained the audience, in between award presentations.
Andrew, 27, said: "We were really surprised to bag the best fundraising award at this year's BACAs and we are immensely proud of our achievement on winning this very special gong. This year has been our most successful year of fundraising to date, so to win this award unexpectedly in our best year yet symbolising our commitment to a catalyst of charities is the icing on the cake for Play2Give!"
Andrew added: "We all work incredibly hard each year to raise as much money as we can for our chosen charities and we look forward to another busy and momentous year of fundraising ahead. Winning this award really means a lot to us as volunteers with a real passion. The event was a fantastic night with lots of incredible talent and the great of Didcot's charitable and business heroes all together in one room!"
Emma East, from Didcot First said: "We are delighted the Judges chose Play2Give to receive a BACAs award, which recognises them for their hard work and dedication to the local community."
This was the 7th year of the BACAs, organised by Didcot First, and supported by Taylor Wimpey. Individual awards were sponsored by Delicious of Wantage, Didcot Chamber of Commerce, Jennings of Garsington Ltd, Rotary Club of Didcot, Wallingford & District Rotary Club, Soha Housing and UTC Oxfordshire.
We would like to say a very big thank you to the BACAs and their Judges for choosing us to win - we are over the moon to have been recognised not just as a shortlisted finalist but as the very best of fundraising winner and we would like to thank all of our very loyal and ever growing supporters who have helped us towards winning this special recognition, and throughout our 8-year history!
For details of all nominated and shortlisted nominees, please see www.didcotfirst.org.uk
All the winners on stage at the end of the night.
Best Fundraising Winners in the BACAs - 14 November 2015
We are delighted to announce that Play2Give were crowned winners at the Business & Community Awards (BACAs) 2015 which celebrated the very best of Didcot's businesses, enterprises, charities and community groups.
Andrew Baker together with fellow team members Dale Harris and Teresa Strike represented Play2Give at the awards ceremony held last night - November 13th - at the Cornerstone Arts Centre in the town.
We are incredibly proud to have won the Best Fundraising Award for best innovative fundraising and campaigns which is the icing on the cake for us as this year has seen Play2Give celebrate its most successful fundraising year ever to date, with over £13,500 raised - £4,310 of that raised by Sainsbury's.
Full report with pictures to follow......
Andrew Baker together with fellow team members Dale Harris and Teresa Strike represented Play2Give at the awards ceremony held last night - November 13th - at the Cornerstone Arts Centre in the town.
We are incredibly proud to have won the Best Fundraising Award for best innovative fundraising and campaigns which is the icing on the cake for us as this year has seen Play2Give celebrate its most successful fundraising year ever to date, with over £13,500 raised - £4,310 of that raised by Sainsbury's.
Full report with pictures to follow......
Shortlisted For a BACA in 'The Oscars of Didcot' - 28 October 2015
Play2Give is delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted in the annual prestigious Didcot Business & Community Awards 2015.
The initiative, organised by Didcot First and sponsored by Taylor Wimpey, celebrates all that is best about the town and the winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony on Friday 13th November.
We are selected in the 'Best Fundraising Innovation/Campaign' category and are up against Didcot-based bomb disposal charity, Felix Fund, and the Abingdon & District Young Farmers. Both incredibly worthy contenders - and we wish both groups the very best of luck as we await with great excitement to find out who has won in this category at the awards evening, held at Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot.
The BACAs, now in their seventh year, recognises and rewards excellence amongst local businesses, community groups, charities and young enterprise in and around Didcot. The event, on November 13th, will see a 'Oscars-style' ceremony interspersed with special performances including live music from a band, together with the attendance of all the shortlisted finalists, local dignitaries, VIPs and business leaders, where the winners of 12 gongs will be announced and handed out.
This news is the icing on the cake for us, as this year has seen our most successful and record-breaking year of fundraising ever in our 8-year history, with over £13,000 raised for our charities including Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire. To be nominated and then shortlisted is an amazing humbling honour and we are incredibly proud.
In 2014 we celebrated having raised what was our record total of £9,838. To top this in 2015 and be recognised in the BACAs for our innovative and successful fundraising - is a real achievement and we thank all of our wonderful supporters who support us so well each and every year, whether its through taking part in our events, donating money, or organising their own activities and events to Sainsbury's Didcot for a great partnership over the course of a year until July, this year - all of whom have helped make this achievement possible!
In total since we were formed by Andrew Baker in 2007, we have raised over £45,600 for local charities, principally the Oxford Children's Hospital which we have donated over £36,100 to and, now, we are just under £4,000 away from achieving a £40,000 goal to name Play2Give's very own room on the teenage ward within the hospital.
We look forward to the grand occasion in November and finding out if we have won in the Best Fundraising Innovation/Campaign - please wish us good luck - and best of luck to our co-finalists too!
That's Oxford TV recently spoke to our founder and chief Andy Baker about our shortlisting and how it feels to be in amongst the very best of Didcot's businesses, charities and community groups. Click the YouTube icon below to watch the report.
Full list of shortlisted finalists and nominees
The initiative, organised by Didcot First and sponsored by Taylor Wimpey, celebrates all that is best about the town and the winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony on Friday 13th November.
We are selected in the 'Best Fundraising Innovation/Campaign' category and are up against Didcot-based bomb disposal charity, Felix Fund, and the Abingdon & District Young Farmers. Both incredibly worthy contenders - and we wish both groups the very best of luck as we await with great excitement to find out who has won in this category at the awards evening, held at Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot.
The BACAs, now in their seventh year, recognises and rewards excellence amongst local businesses, community groups, charities and young enterprise in and around Didcot. The event, on November 13th, will see a 'Oscars-style' ceremony interspersed with special performances including live music from a band, together with the attendance of all the shortlisted finalists, local dignitaries, VIPs and business leaders, where the winners of 12 gongs will be announced and handed out.
This news is the icing on the cake for us, as this year has seen our most successful and record-breaking year of fundraising ever in our 8-year history, with over £13,000 raised for our charities including Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire. To be nominated and then shortlisted is an amazing humbling honour and we are incredibly proud.
In 2014 we celebrated having raised what was our record total of £9,838. To top this in 2015 and be recognised in the BACAs for our innovative and successful fundraising - is a real achievement and we thank all of our wonderful supporters who support us so well each and every year, whether its through taking part in our events, donating money, or organising their own activities and events to Sainsbury's Didcot for a great partnership over the course of a year until July, this year - all of whom have helped make this achievement possible!
In total since we were formed by Andrew Baker in 2007, we have raised over £45,600 for local charities, principally the Oxford Children's Hospital which we have donated over £36,100 to and, now, we are just under £4,000 away from achieving a £40,000 goal to name Play2Give's very own room on the teenage ward within the hospital.
We look forward to the grand occasion in November and finding out if we have won in the Best Fundraising Innovation/Campaign - please wish us good luck - and best of luck to our co-finalists too!
That's Oxford TV recently spoke to our founder and chief Andy Baker about our shortlisting and how it feels to be in amongst the very best of Didcot's businesses, charities and community groups. Click the YouTube icon below to watch the report.
Full list of shortlisted finalists and nominees
Willowbrook Superheroes Get in a Spin for Charity - 21 September 2015
Spinathon Superheroes with Andrew Baker, right, as Robin
Spinathon competitors are supeheroes for one day raising super funds for charity!
Fundraisers got in a spin at Willowbrook Leisure Centre with a fun 6-hour endurance Spinathonchallenge raising funds for local charities through supporting Play2Give's fundraising objectives.
The event, Superhero themed, was great fun and saw around 35 participants take part in six 6-hour sessions throughout the day, which even saw the likes of Batwoman, Spiderman, evil Spiderman, Superwoman and Batman's best friend, Robin (alias Andrew Baker), take part too adding to the hilarity!
The leisure centre in Didcot, on Bowmont Water, chose to donate all proceeds raised to Play2Give - a local fundraising organisation set up by the town's Andrew Baker, 27, in 2007. The event which was a success raised £383.57 - and proceeds also came from a cakes sale and raffle, with cakes from doughnuts to cupcakes donated by Tesco and Sainsbury's, both in the town.
Raffle prizes came in the form of two giftcards donated by The Entertainer toy shop in the Orchard Centre, a bottle of prosecco and Ferrero Rocher chocolates from Tesco Didcot, various membership vouchers donated by Willowbrook and a £20 Zoddys Tattoo voucher, to a £10 Next giftcard.
Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire will both benefit from a share each of the £383.57 raised!
With huge thanks to our friends at the leisure centre, part of Soll Leisure, for running this great event and for their support in choosing to help us with our fundraising objectives. The team at the centre are now planning to organise more events and get involved in various other fundraisers to support Play2Give next year. The fundraising organisation has donated over £44,000 since 2007 to numerous local charities, with its main supported charity being the Children's Hospital after Andrew was treated there.
Fundraisers got in a spin at Willowbrook Leisure Centre with a fun 6-hour endurance Spinathonchallenge raising funds for local charities through supporting Play2Give's fundraising objectives.
The event, Superhero themed, was great fun and saw around 35 participants take part in six 6-hour sessions throughout the day, which even saw the likes of Batwoman, Spiderman, evil Spiderman, Superwoman and Batman's best friend, Robin (alias Andrew Baker), take part too adding to the hilarity!
The leisure centre in Didcot, on Bowmont Water, chose to donate all proceeds raised to Play2Give - a local fundraising organisation set up by the town's Andrew Baker, 27, in 2007. The event which was a success raised £383.57 - and proceeds also came from a cakes sale and raffle, with cakes from doughnuts to cupcakes donated by Tesco and Sainsbury's, both in the town.
Raffle prizes came in the form of two giftcards donated by The Entertainer toy shop in the Orchard Centre, a bottle of prosecco and Ferrero Rocher chocolates from Tesco Didcot, various membership vouchers donated by Willowbrook and a £20 Zoddys Tattoo voucher, to a £10 Next giftcard.
Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire will both benefit from a share each of the £383.57 raised!
With huge thanks to our friends at the leisure centre, part of Soll Leisure, for running this great event and for their support in choosing to help us with our fundraising objectives. The team at the centre are now planning to organise more events and get involved in various other fundraisers to support Play2Give next year. The fundraising organisation has donated over £44,000 since 2007 to numerous local charities, with its main supported charity being the Children's Hospital after Andrew was treated there.
Charity Spinathon at Willowbrook Leisure Centre, Didcot, to raise money for Play2Give - 28 August 2015
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Willowbrook Leisure Centre in Didcot, Oxfordshire, has announced that it is hosting a Charity Spinathon on Saturday 19th September to raise money for local charity group, Play2Give.
The centre is operated by charitable leisure management company Soll Leisure, and all of the community are invited get active to help raise money for a great cause.
The spin sessions will start at 09:30am and run until 3:30pm, consisting of 6 hour blocks of spinning. Participants can pay for individual sessions at £5 or for all 6 at £25, with all proceeds going to charity. There will also be a raffle, face paints, cake sale and bouncy castle providing something for everyone in the local community.
Play2Give is a local volunteer-run fundraising organisation based in Oxfordshire raising funds for the Oxford Children's Hospital, John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund and brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire. Andrew Baker of Didcot setup Play2Give in 2007 and he is delighted to see another event taking place supporting his organisation, "we are all really excited about the Spinathon, and it will be great to see everyone come together to support local charities. Play2Give would like to thank everyone who comes along and takes part in the Spinathon and of course to Willowbrook for their fantastic support".
Community Development Manager for Soll Leisure, Richard Claydon, commented "It is great that Soll Leisure can support local charities through events like the Spinathon, we hope that lots of people join us to get active and raise money to support local charities."
If you are interested in booking a space on the Spinathon or have any questions you can contact Willowbrook Leisure Centre on 01235 812058. If you would like more information about how Soll Leisure can help with specific group projects to improve fitness levels you can contact the Community Development Manager on 01235 861289.
Related Links:
The centre is operated by charitable leisure management company Soll Leisure, and all of the community are invited get active to help raise money for a great cause.
The spin sessions will start at 09:30am and run until 3:30pm, consisting of 6 hour blocks of spinning. Participants can pay for individual sessions at £5 or for all 6 at £25, with all proceeds going to charity. There will also be a raffle, face paints, cake sale and bouncy castle providing something for everyone in the local community.
Play2Give is a local volunteer-run fundraising organisation based in Oxfordshire raising funds for the Oxford Children's Hospital, John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund and brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire. Andrew Baker of Didcot setup Play2Give in 2007 and he is delighted to see another event taking place supporting his organisation, "we are all really excited about the Spinathon, and it will be great to see everyone come together to support local charities. Play2Give would like to thank everyone who comes along and takes part in the Spinathon and of course to Willowbrook for their fantastic support".
Community Development Manager for Soll Leisure, Richard Claydon, commented "It is great that Soll Leisure can support local charities through events like the Spinathon, we hope that lots of people join us to get active and raise money to support local charities."
If you are interested in booking a space on the Spinathon or have any questions you can contact Willowbrook Leisure Centre on 01235 812058. If you would like more information about how Soll Leisure can help with specific group projects to improve fitness levels you can contact the Community Development Manager on 01235 861289.
Related Links:
Teeing Off for Children in Hospital - 2 August 2015
Join Paediatric Eye Fund's very first 'Footgolf' tournament
Play2Give are delighted to be adding to their support to the Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF) by being one of the 'hole' sponsors for their very first 'footgolf' tournament.
The Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF) is hosting Oxford's largest Footgolf tournament on Saturday 12th September. Join the fun and raise awareness and money for a great local cause by teeing off your support at Hinksey Heights Golf Club from 10am.
There are only 50 spaces available to play in this exciting tournament, a mixture of football and golf combined, so be quick and guarantee your place with a £25 payment upfront. To book your place, or for more information, email PEF
Tee-off begins at 10am with the last tee at 12pm, and with a BBQ included. There are also plans for a bouncy castle and face painting fun for family to enjoy following proceedings.
P2G are delighted to have been supporting the PEF as one of our chosen charities since 2014. To date, we have donated £3,490 through a range of fundraising activities, including fundraising parties, second hand book sales, Monster Races, the Oxfordshire Sports Awards in November last year, and a year's worth of support with Sainsbury's Didcot.
The Paediatric Eye Fund based within Oxford Eye Hospital and formed in 2013 raises funds and awareness into childhood eye diseases, and with supporters such as that of P2G, funds raised has enabled some incredible diagnostic equipment to have been purchased including a revolutionary piece of kit called a RET-CAM, used to photograph the retina of infants with a range of disorders, from cancer of the retina to Retinopathy of prematurity and shaken baby injury. Hundreds of babies are born prematurely in the Oxfordshire region and this can lead to many conditions affecting eye sight specifically.
Play2Give are delighted to be adding to their support to the Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF) by being one of the 'hole' sponsors for their very first 'footgolf' tournament.
The Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF) is hosting Oxford's largest Footgolf tournament on Saturday 12th September. Join the fun and raise awareness and money for a great local cause by teeing off your support at Hinksey Heights Golf Club from 10am.
There are only 50 spaces available to play in this exciting tournament, a mixture of football and golf combined, so be quick and guarantee your place with a £25 payment upfront. To book your place, or for more information, email PEF
Tee-off begins at 10am with the last tee at 12pm, and with a BBQ included. There are also plans for a bouncy castle and face painting fun for family to enjoy following proceedings.
P2G are delighted to have been supporting the PEF as one of our chosen charities since 2014. To date, we have donated £3,490 through a range of fundraising activities, including fundraising parties, second hand book sales, Monster Races, the Oxfordshire Sports Awards in November last year, and a year's worth of support with Sainsbury's Didcot.
The Paediatric Eye Fund based within Oxford Eye Hospital and formed in 2013 raises funds and awareness into childhood eye diseases, and with supporters such as that of P2G, funds raised has enabled some incredible diagnostic equipment to have been purchased including a revolutionary piece of kit called a RET-CAM, used to photograph the retina of infants with a range of disorders, from cancer of the retina to Retinopathy of prematurity and shaken baby injury. Hundreds of babies are born prematurely in the Oxfordshire region and this can lead to many conditions affecting eye sight specifically.
Sainsbury's Sweeps Up Record Amount for Play2Give - 15 July 2015
Astounding Sainsbury's! The Didcot store raised an amazing £4,300 for Play2Give over a year. Andrew being presented with the enormous cheque from some of the store staff
'Passionate' Andrew inspires Didcot's store's £4,300 sum for Play2Give
In July 2014 Sainsbury's Didcot chose to support Play2Give as their local charity of the year in which they embarked upon 12 months of fundraising awareness and support, and in the course of the past year they have raised a record £4,300!
On July 14 2015, staff - Alex Falconer, Deputy Manager, Veronica Dallas, PR Ambassador and team leaders Luke Norris and Andrea Smith - visited the Children's Hospital with Andrew to present him with their enormous cheque totalling the year's grand proceeds, as well as a tour of the Melanie's teenage ward, of which once Play2Give smashes the £40,000 target to raise for the hospital, a plaque will be in situ of one of the rooms on the ward.
The occasion was filmed by That's Oxford TV as well as covered by the Oxford Mail, and really shows what a great supermarket can do when customers and colleagues join together, to make life better!
Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Veronica said: "We chose the charity because Andrew was so passionate. He often came in to do bag packing to raise money and took part in the walks.
"It's a real fairytale for him as he recently got a job with us and he has raised so much money."
The store through customers and staff raised the money through a variety of calendar-packed events, from collection tins on all checkouts, to a sponsored stroll in February, head shaves in April, a football match last September, face painting, cake and bake sales, bag packing, raffles at the Christmas staff party, to Lee Crook raising sponsorship with Movember in November and a 1000km walk over 10 weeks - all to achieve this amazing sum!
£4,300 is the most that the store has ever raised in history for a local charity partner of the year, and as staff say due to a result of Andrew's passion!
Oxford Mail: Play2Give's 'passionate' Andrew inspires £3k fundraiser
Sainsbury's Didcot Charity of the Year 2014-15
In July 2014 Sainsbury's Didcot chose to support Play2Give as their local charity of the year in which they embarked upon 12 months of fundraising awareness and support, and in the course of the past year they have raised a record £4,300!
On July 14 2015, staff - Alex Falconer, Deputy Manager, Veronica Dallas, PR Ambassador and team leaders Luke Norris and Andrea Smith - visited the Children's Hospital with Andrew to present him with their enormous cheque totalling the year's grand proceeds, as well as a tour of the Melanie's teenage ward, of which once Play2Give smashes the £40,000 target to raise for the hospital, a plaque will be in situ of one of the rooms on the ward.
The occasion was filmed by That's Oxford TV as well as covered by the Oxford Mail, and really shows what a great supermarket can do when customers and colleagues join together, to make life better!
Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Veronica said: "We chose the charity because Andrew was so passionate. He often came in to do bag packing to raise money and took part in the walks.
"It's a real fairytale for him as he recently got a job with us and he has raised so much money."
The store through customers and staff raised the money through a variety of calendar-packed events, from collection tins on all checkouts, to a sponsored stroll in February, head shaves in April, a football match last September, face painting, cake and bake sales, bag packing, raffles at the Christmas staff party, to Lee Crook raising sponsorship with Movember in November and a 1000km walk over 10 weeks - all to achieve this amazing sum!
£4,300 is the most that the store has ever raised in history for a local charity partner of the year, and as staff say due to a result of Andrew's passion!
Oxford Mail: Play2Give's 'passionate' Andrew inspires £3k fundraiser
Sainsbury's Didcot Charity of the Year 2014-15
A whopping catch! Andrea, Luke, Alex (Deputy Manager), Veronica and front, Andrew receiving the big cheque
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3 Cheers! Andrew, left, with the cheque presented by Sainsbury's Didcot staff for Play2Give, with Andrea, Luke, Alex (Deputy Manager), second from right and Veronica
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London Footballers Net In a Record Sum for Tournament - 14 July 2015
GFA Enfield present a cheque for £1,500.46 for Play2Give tournament
Young footballers from London have helped score an impressive amount of money beyond words for this year's charity tournament supporting Oxford Children's Hospital.
GFA Enfield, an FA accredited Charter Standard Development Club for North London, travelled down by the coach load to take part this year with not just one but three teams to bring a helpful of smiles for the children in hospital - and they have netted in a staggering sum through their fundraising!
Through sponsorship and club donations, GFA Enfield surprised the event team by presenting Andrew and Dale - event tournament organisers - with a huge presentation cheque amounting to £1,500.46!!! This, together with other contributions, whipped up on the ride down to Oxfordshire, of which £80 was added to the raffle pot, means GFA have raised at least £1,600 this year's event - and means GFA Enfield breaks all records of any kids team to have taken part in the most amount of money ever raised! In fact the most amount of money a team has ever raised in the tournament's 7-year history!!
The club have already promised to return next year and hopes to bring up to 6 teams to compete in 2016's footballing contest, which will return in July 2016 for the Children's Hospital.
Speaking at the presentation of the funds, Stelios Triteos, one of the managers, said "they really love our tournament as it is very well organised, a great atmosphere and there is no arguing amongst anyone at all!" and therefore it is one of their favourites to take part in - and help charity outside of the City at the same time!
A huge thank you to everyone at GFA for raising such a massive, incredible amount of money towards this year's tournament - of which will contribute towards the event's grand total and helping push us nearer towards Play2Give's £40,000 goal to name our very own room on the Melanie's teenage ward, of the hospital. We are so far £10,000 of our target!
Click here for a full report on this year's event
GFA Enfield, an FA accredited Charter Standard Development Club for North London, travelled down by the coach load to take part this year with not just one but three teams to bring a helpful of smiles for the children in hospital - and they have netted in a staggering sum through their fundraising!
Through sponsorship and club donations, GFA Enfield surprised the event team by presenting Andrew and Dale - event tournament organisers - with a huge presentation cheque amounting to £1,500.46!!! This, together with other contributions, whipped up on the ride down to Oxfordshire, of which £80 was added to the raffle pot, means GFA have raised at least £1,600 this year's event - and means GFA Enfield breaks all records of any kids team to have taken part in the most amount of money ever raised! In fact the most amount of money a team has ever raised in the tournament's 7-year history!!
The club have already promised to return next year and hopes to bring up to 6 teams to compete in 2016's footballing contest, which will return in July 2016 for the Children's Hospital.
Speaking at the presentation of the funds, Stelios Triteos, one of the managers, said "they really love our tournament as it is very well organised, a great atmosphere and there is no arguing amongst anyone at all!" and therefore it is one of their favourites to take part in - and help charity outside of the City at the same time!
A huge thank you to everyone at GFA for raising such a massive, incredible amount of money towards this year's tournament - of which will contribute towards the event's grand total and helping push us nearer towards Play2Give's £40,000 goal to name our very own room on the Melanie's teenage ward, of the hospital. We are so far £10,000 of our target!
Click here for a full report on this year's event
Football Tournament is Another Scoring Success - 13 July 2015
Botley Purples win the Under 10s Cup
Our football tournament kicked off for another successful day this July - raising lots of smiles as well as cash for sick children!
19 boys teams in total took part on July 12th for the seventh annual football tournament, sponsored by Breckon & Breckon, for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
This is our biggest fundraiser of the year for the hospital, and as always there were plenty of smiles all round for what was another day of fanatic footballing fun.
The event, held as always at the fantastic grounds of our hosts, Oxford City Football Club, is hoped up to £6,000 will have been netted in - once all money is in - and will help us reach a step closer to our £40,000 target for the Children's Hospital in which we aim to achieve to name our very own room on the Melanie's teenage ward.
2014's tournament raised a record breaking £7,209 to fund extra state-of-the-art medical equipment and facilities at the Oxford Children's Hospital - making life and stays in hospital that little bit easier for the young patients and their families. The event supports all the wards and departments at the Oxford Children's Hospital as well as the Horton General's Children's Ward, and children's services across the Trust.
There was music from Radio Cherwell, our co sponsors Newbury Building Society and their very own life-sized furry and beary loveable Barry Bear joined in the fun with a mucky dip game, to another huge raffle with over 30 prizes - which yet again was another big draw - to a guess the number of sweets in the jar competition, and hot food and refreshments.
Didcot Youth Greens won the Under-11s contest after fighting off GFA Enfield Lions on penalties after a scoreless final, whilst Botley Boys Purple won the Under-10s contest. For Didcot it was extra special as this is the very first football tournament they have ever won and extra poignant to remember as a charity tournament.
Oxford Mail report: Junior footballers take part in charity tournament
19 boys teams in total took part on July 12th for the seventh annual football tournament, sponsored by Breckon & Breckon, for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
This is our biggest fundraiser of the year for the hospital, and as always there were plenty of smiles all round for what was another day of fanatic footballing fun.
The event, held as always at the fantastic grounds of our hosts, Oxford City Football Club, is hoped up to £6,000 will have been netted in - once all money is in - and will help us reach a step closer to our £40,000 target for the Children's Hospital in which we aim to achieve to name our very own room on the Melanie's teenage ward.
2014's tournament raised a record breaking £7,209 to fund extra state-of-the-art medical equipment and facilities at the Oxford Children's Hospital - making life and stays in hospital that little bit easier for the young patients and their families. The event supports all the wards and departments at the Oxford Children's Hospital as well as the Horton General's Children's Ward, and children's services across the Trust.
There was music from Radio Cherwell, our co sponsors Newbury Building Society and their very own life-sized furry and beary loveable Barry Bear joined in the fun with a mucky dip game, to another huge raffle with over 30 prizes - which yet again was another big draw - to a guess the number of sweets in the jar competition, and hot food and refreshments.
Didcot Youth Greens won the Under-11s contest after fighting off GFA Enfield Lions on penalties after a scoreless final, whilst Botley Boys Purple won the Under-10s contest. For Didcot it was extra special as this is the very first football tournament they have ever won and extra poignant to remember as a charity tournament.
Oxford Mail report: Junior footballers take part in charity tournament
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Oxford Mail: Young footballers' goal will be plenty of money for hospital - 10 July 2015
Young football fanatics are going for goal at a tournament raising vital cash for sick children.
Read the Oxford Mail story
Read the Oxford Mail story
Top Prem Clubs Signed Merchandise Open for Bids - 28 June 2015
Framed Signed Arsenal Team Picture went for £130
A triple donation of signed lots donated by two top Premiership football clubs are open for bids - and your chance to support the Oxford Children's Hospital in the process!
This year we have been lucky enough to gain support yet again from the awesome Arsenal for the third year running as well as attracting the support from the mighty Manchester United with not just one but two signed items of memorabilia.
The mighty U's - who surprisingly finished fourth in the 2014/15 season - have donated a signed football as well as a signed pennant. Arsenal (who were third place finishers in the 2014 Premier League table) have for third year in a row donated a signed picture autographed by all the first team squad - and winning bids come the closing date of July 11th - will bag themselves these items of memorabilia.
So if your a diehard Gunner or a mighty Man U fan, why not get supporting and place a bid and help us raise money for the children's hospital??
*BIDS ARE NOW CLOSED - FINAL BIDS ARE LISTED BELOW*
This year we have been lucky enough to gain support yet again from the awesome Arsenal for the third year running as well as attracting the support from the mighty Manchester United with not just one but two signed items of memorabilia.
The mighty U's - who surprisingly finished fourth in the 2014/15 season - have donated a signed football as well as a signed pennant. Arsenal (who were third place finishers in the 2014 Premier League table) have for third year in a row donated a signed picture autographed by all the first team squad - and winning bids come the closing date of July 11th - will bag themselves these items of memorabilia.
So if your a diehard Gunner or a mighty Man U fan, why not get supporting and place a bid and help us raise money for the children's hospital??
*BIDS ARE NOW CLOSED - FINAL BIDS ARE LISTED BELOW*
- Signed Man U Football - Sold for £110
- Signed Framed Arsenal Team Squad Picture - Sold for £130
- Signed Man U Pennant - £120 Final Winning Bidder- Congratulations Lisa!
Signed Man U Pennant went for £120
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Signed Man U Football went for £110
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Roll Up, Roll Up, Raffle Is in Town - 26 June 2015
Roll up, roll up, as this year's biggest Play2Give raffle of the year is back packed full to the brim once again of splendid prizes!
This year's football tournament supporting the Oxford Children's Hospital takes place on July 12th at Oxford City Football Club, and each year as part of the event a raffle is held, this year is no exception and tickets are now available to buy!
Priced at just 50p a ticket, or £2.50 for a book of five, you can enter yourself in the chance of bagging one of our many wonderful prizes that has been yet again as always donated by many companies.
With prizes ranging from days out for the family to bottles of bubbly and fiz, footgolf fun, meal vouchers, to a day at the races and even a stadium tour, you can be in with a chance of winning and the best thing of all - whatever the result whether your a lucky winner or not, the real winner will be the Oxford Children's Hospital which will benefit 100% from proceeds raised through ticket sales alone!
Click here to view a full list of raffle prizes
This year's football tournament supporting the Oxford Children's Hospital takes place on July 12th at Oxford City Football Club, and each year as part of the event a raffle is held, this year is no exception and tickets are now available to buy!
Priced at just 50p a ticket, or £2.50 for a book of five, you can enter yourself in the chance of bagging one of our many wonderful prizes that has been yet again as always donated by many companies.
With prizes ranging from days out for the family to bottles of bubbly and fiz, footgolf fun, meal vouchers, to a day at the races and even a stadium tour, you can be in with a chance of winning and the best thing of all - whatever the result whether your a lucky winner or not, the real winner will be the Oxford Children's Hospital which will benefit 100% from proceeds raised through ticket sales alone!
Click here to view a full list of raffle prizes
- To purchase raffle tickets and details of how to donate, contact us.
- More infomation about this year's kids football tournament supporting the Children's Hospital.
Vote For Us as Sainsbury's Heyford Hill Charity of the Year - 15 June 2015
Today, votes open for Sainsbury's 'Local Charity of the Year for 2015-16' in each Sainsbury's store. This year we are delighted that the Heyford Hill store in Oxford (OX4 4XR) have shortlisted Play2Give as one of their 3 chosen to come down to the public votes.
If we win the most customer votes in the store, we will have a year's partnership with Heyford Hill store in fundraising and awareness.
Last year in July, 2014, we were chosen as the Didcot store's local charity of the year partner for 2014-2015 and they have raised a record breaking amount for P2G over the last year - the most they had ever raised for their local charity of the year!
This year Heyford Hill's 3 chosen charities that's made the shortlist are:-
It is great to be up against such great competition, as both Footsteps and Silver Star do fantastic work and such worthy charities,
BUT, of course WE APPEAL FOR YOU TO VOTE PLAY2GIVE - as the more votes received in-store and online for P2G, the more chance we have to be their 'adopted fundraising partner of the year' for the coming year.
It's really easy to vote. Just pick up a form in-store from today (June 15th) , til voting closes on June 28th. Or you can go to www.sainsburyslocalcharity.co.uk and vote from there.
So why should you vote for Play2Give?
Play2Give is an Oxfordshire-based fundraising organisation purely volunteer-run raising funds for 3 chosen Oxfordshire charities:- Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire brain injury charity based in Kennington and the Paediatric Eye Fund based within the Eye Hospital of the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Play2Give has raised over £38,400 since being formed in 2007 and since then we have gone on to run 6 football tournaments, to football matches, charity parties, sponsored walks, wristbands, to much more including many events and in-store activities with Didcot Sainsbury's over the past years. Of this grand amount to date, we have raised over £29,000 for the Oxford Children's Hospital - registered charity 1057295, Fund 0555.
As of late 2014, Play2Give are working towards achieving a £40,000 total for the Children's Hospital to sponsor our very own named room on the Melanie's teenage ward. Once achieved, The Play2Give Room will bear a our name engraved on a special plaque. We are only around £10k off from this target.
And, of course, the money we raise for the hospital buys medical equipment and facilities above and beyond what the NHS standard can afford, as well as distraction items for children undergoing painful procedures, to toys and entertainment items. In 2014 we raised a grand £8,590 for the hospital.
Headway Oxfordshire - registered charity 1156538 - based in Kennington supports the individuals affected by brain injury, their carers and families and provides services five days a week, from its Activity & Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) as well as outreach support in the community.
HWO's current big fundraising focus is raising £200,000 to redevelop the ARC into a modern purpose facility for the ever increasing number of adults (service users) they support. In 2014 we donated over £146 for HWO.
The Paediatric Eye Fund of the John Radcliffe Hospital - registered charity 1057295 Fund 2134 - is a small fund within the Eye Hosptial raises funds for pioneering equipment and research into debilitating childhood eye diseases.
PEF's aim for the purchase of incredible diagnostic equipment to help children and babies born with eye sight diseases. Through funds they have already brought a 'RETCAM' a revolutionary piece of kit used to photograph the retina of infants with a range of disorders, from cancer of the retina to Retinopathy of prematurity and shaken baby injury. We donated £1,101.71 in total to PEF in 2014.
PLEASE VOTE FOR US AT HEYFORD HILL!!
Thank you!
More information here
If we win the most customer votes in the store, we will have a year's partnership with Heyford Hill store in fundraising and awareness.
Last year in July, 2014, we were chosen as the Didcot store's local charity of the year partner for 2014-2015 and they have raised a record breaking amount for P2G over the last year - the most they had ever raised for their local charity of the year!
This year Heyford Hill's 3 chosen charities that's made the shortlist are:-
- Play2Give
- Footsteps Foundation based in Dorchester-on-Thames
- The Silver Star Society, based at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
It is great to be up against such great competition, as both Footsteps and Silver Star do fantastic work and such worthy charities,
BUT, of course WE APPEAL FOR YOU TO VOTE PLAY2GIVE - as the more votes received in-store and online for P2G, the more chance we have to be their 'adopted fundraising partner of the year' for the coming year.
It's really easy to vote. Just pick up a form in-store from today (June 15th) , til voting closes on June 28th. Or you can go to www.sainsburyslocalcharity.co.uk and vote from there.
So why should you vote for Play2Give?
Play2Give is an Oxfordshire-based fundraising organisation purely volunteer-run raising funds for 3 chosen Oxfordshire charities:- Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire brain injury charity based in Kennington and the Paediatric Eye Fund based within the Eye Hospital of the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Play2Give has raised over £38,400 since being formed in 2007 and since then we have gone on to run 6 football tournaments, to football matches, charity parties, sponsored walks, wristbands, to much more including many events and in-store activities with Didcot Sainsbury's over the past years. Of this grand amount to date, we have raised over £29,000 for the Oxford Children's Hospital - registered charity 1057295, Fund 0555.
As of late 2014, Play2Give are working towards achieving a £40,000 total for the Children's Hospital to sponsor our very own named room on the Melanie's teenage ward. Once achieved, The Play2Give Room will bear a our name engraved on a special plaque. We are only around £10k off from this target.
And, of course, the money we raise for the hospital buys medical equipment and facilities above and beyond what the NHS standard can afford, as well as distraction items for children undergoing painful procedures, to toys and entertainment items. In 2014 we raised a grand £8,590 for the hospital.
Headway Oxfordshire - registered charity 1156538 - based in Kennington supports the individuals affected by brain injury, their carers and families and provides services five days a week, from its Activity & Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) as well as outreach support in the community.
HWO's current big fundraising focus is raising £200,000 to redevelop the ARC into a modern purpose facility for the ever increasing number of adults (service users) they support. In 2014 we donated over £146 for HWO.
The Paediatric Eye Fund of the John Radcliffe Hospital - registered charity 1057295 Fund 2134 - is a small fund within the Eye Hosptial raises funds for pioneering equipment and research into debilitating childhood eye diseases.
PEF's aim for the purchase of incredible diagnostic equipment to help children and babies born with eye sight diseases. Through funds they have already brought a 'RETCAM' a revolutionary piece of kit used to photograph the retina of infants with a range of disorders, from cancer of the retina to Retinopathy of prematurity and shaken baby injury. We donated £1,101.71 in total to PEF in 2014.
PLEASE VOTE FOR US AT HEYFORD HILL!!
Thank you!
More information here
Man U Show their Mighty Support to our Football Tournament - 11 June 2015
Man U fans are being called on to show their support and dig deep for our local children's hospital with signed memorabilia!
Thanks to the mighty Manchester United we have two signed pieces of memorabilia donated from the football club themselves for our football tournament next month raising funds for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
The items - a signed pennant (usually worth around £150) and a signed football - both signed by members of the first team - are both part of donated lots which we are auctioning to raise funds for our annual event on July 12th, which always raises many thousands each year for the children's hospital.
Bids are now open on both items.
The signed pennant currently stands at £110 and our opening bid - thanks to an anonymous donor - stands at £50 for the football.
The pennant has been signed by the likes of Fellaini, Smalling, Phil Jones, Van Persie and Valdes.
If you would like to make a bid on either or both of these items, and help lift life a little bit better for the youngsters in hospital, at our very own Oxford Children's Hospital, please contact us.
Bids will close for both items by July 6th.
Thanks to the mighty Manchester United we have two signed pieces of memorabilia donated from the football club themselves for our football tournament next month raising funds for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
The items - a signed pennant (usually worth around £150) and a signed football - both signed by members of the first team - are both part of donated lots which we are auctioning to raise funds for our annual event on July 12th, which always raises many thousands each year for the children's hospital.
Bids are now open on both items.
The signed pennant currently stands at £110 and our opening bid - thanks to an anonymous donor - stands at £50 for the football.
The pennant has been signed by the likes of Fellaini, Smalling, Phil Jones, Van Persie and Valdes.
If you would like to make a bid on either or both of these items, and help lift life a little bit better for the youngsters in hospital, at our very own Oxford Children's Hospital, please contact us.
Bids will close for both items by July 6th.
Sainsbury's Didcot Sweeps Up a Record Total for Play2Give - 23 May 2015
Supermarket raises the most ever in history in local charity of the year scheme.
Sainsbury's Didcot are celebrating yet again after having achieved raising the most amount of funds ever in history for a charity of the year - £3,898.65!
The store, in the Orchard Centre, chose to support fundraising organisation, Play2Give, in July, 2014 as their local charity for the year. Sadly, the partnership came to an end on Thursday (May 21st). However the figures are in and they have raised the most they have ever managed in the last 6 years that this nationwide scheme of supporting a local charity across has been running.
Play2Give, set up Didcot's Andrew Baker, 26, in 2007, raises funds for local charities and has now, thanks to this latest boost from Sainsbury's, has now raised near £38,500 including over £29,000 for the Oxford Children's Hospital - which has been the main charity the group have supported since Play2Give's inception. A huge part of this Sainsbury's success story for the Didcot store has been Andrew himself who colleagues describe as a 'real powerhouse', 'infectious enthusiasm' and 'inspirational', who has got involved in all activities and events in and out of store.
Andrew set up Play2Give in 2007, after being inspired following treatment throughout childhood at Oxford's hospitals for a multitude of problems following on from being born with a brain injury, and a head injury at the age of 8 lead to major brain surgery at 12 years old.
Andrew began fundraising for the Oxford Children's Hospital in 2003 at the age of 14 at Didcot's St Birinus School, and inspired pupils and staff as well as sixth-formers and the nearby Didcot Girls' School to fundraise, as a school community.
By the age of 19, Andrew had made a complete recovery, however neurological problems returned in 2009 and has been receiving rehabilitation at Kennington-based Headway Oxfordshire for the past 3 years, as part of his rehabilitation for the brain injury.
Andrew is helped by a team of friends, all volunteers, who organises annual events like kids football tournaments and fundraising parties each year, including Dale Harris, from Cowley who works at Elmer Cotton sports shop in Oxford, whose daughter Mya, 12, has been treated since she was born for Spina Bifida with around 30 operations to date at the Oxford Children's Hospital, as well as Teresa Strike and Elaine Childs.
The store has organised and run all manners of different activities and events since last July when the partnership begun, and highlights have included a football match at Didcot Football Club last September, which a team of staff lose 20-1 to Play2Give's Allstars, to ghoulish fundraising on Halloween day, a 6-mile sponsored stroll from the supermarket to Upton and back on a very cold February Sunday afternoon, which even saw Spider-Man take part and raised over £940, to three of the 'counters' workers being head shaved in April on a packed Saturday afternoon in full view of the public to flower wrapping, bag packing and tins on every till, to much more, all contributing towards this record total!
Staff at the store are now voting for their favourite charity to be considered for the 2015-2016 campaign, and Play2Give have made the long-list. If selected into the short-list of the top 3 with the most votes from staff, the ultimate winner for the next year will then be chosen from the public later in June with the winning charity/group receiving a year's worth of fundraising support and awareness.
Thanks to this boost Play2Give are on course for a new record to be broken this year in the amount of funds raised for Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Hospital Paediatric Eye Fund. In 2014, £9,838 was raised by the fundraising group. However, already, this year's events and activities have seen Play2Give raise over £6,500 - only just £3,000 off from last year's total - and with the annual children's football tournament in July and a family fun day in August to be held - Play2Give's fundraising for 2015 is on course to be an ultimate record-breaker!
Play2Give are working towards achieving a £40,000 target to name and sponsor its very own room on the teenage ward of the children's hospital. Once achieved a plaque in Play2Give's name will be on the door of the room on Melanie's Ward. The group are now only £11,000 off this ambitious target, thanks in part to this boost from Sainsbury's.
The total from the supermarket will rise come early July as nightshift team leader, Lee Crook, completes a 10-week 1000km sponsored walk, and this is set to mean £4,000 will be the grand total overall. As part of Lee's 'Walk Fatboy Walk' challenge, a shirt signed by Reading FC legends, at the recent testimonial match for Jamie Heapy at Didcot Football Club, will off been auctioned, making up part of the final proceeds.
The store raised £1,850 for the South & Vale Carers Centre throughout 2013-2014.
*Story updated: May 31st 2015
Sainsbury's Didcot are celebrating yet again after having achieved raising the most amount of funds ever in history for a charity of the year - £3,898.65!
The store, in the Orchard Centre, chose to support fundraising organisation, Play2Give, in July, 2014 as their local charity for the year. Sadly, the partnership came to an end on Thursday (May 21st). However the figures are in and they have raised the most they have ever managed in the last 6 years that this nationwide scheme of supporting a local charity across has been running.
Play2Give, set up Didcot's Andrew Baker, 26, in 2007, raises funds for local charities and has now, thanks to this latest boost from Sainsbury's, has now raised near £38,500 including over £29,000 for the Oxford Children's Hospital - which has been the main charity the group have supported since Play2Give's inception. A huge part of this Sainsbury's success story for the Didcot store has been Andrew himself who colleagues describe as a 'real powerhouse', 'infectious enthusiasm' and 'inspirational', who has got involved in all activities and events in and out of store.
Andrew set up Play2Give in 2007, after being inspired following treatment throughout childhood at Oxford's hospitals for a multitude of problems following on from being born with a brain injury, and a head injury at the age of 8 lead to major brain surgery at 12 years old.
Andrew began fundraising for the Oxford Children's Hospital in 2003 at the age of 14 at Didcot's St Birinus School, and inspired pupils and staff as well as sixth-formers and the nearby Didcot Girls' School to fundraise, as a school community.
By the age of 19, Andrew had made a complete recovery, however neurological problems returned in 2009 and has been receiving rehabilitation at Kennington-based Headway Oxfordshire for the past 3 years, as part of his rehabilitation for the brain injury.
Andrew is helped by a team of friends, all volunteers, who organises annual events like kids football tournaments and fundraising parties each year, including Dale Harris, from Cowley who works at Elmer Cotton sports shop in Oxford, whose daughter Mya, 12, has been treated since she was born for Spina Bifida with around 30 operations to date at the Oxford Children's Hospital, as well as Teresa Strike and Elaine Childs.
The store has organised and run all manners of different activities and events since last July when the partnership begun, and highlights have included a football match at Didcot Football Club last September, which a team of staff lose 20-1 to Play2Give's Allstars, to ghoulish fundraising on Halloween day, a 6-mile sponsored stroll from the supermarket to Upton and back on a very cold February Sunday afternoon, which even saw Spider-Man take part and raised over £940, to three of the 'counters' workers being head shaved in April on a packed Saturday afternoon in full view of the public to flower wrapping, bag packing and tins on every till, to much more, all contributing towards this record total!
Staff at the store are now voting for their favourite charity to be considered for the 2015-2016 campaign, and Play2Give have made the long-list. If selected into the short-list of the top 3 with the most votes from staff, the ultimate winner for the next year will then be chosen from the public later in June with the winning charity/group receiving a year's worth of fundraising support and awareness.
Thanks to this boost Play2Give are on course for a new record to be broken this year in the amount of funds raised for Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Hospital Paediatric Eye Fund. In 2014, £9,838 was raised by the fundraising group. However, already, this year's events and activities have seen Play2Give raise over £6,500 - only just £3,000 off from last year's total - and with the annual children's football tournament in July and a family fun day in August to be held - Play2Give's fundraising for 2015 is on course to be an ultimate record-breaker!
Play2Give are working towards achieving a £40,000 target to name and sponsor its very own room on the teenage ward of the children's hospital. Once achieved a plaque in Play2Give's name will be on the door of the room on Melanie's Ward. The group are now only £11,000 off this ambitious target, thanks in part to this boost from Sainsbury's.
The total from the supermarket will rise come early July as nightshift team leader, Lee Crook, completes a 10-week 1000km sponsored walk, and this is set to mean £4,000 will be the grand total overall. As part of Lee's 'Walk Fatboy Walk' challenge, a shirt signed by Reading FC legends, at the recent testimonial match for Jamie Heapy at Didcot Football Club, will off been auctioned, making up part of the final proceeds.
The store raised £1,850 for the South & Vale Carers Centre throughout 2013-2014.
*Story updated: May 31st 2015
Reading Legends Donate Signed Shirt to Play2Give - 13 May 2015
Bids Now Closed - £60 Netted!
A signed shirt donated by a team of Reading Legends was auctioned to raise funds for our charities through Lee Crook at Sainsbury's Didcot.
The shirt, signed by a squad of Reading Legends, raised funds for Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the Paediatric Eye Fund at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
On Sunday, May 9th, the squad took on a team of Didcot Legends at the testimonial match of Didcot Town FC's Jamie Heapy, at Loop Meadow, the home of the Didcot football club. Both sides played a great game of football, but saw the Reading Legends thrashed 2-1 by the end of the last 30 minute game. The match was played in 3 30-minute matches.
The shirt, pictured, was signed by the likes of Ady Williams, Simon Osborn, Martyn Williams, Mick Gooding, Glen Little, Andy Gray, Michael Gilkes, Kevin Watson, Stuart Beavon and Neville Roach to many others - 18 in total out of a squad of 28.
Even actor Ralf Little played for the Reading side.
Thanks to Sainsbury's very own Lee Crook, nightshift team leader, for obtaining this signed item of memorabilia, our very own Andrew Baker attended the match with Lee and is pictured below post match with the goody.
We are delighted to announce by 11.59pm on May 26th the final bid came to £60 - thank you to everyone who put a bid in!
A signed shirt donated by a team of Reading Legends was auctioned to raise funds for our charities through Lee Crook at Sainsbury's Didcot.
The shirt, signed by a squad of Reading Legends, raised funds for Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the Paediatric Eye Fund at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
On Sunday, May 9th, the squad took on a team of Didcot Legends at the testimonial match of Didcot Town FC's Jamie Heapy, at Loop Meadow, the home of the Didcot football club. Both sides played a great game of football, but saw the Reading Legends thrashed 2-1 by the end of the last 30 minute game. The match was played in 3 30-minute matches.
The shirt, pictured, was signed by the likes of Ady Williams, Simon Osborn, Martyn Williams, Mick Gooding, Glen Little, Andy Gray, Michael Gilkes, Kevin Watson, Stuart Beavon and Neville Roach to many others - 18 in total out of a squad of 28.
Even actor Ralf Little played for the Reading side.
Thanks to Sainsbury's very own Lee Crook, nightshift team leader, for obtaining this signed item of memorabilia, our very own Andrew Baker attended the match with Lee and is pictured below post match with the goody.
We are delighted to announce by 11.59pm on May 26th the final bid came to £60 - thank you to everyone who put a bid in!
Andy Baker with the presentation of the signed shirt
*Story updated: May 31 2015
The Ploddering Play2Givers 'Wing It' Round Uni Parks - 11 May 2015
Paul, far left, with Andrew in wheelbarrow and Patrick
The 5k Oxford Fun Run took place at the stunning grounds of Oxford University Parks on Saturday morning (May 9th) - and The Ploddering Play2Givers took part too!
The 5k, organised annually by the Oxford Rotary Club, saw hundreds of competitors take part - with a good crowd of spectators too - all raising money for different charities, and for The Ploddering Play2Givers the chance to raise additional funds for our charities: Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire.
The tremendous trio made up of our very own founder Andrew Baker, Paul Tucker of Kidactive and Patrick Mills (who is no stranger to fun runs having taken part in the 2014 OX5RUN for the Children's Hospital with Team Play2Give) all completed the course together in 56 minutes with help from a wheelbarrow and raised £160 in sponsorship - £80 each for both charities.
For Andrew, he spent most of the course being carted round in the wheelbarrow, for fun which also raised extra attention as a team with Andrew as Batman's sidekick Robin, and Patrick dressed as an escaped convict - which certainly drew eyebrows from the passers by and elite runners themselves! There was an array of great fancy dress from a running Panda to Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne and Velma all joining in the fun too!
The best thing of all was that we wasn't exactly the slowest to finish, as was our target, and it was a great fun morning had with a post race BBQ to finish!
In 2014 over £16,000 was raised through the Oxford Fun Run for local charities through the sponsorship raised by participants.
Well done to Andrew, Paul and Patrick as The Ploddering Play2Givers and to everyone who took part!
The 5k, organised annually by the Oxford Rotary Club, saw hundreds of competitors take part - with a good crowd of spectators too - all raising money for different charities, and for The Ploddering Play2Givers the chance to raise additional funds for our charities: Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire.
The tremendous trio made up of our very own founder Andrew Baker, Paul Tucker of Kidactive and Patrick Mills (who is no stranger to fun runs having taken part in the 2014 OX5RUN for the Children's Hospital with Team Play2Give) all completed the course together in 56 minutes with help from a wheelbarrow and raised £160 in sponsorship - £80 each for both charities.
For Andrew, he spent most of the course being carted round in the wheelbarrow, for fun which also raised extra attention as a team with Andrew as Batman's sidekick Robin, and Patrick dressed as an escaped convict - which certainly drew eyebrows from the passers by and elite runners themselves! There was an array of great fancy dress from a running Panda to Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne and Velma all joining in the fun too!
The best thing of all was that we wasn't exactly the slowest to finish, as was our target, and it was a great fun morning had with a post race BBQ to finish!
In 2014 over £16,000 was raised through the Oxford Fun Run for local charities through the sponsorship raised by participants.
Well done to Andrew, Paul and Patrick as The Ploddering Play2Givers and to everyone who took part!
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Wines Up! Buy Your Tickets for the Chance to Win Hamper of Wine - 5 May 2015
This hamper of five fine wines could be yours - and all at a cost of £1!
This wine hamper, pictured, is being raffled to raise funds for Play2Give, as part of Lee Crook's fundraising 1000km walk over 10 weeks.
Lee, nightshift team leader at the store, is into week 2 of his 1000km sponsored walk in which he hopes to raise up to £200. To help him reach the target, he is running this raffle with a hamper full of 5 bottles of wine - so if you love your wine, why not take a chance and buy a ticket or two?
Just £1 per strip, this hamper could be yours, with the draw taking place on the evening of May 9th, at 11.59pm.
In July 2014, Sainsbury's Didcot chose Play2Give as the store's local charity partner of the year, and Lee has already done 'Movember' in November, took part in the February sponsored stroll and is now adding to his list of challenges by taking on 1000km over the course of 10 weeks - all of which will benefit theOxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund.
If you would like to buy any raffle tickets for this case of wine, and why would you not?, please contact us with your name and a contact telephone number stating the amount of strips you would like. Donations can be paid in here.
*Story updated: 11 May 2015
This wine hamper, pictured, is being raffled to raise funds for Play2Give, as part of Lee Crook's fundraising 1000km walk over 10 weeks.
Lee, nightshift team leader at the store, is into week 2 of his 1000km sponsored walk in which he hopes to raise up to £200. To help him reach the target, he is running this raffle with a hamper full of 5 bottles of wine - so if you love your wine, why not take a chance and buy a ticket or two?
Just £1 per strip, this hamper could be yours, with the draw taking place on the evening of May 9th, at 11.59pm.
In July 2014, Sainsbury's Didcot chose Play2Give as the store's local charity partner of the year, and Lee has already done 'Movember' in November, took part in the February sponsored stroll and is now adding to his list of challenges by taking on 1000km over the course of 10 weeks - all of which will benefit theOxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund.
If you would like to buy any raffle tickets for this case of wine, and why would you not?, please contact us with your name and a contact telephone number stating the amount of strips you would like. Donations can be paid in here.
- AND THE WINNER IS... Samantha Brennan from Wallingford. Congratulations Samantha - enjoy your win!
*Story updated: 11 May 2015
Night of Fun Parties Up Great Funds - 22 April 2015
The Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF) of the JR Hospital and the wonderful Headway Oxfordshire brain injury support charity are both richer again thanks to Play2Give's latest fundraising party held back in February.
The fundraising party was our fifth evening of fun and entertainment sponsored by the great Johnsons Cars Oxford for the second year running, and supported by Sainsbury's Didcot with an amazing spectacular 6-minute fireworks display provided and donated by Illusion Fireworks as well as a fantastic disco by Utopia Disco and all in the great host of Didcot Football Club
Both Headway Oxfordshire and the PEF will receive these cheques for £286.20 each, from the nights proceeds, which the party in total raised £572.40 with aid from a very fun and amusing sponsored 'chilli eating contest' taken on by 5 brave Didcot chilli warriors including 4 from Sainsbury's themselves.
We are delighted to be continuing to support both HWO and the PEF as two of our 3 key charities and we hope to raise even more for both and the Oxford Children's Hospital during the coming months!
Thank you to everyone who supported, donated or came along to our evening which was a brilliant job co organised by Daniel Buttress of the JR Eye Hospital's Eye Research Group Oxford.
The fundraising party was our fifth evening of fun and entertainment sponsored by the great Johnsons Cars Oxford for the second year running, and supported by Sainsbury's Didcot with an amazing spectacular 6-minute fireworks display provided and donated by Illusion Fireworks as well as a fantastic disco by Utopia Disco and all in the great host of Didcot Football Club
Both Headway Oxfordshire and the PEF will receive these cheques for £286.20 each, from the nights proceeds, which the party in total raised £572.40 with aid from a very fun and amusing sponsored 'chilli eating contest' taken on by 5 brave Didcot chilli warriors including 4 from Sainsbury's themselves.
We are delighted to be continuing to support both HWO and the PEF as two of our 3 key charities and we hope to raise even more for both and the Oxford Children's Hospital during the coming months!
Thank you to everyone who supported, donated or came along to our evening which was a brilliant job co organised by Daniel Buttress of the JR Eye Hospital's Eye Research Group Oxford.
More Great Press Attention Served up by Sainsbury's - 22 April 2015
And yet again more great awareness and publicity for Play2Give has been served up in the past week thanks to Sainsbury's Didcot!
Following on their fun fundraiser a week Saturday which was organised by counters team leader in training Luke Norris, the Sainsbury's Big Shave Charity Day has attracted great coverage in both the Oxford Mail and the Didcot Herald, and hopefully has around £200 will of been added into their funds for P2G.
Today's Didcot Herald (second below) and last week's Oxford Mail (top below) can be seen. Thanks as always to our friends at the store for generating yet more good promotion for Play2Give. They must be well over £3,200 they have now raised since July for us. BRILLIANT because that's Sainsbury's making life better and making a positive difference to their community!
Following on their fun fundraiser a week Saturday which was organised by counters team leader in training Luke Norris, the Sainsbury's Big Shave Charity Day has attracted great coverage in both the Oxford Mail and the Didcot Herald, and hopefully has around £200 will of been added into their funds for P2G.
Today's Didcot Herald (second below) and last week's Oxford Mail (top below) can be seen. Thanks as always to our friends at the store for generating yet more good promotion for Play2Give. They must be well over £3,200 they have now raised since July for us. BRILLIANT because that's Sainsbury's making life better and making a positive difference to their community!
Sainsbury's Lee Gears Up for 1000k Walk in 10 Weeks - 22 April 2015
Lee Crook gives the thumbs up
Sainsbury's nightshift worker prepares to take on the blisters with 1000k walk for Play2Give
Lee Crook does it again!
The nightshift team leader at Sainsbury's in Didcot is so supportive of Play2Give, the local fundraising group that raises funds for local charities, that yesterday (April 21st) he embarked on his latest solo challenge to raise funds for our charities like the Oxford Children's Hospital. Lee has decided to walk 1000km in 10 weeks to raise what he hopes will be £200 in sponsorship to further fuel up funds!
Lee has been a fantastic supporter and a great ambassador for the store's support and awareness for the cause. In November he took on 'Movember' when he forewent shaving for a whole month growing a most hilarious bushy 'mo' and raised £116 towards the Didcot's store's year of fundraising support for P2G. And, in February he was one of a number of the staff at the store (including his wife Jane) who took part in the store's very own first sponsored stroll on a freezing cold Sunday afternoon from the store to Upton and back, which raised an amazing £940+ for the store's total for Play2Give, the voluntary fundraising organisation set up by Didcot's Andrew Baker, 26, in 2007.
We thank Lee so much for his latest endeavour of a challenge and wish you best of luck in your epic 1000km trek!
Lee's page
Lee Crook does it again!
The nightshift team leader at Sainsbury's in Didcot is so supportive of Play2Give, the local fundraising group that raises funds for local charities, that yesterday (April 21st) he embarked on his latest solo challenge to raise funds for our charities like the Oxford Children's Hospital. Lee has decided to walk 1000km in 10 weeks to raise what he hopes will be £200 in sponsorship to further fuel up funds!
Lee has been a fantastic supporter and a great ambassador for the store's support and awareness for the cause. In November he took on 'Movember' when he forewent shaving for a whole month growing a most hilarious bushy 'mo' and raised £116 towards the Didcot's store's year of fundraising support for P2G. And, in February he was one of a number of the staff at the store (including his wife Jane) who took part in the store's very own first sponsored stroll on a freezing cold Sunday afternoon from the store to Upton and back, which raised an amazing £940+ for the store's total for Play2Give, the voluntary fundraising organisation set up by Didcot's Andrew Baker, 26, in 2007.
We thank Lee so much for his latest endeavour of a challenge and wish you best of luck in your epic 1000km trek!
Lee's page
Sainsbury's Razors Up in Hilarious Hair-Raising Fun-Raising Afternoon - 12 April 2015
Pre-shave Team Sainsbury's pic, with Oxford Mail in tow
The afternoon of April 11th, on a busy Saturday for the store, saw Sainsbury's Didcot pay host towards a last big push in fundraising for Play2Give with colleagues going bald - all in the name of the cause!
The Sainsbury's Big Super Shave Day was orchestrated by Luke Norris, counters assistant, who decided in a moment of madness one Saturday in January that he would shave his head to raise some funds for Play2Give - the store's chosen local charity of the year. So, Luke soon started to ask round and whip up some more 'victims' and he managed to persuade fellow counter colleagues,Chris Ewing (who grew his hair long especially) and Ben Shaw, former counters manager, who has moved to their Kidlington counterparts.
So, checkout assistants Jess Clifton and Ali Bates, with help from Danny, got to work on the guys first clipping them to a grade 1, before adding the foam and butchering their hair with the razor, and well a great job done - as the 3 lads look wicked with their new looks, especially Luke who looks a bit too frighteningly of a rough and tough skinhead!
Luke hopes up to £200 will of been raised which will benefit the charities Play2Give help, such as the Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire, the brain injury charity, which has massively helped our Andrew Baker through his rehabilitation over the last 3 years!
Well done to everyone involved, a huge thank you to Jess, Ali, and Veronica, and of course to Ben, Luke and Chris and an extra special big thank you to Luke for masterminding this entire event which was super fun and an amazing way to add to the supermarket's funds raised to date for our charities. It even attracted the interest of the local media - the Oxford Mail and Didcot Herald who had a photographer on hand to capture both Luke and Chris undergoing the clippers!
And lots of generous customers and passers-by who witnessed the entire shaving at the entrance to the store on a lovely sunny but bit cold afternoon.
The Sainsbury's Big Super Shave Day was orchestrated by Luke Norris, counters assistant, who decided in a moment of madness one Saturday in January that he would shave his head to raise some funds for Play2Give - the store's chosen local charity of the year. So, Luke soon started to ask round and whip up some more 'victims' and he managed to persuade fellow counter colleagues,Chris Ewing (who grew his hair long especially) and Ben Shaw, former counters manager, who has moved to their Kidlington counterparts.
So, checkout assistants Jess Clifton and Ali Bates, with help from Danny, got to work on the guys first clipping them to a grade 1, before adding the foam and butchering their hair with the razor, and well a great job done - as the 3 lads look wicked with their new looks, especially Luke who looks a bit too frighteningly of a rough and tough skinhead!
Luke hopes up to £200 will of been raised which will benefit the charities Play2Give help, such as the Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire, the brain injury charity, which has massively helped our Andrew Baker through his rehabilitation over the last 3 years!
Well done to everyone involved, a huge thank you to Jess, Ali, and Veronica, and of course to Ben, Luke and Chris and an extra special big thank you to Luke for masterminding this entire event which was super fun and an amazing way to add to the supermarket's funds raised to date for our charities. It even attracted the interest of the local media - the Oxford Mail and Didcot Herald who had a photographer on hand to capture both Luke and Chris undergoing the clippers!
And lots of generous customers and passers-by who witnessed the entire shaving at the entrance to the store on a lovely sunny but bit cold afternoon.
Meet the skinhead... Luke Norris
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Buddies... Andrew, left, and new baldy in town, Luke, right
Ben's the way to do it... Ben Shaw
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- View all the pictures here from the fun afternoon. A grand total of £482.11 was raised - huge thank you everyone!
Paul and Antony Limber Up for Monster Run - 10 April 2015
Antony Shorter
Give it up and a round of applause to all our tremendous 11 musketeers who are taking on The mighty Monster Race at Cornbury Park next Saturday (April 18) to raise funds for Play2Give!
All 11 of them are ready and waiting to take on the beast of all courses, 5k or 10k, they'll all be jumping over obstacles, wading through mud and water, crawling under barbed wire, and having a ruddy muddy great time with over 1,300 other participants!
The Play2Givers have all raised over £706 between them so far in donations - amazing!! www.make-a-donation.org/campaign/run-monster-race-2015-for-p2g
Well this week we feature two of the team members as our 'star fundraisers' of the week... Paul Lyford and Antony Shorter
Both of them are no strangers to tough terrain and such wacky courses, as both have taken on the Tough Mudder last year and for Paul he is a personal fitness instructor at White Horse Leisure & Tennis Centre in Abingdon so he is quite a tough cookie really!
Both Paul and Ant have supported P2G over many years, Ant first got involved in supporting P2G back in 2009 when he assembled a team for our mens charity footy tournament in that summer. Paul first got involved after meeting our Andrew Baker at a fun run Antony and family organised in support of the Oxford Heart Centre (after Ant's sister Lindsey Shorter) had been treated there, and since then Paul has been inspired by the work of Play2Give, and even helped pack bags for customers at Sainsbury's in Didcot one Sunday last December.
Both have taken part in last September's very first Play2Give football match contested by Play2Give Allstars against the Sainsbury's Didcot Superstars, where we only went and won 20-1 against the opponents from the supermarket!! The footy match will return this September, and no doubt both lads will don their footy boots and kits to take part yet again!
So well done lads, and for Ant taking part next Saturday is 'touch and go' at the moment due to a back injury but he's determined to be back and able to take on the 10k Monster with the rest of the pack.
So give it up for both Ant and Paul, and all the other 9 top notch bandits assembling up as The Play2Givers, our team will be launching off at 12.30pm next week and spectators get in for free - so you are welcome to come and watch and support The Play2Givers!
If anyone would like to make a donation and support the entire P2G team, (all donations are gratefully received) please click here and help us beat £706 so far raised!!
Next week we'll feature our last lot of Monster Racers, ahead of the big day itself!
All 11 of them are ready and waiting to take on the beast of all courses, 5k or 10k, they'll all be jumping over obstacles, wading through mud and water, crawling under barbed wire, and having a ruddy muddy great time with over 1,300 other participants!
The Play2Givers have all raised over £706 between them so far in donations - amazing!! www.make-a-donation.org/campaign/run-monster-race-2015-for-p2g
Well this week we feature two of the team members as our 'star fundraisers' of the week... Paul Lyford and Antony Shorter
Both of them are no strangers to tough terrain and such wacky courses, as both have taken on the Tough Mudder last year and for Paul he is a personal fitness instructor at White Horse Leisure & Tennis Centre in Abingdon so he is quite a tough cookie really!
Both Paul and Ant have supported P2G over many years, Ant first got involved in supporting P2G back in 2009 when he assembled a team for our mens charity footy tournament in that summer. Paul first got involved after meeting our Andrew Baker at a fun run Antony and family organised in support of the Oxford Heart Centre (after Ant's sister Lindsey Shorter) had been treated there, and since then Paul has been inspired by the work of Play2Give, and even helped pack bags for customers at Sainsbury's in Didcot one Sunday last December.
Both have taken part in last September's very first Play2Give football match contested by Play2Give Allstars against the Sainsbury's Didcot Superstars, where we only went and won 20-1 against the opponents from the supermarket!! The footy match will return this September, and no doubt both lads will don their footy boots and kits to take part yet again!
So well done lads, and for Ant taking part next Saturday is 'touch and go' at the moment due to a back injury but he's determined to be back and able to take on the 10k Monster with the rest of the pack.
So give it up for both Ant and Paul, and all the other 9 top notch bandits assembling up as The Play2Givers, our team will be launching off at 12.30pm next week and spectators get in for free - so you are welcome to come and watch and support The Play2Givers!
If anyone would like to make a donation and support the entire P2G team, (all donations are gratefully received) please click here and help us beat £706 so far raised!!
Next week we'll feature our last lot of Monster Racers, ahead of the big day itself!
Paul Lyford
Press Release: Supermarket staff razors up for a bald in one charity effort on Saturday - 9 April 2015
Luke Norris
There is some hairy fundraising set to go on at Didcot's Sainsbury's on Saturday with a charity head shaving day - all in support of Play2Give.
Some of the store's colleagues will be having heads - and even beards and eyebrows (if they wish) - shaved to raise funds for Play2Give through sponsorship and donations from customers into the buckets with customers even able to join in and be scalped spontaneously.
Two of the store's counter assistants including Luke Norris, 20, will be the victims Uncle Fester style and will be sheared by store staff - with help from our Andrew Baker too - in butchering their hair!
The store supports Play2Give as their local charity partner of the year after choosing to support the fundraising organisation through a year's worth of fundraising and awareness last July . And, so far the store, (as reported below earlier this month), has raised a record £3,000 over the last few months.
Andrew from Didcot founded Play2Give in September 2007 after being inspired following treatment he received throughout childhood at the Oxford hospitals following on from treatment at birth for a brain injury to major brain surgery in 2001 at the age of 12 to various other medical problems. He first began fundraising for the Oxford Children's Hospital in 2003 aged 14 as a pupil at Didcot's St Birinus School. Both Andrew and the school's name sits on a glass plaque of recognition in the Atrium of the Children's Hospital, for all those donors who raised over £5,000+ throughout the hospital's £15m building appeal. St Birinus alone was top of the schools when it came to raising funds with the school - thanks to Andrew's co-ordination - raising over £11,000 over five years.
Play2Give fundraises for local charities and has raised over £33,150 since 2007 with over £26,700 of this donated to the Children's Hospital.
The store hopes to add to the £3k total already raised through staff and customers efforts and involvement through this bald idea which, if the weather on Saturday is nice and dry as of recent days, the shaves will take place jut outside the front of the store.
Some of the store's colleagues will be having heads - and even beards and eyebrows (if they wish) - shaved to raise funds for Play2Give through sponsorship and donations from customers into the buckets with customers even able to join in and be scalped spontaneously.
Two of the store's counter assistants including Luke Norris, 20, will be the victims Uncle Fester style and will be sheared by store staff - with help from our Andrew Baker too - in butchering their hair!
The store supports Play2Give as their local charity partner of the year after choosing to support the fundraising organisation through a year's worth of fundraising and awareness last July . And, so far the store, (as reported below earlier this month), has raised a record £3,000 over the last few months.
Andrew from Didcot founded Play2Give in September 2007 after being inspired following treatment he received throughout childhood at the Oxford hospitals following on from treatment at birth for a brain injury to major brain surgery in 2001 at the age of 12 to various other medical problems. He first began fundraising for the Oxford Children's Hospital in 2003 aged 14 as a pupil at Didcot's St Birinus School. Both Andrew and the school's name sits on a glass plaque of recognition in the Atrium of the Children's Hospital, for all those donors who raised over £5,000+ throughout the hospital's £15m building appeal. St Birinus alone was top of the schools when it came to raising funds with the school - thanks to Andrew's co-ordination - raising over £11,000 over five years.
Play2Give fundraises for local charities and has raised over £33,150 since 2007 with over £26,700 of this donated to the Children's Hospital.
The store hopes to add to the £3k total already raised through staff and customers efforts and involvement through this bald idea which, if the weather on Saturday is nice and dry as of recent days, the shaves will take place jut outside the front of the store.
Spring Newsletter Hot Off the Press - 9 April 2015
Our Spring e-newsletter is now available to view online, full of the latest news and events successes from the past few months, with upcoming events also included.
In this edition, Sainsbury's Didcot celebrates a record total, football tournament kicks off for another year, fireworks makes for a cracking night's party, upcoming events like the Monster and more.
Happy reading! If you are seeing this but are not subscribed to receive our mailings on email, please click on the subscriptions sub link in the 'News' header.
In this edition, Sainsbury's Didcot celebrates a record total, football tournament kicks off for another year, fireworks makes for a cracking night's party, upcoming events like the Monster and more.
Happy reading! If you are seeing this but are not subscribed to receive our mailings on email, please click on the subscriptions sub link in the 'News' header.
Sainsbury's Tremendous Three-Thousand - 1 April 2015
Veronica Dallas presents Andrew with the £3,000 cheque
Super Sainsbury's just never fails to deliver.... with a tremendous surprise in store for Andrew Baker at their latest staff shindig!
At Sunday evening's (March 29th) colleague of the year awards our friends at the Didcot store announced that they have SO FAR raised an AMAZING £3,000 for PLAY2GIVE since their charity of the year partnership supporting our organisation began last July.
This is incredible, and shows how much the staff and customers have taken P2G to their hearts, as the whispers are that the store has never raised so much for a local charity/group before, so to have learnt they have raised £3k already is just brilliant.
Our Andrew was presented with the huge cheque on stage at the awards bash by the store's lovely PR Ambassador (and own charity champion) and Kevin Rowse, former store manager, and they hope to add to this figure when the grand total is known in June when sadly our year of being supported by our Didcot store comes to an end.
With a few more weeks of fundraising left by the store, including April 11th's big shaves day and a bag packing Saturday in early May, and collecting tins still at checkouts, the total will hopefully continue to rise between now and then!
Thank you to everyone at the store both staff and customers who have helped make this amazing sum so far possible, keep up the great support ladies and gents, and we look forward to finding out the overall grand total come July - it is going to be exciting to hear! From everyone involved with Play2Give, a great big thank you to you all.
Sainsbury's Didcot's Year of Fundraising news and events
At Sunday evening's (March 29th) colleague of the year awards our friends at the Didcot store announced that they have SO FAR raised an AMAZING £3,000 for PLAY2GIVE since their charity of the year partnership supporting our organisation began last July.
This is incredible, and shows how much the staff and customers have taken P2G to their hearts, as the whispers are that the store has never raised so much for a local charity/group before, so to have learnt they have raised £3k already is just brilliant.
Our Andrew was presented with the huge cheque on stage at the awards bash by the store's lovely PR Ambassador (and own charity champion) and Kevin Rowse, former store manager, and they hope to add to this figure when the grand total is known in June when sadly our year of being supported by our Didcot store comes to an end.
With a few more weeks of fundraising left by the store, including April 11th's big shaves day and a bag packing Saturday in early May, and collecting tins still at checkouts, the total will hopefully continue to rise between now and then!
Thank you to everyone at the store both staff and customers who have helped make this amazing sum so far possible, keep up the great support ladies and gents, and we look forward to finding out the overall grand total come July - it is going to be exciting to hear! From everyone involved with Play2Give, a great big thank you to you all.
Sainsbury's Didcot's Year of Fundraising news and events
Our Latest Star Fundraiser of the Week - 30 March 2015
Our Monday star fundraiser of this week is Craig Harris, a member of the Play2Give committee who helps and is involved with our footy kids tournament every year and takes part in footy matches, sports a P2G wristband and gets involved in other ways for P2G when he can.
Craig is another member of 'The Play2Givers' team taking on the Monster next month to raise funds for Play2Give for our charities we support like the Children's Hospital and Oxfordshire Headway brain injury. Craig is one of 11 taking on the Monster Race 2015 at Cornbury Park.
Craig will be wading through water and mud, crawling under barbed wire, climbing and jumping over obstacles and into iced plunge-pools, all to support his favourite cause, Play2Give.
Craig is inspired by his cousin Dale Harris's amazing daughter Mya, who has been treated since day one at the Children's Hospital as she has undergone 30 or so operations over the last 12.5 years for Spina Bifida, whilst also being a friend of Andrew Baker and of who Craig is pleased to help our great work in raising funds for the hospital, after Craig first met Andrew at the mens football tournament in 2008.
Craig has also taken part in the Children's Hospital OX5 Runs over the years alongside his big cuz Dale as part of Mya's Superstars too. All this whilst suffering from epilepsy, what a great guy!
Craig's fundraising page for anyone who may be inspired or wishes to pledge some pennies to support Craig and the whole of the P2G Monster team.
We'll feature another 'star fundraiser' of Play2Give next week, as we salute more of our stars that deserve to be applauded for their amazing efforts in helping us help the charities that we support.
>>> Run the Monster Race 2015 for Play2Give
Craig is another member of 'The Play2Givers' team taking on the Monster next month to raise funds for Play2Give for our charities we support like the Children's Hospital and Oxfordshire Headway brain injury. Craig is one of 11 taking on the Monster Race 2015 at Cornbury Park.
Craig will be wading through water and mud, crawling under barbed wire, climbing and jumping over obstacles and into iced plunge-pools, all to support his favourite cause, Play2Give.
Craig is inspired by his cousin Dale Harris's amazing daughter Mya, who has been treated since day one at the Children's Hospital as she has undergone 30 or so operations over the last 12.5 years for Spina Bifida, whilst also being a friend of Andrew Baker and of who Craig is pleased to help our great work in raising funds for the hospital, after Craig first met Andrew at the mens football tournament in 2008.
Craig has also taken part in the Children's Hospital OX5 Runs over the years alongside his big cuz Dale as part of Mya's Superstars too. All this whilst suffering from epilepsy, what a great guy!
Craig's fundraising page for anyone who may be inspired or wishes to pledge some pennies to support Craig and the whole of the P2G Monster team.
We'll feature another 'star fundraiser' of Play2Give next week, as we salute more of our stars that deserve to be applauded for their amazing efforts in helping us help the charities that we support.
>>> Run the Monster Race 2015 for Play2Give
Sainsbury's Raises a Comic Relief of Money - 20 March 2015
Friday March 13th was the day that Sainsbury's Didcot did something funny for money - all in the name of charity.
The store had a fantastic day of fundraising to support Comic Relief all day long including fun and games from a VIP checkout to a deputy manager and employee having 1/2 a beard shaves to a tombola, a comic relief bake and cake sale and face painting. The face painting proceeds was shared between Comic Relief and Play2Give as store staff and customers got into the Red Nose Day spirit - with some cracking makeovers as can be seen below!
The store had a fantastic day of fundraising to support Comic Relief all day long including fun and games from a VIP checkout to a deputy manager and employee having 1/2 a beard shaves to a tombola, a comic relief bake and cake sale and face painting. The face painting proceeds was shared between Comic Relief and Play2Give as store staff and customers got into the Red Nose Day spirit - with some cracking makeovers as can be seen below!
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Thank you to all the Sainsbury's employees, customers and children who took part in making their faces funny for money, and to Sara Dixon of Performing Angels & Stars Stage School Didcot and Vicky Ward - Fabulous Face Paints Didcot for doing a fantastic job painting faces all day long. Whilst the total raised from the face painting for both causes is not known yet, it is known that the store raised a grand total of £1,850 this year for Comic Relief - fantastic effort by all!
Personal Trainer With Eye Disorder Takes on a 'Monster' of a Run for Charity - 16 March 2015
Personal Trainer, Tom Shaw
A personal trainer with an eye disorder is in training to limber up for a mighty run with a difference as he prepares to take on the Monster Race at Cornbury Park on April 18.
Tom Shaw, left, a Personal Trainer who runs TS Fitness Oxfordshire, has rallied four of his ‘friends and clients’ to take on this exhilarating 5km course to raise funds for a cause close to Tom’s heart - Play2Give - to help children going through similar conditions like himself.
Tom who is also Fitness Manager at the Willowbrook Leisure Centre, Didcot, and also trains clients at The Park Club, Milton Park, feels he owes a value of life and a debt of gratitude to the eye medics that have literally transformed his life. Tom suffers from a rare eye condition known as Keratoconus, and has also experienced the invaluable work of the medics at the John Radcliffe Hospital as his younger brother also suffers from various medical conditions.
Along with Andy Morley, Jonny Simmonds, Ryan Evans and Punit Mistry, all four will be supporting Play2Give - which is a fundraising organisation set up by Andrew Baker, 26, from Didcot. The money raised for Play2Give will be donated to Oxford Children’s Hospital, the Paediatric Eye Fund at the John Radcliffe Hospital, and brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire.
On preparing for the race, Tom says: “Being motivated for the Monster Race wasn’t hard. 2 years ago I was diagnosed with an eye condition called Keratoconus. This condition basically makes my normal vision extremely blurred as the cornea has misshapened from its usual shape to more of a cone. This condition has changed my life and will never get better. I regularly visit the Oxford Eye hospital and I see the children that have similar or worse eye conditions than myself. Seeing first hand, upon visits the tests and treatments they have to go through at such a small age, when I found out Play2Give supports the Paediatric Eye Fund at the hospital getting involved in such an exhilarating challenge was a no brainer for me.”
“As a personal trainer it is hard living with my condition but I always want to get on with my life and be active and try and achieve as much as I can. I suppose I always got this mentality from my little brother who has a form of cerebral palsy as well as other medical conditions including epilepsy. He’s four years younger than me and my whole life I have watched him fight for the most basic of things that we all take for granted such as walking and talking. His determination has got him through life and he is a much more able young adult.”
Part of a 11-strong ‘Play2Give’ team the fantastic five are hoping to raise up to £500 in their sponsorship, and as well as donations through buckets at both centres, they are hoping to reach the target through sponsored leg waxes and for Tom a ‘kettlebell’ challenge. For every £1 donated Tom will complete a 1 kettle bell swing, 350 swung in total if the target is achieved!
“The Monster Run is going to be hard but as a personal trainer I should be able to handle the physical side. On the day I’m going to be there for my clients that are doing the race with me. They have various physical abilities but all are doing the race for personal gain and to have a good laugh at the same time!" adds Tom.
Tom added: “I’m a proud trainer for the way they have trained to prep for the race. Hopefully we will raise our target and make a difference to a local cause at the same time that does such excellent work in the form of a fellow member Andrew Baker who himself has come through tough times in life from a brain injury and surgery, but, who I see regularly get back into good shape through training at the gym."
The team are joined by Craig Harris, 33, from Bicester, David Reilly, from Hampshire (an ITV Meridian journalist), Paul Lyford, 26, and Antony Shorter, 25, both of Abingdon - all four of which are friends of Andrew Baker, along with Sara Dixon, who runs the Angels Performing Stage School Didcot, and several employees of Sainsbury's Didcot also planning to take on the gauntlet.
It is hoped the team in total could raise up to £1,000 between them. The entire ‘Play2Givers’ team can be sponsored here
Play2Give has donated over £33,100 since 2007, and over £26,700 of this for the Children’s Hospital. Play2Give are now aiming towards raising a £40,000 target to sponsor the naming of its very own room within the hospital and the group are well over halfway towards this goal. Andrew founded Play2Give after being inspired following treatment from birth throughout childhood for various medical interventions after suffering a brain injury upon birth, head injury aged 8 and major brain surgery aged 12 in 2001. Andrew with the help of supporters, friends and schools, has raised over £48,000 for charities with over £41k of this for the Children's Hospital over the last 12 years. More information about Play2Give at www.play2give.org.uk.
Tom Shaw, left, a Personal Trainer who runs TS Fitness Oxfordshire, has rallied four of his ‘friends and clients’ to take on this exhilarating 5km course to raise funds for a cause close to Tom’s heart - Play2Give - to help children going through similar conditions like himself.
Tom who is also Fitness Manager at the Willowbrook Leisure Centre, Didcot, and also trains clients at The Park Club, Milton Park, feels he owes a value of life and a debt of gratitude to the eye medics that have literally transformed his life. Tom suffers from a rare eye condition known as Keratoconus, and has also experienced the invaluable work of the medics at the John Radcliffe Hospital as his younger brother also suffers from various medical conditions.
Along with Andy Morley, Jonny Simmonds, Ryan Evans and Punit Mistry, all four will be supporting Play2Give - which is a fundraising organisation set up by Andrew Baker, 26, from Didcot. The money raised for Play2Give will be donated to Oxford Children’s Hospital, the Paediatric Eye Fund at the John Radcliffe Hospital, and brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire.
On preparing for the race, Tom says: “Being motivated for the Monster Race wasn’t hard. 2 years ago I was diagnosed with an eye condition called Keratoconus. This condition basically makes my normal vision extremely blurred as the cornea has misshapened from its usual shape to more of a cone. This condition has changed my life and will never get better. I regularly visit the Oxford Eye hospital and I see the children that have similar or worse eye conditions than myself. Seeing first hand, upon visits the tests and treatments they have to go through at such a small age, when I found out Play2Give supports the Paediatric Eye Fund at the hospital getting involved in such an exhilarating challenge was a no brainer for me.”
“As a personal trainer it is hard living with my condition but I always want to get on with my life and be active and try and achieve as much as I can. I suppose I always got this mentality from my little brother who has a form of cerebral palsy as well as other medical conditions including epilepsy. He’s four years younger than me and my whole life I have watched him fight for the most basic of things that we all take for granted such as walking and talking. His determination has got him through life and he is a much more able young adult.”
Part of a 11-strong ‘Play2Give’ team the fantastic five are hoping to raise up to £500 in their sponsorship, and as well as donations through buckets at both centres, they are hoping to reach the target through sponsored leg waxes and for Tom a ‘kettlebell’ challenge. For every £1 donated Tom will complete a 1 kettle bell swing, 350 swung in total if the target is achieved!
“The Monster Run is going to be hard but as a personal trainer I should be able to handle the physical side. On the day I’m going to be there for my clients that are doing the race with me. They have various physical abilities but all are doing the race for personal gain and to have a good laugh at the same time!" adds Tom.
Tom added: “I’m a proud trainer for the way they have trained to prep for the race. Hopefully we will raise our target and make a difference to a local cause at the same time that does such excellent work in the form of a fellow member Andrew Baker who himself has come through tough times in life from a brain injury and surgery, but, who I see regularly get back into good shape through training at the gym."
The team are joined by Craig Harris, 33, from Bicester, David Reilly, from Hampshire (an ITV Meridian journalist), Paul Lyford, 26, and Antony Shorter, 25, both of Abingdon - all four of which are friends of Andrew Baker, along with Sara Dixon, who runs the Angels Performing Stage School Didcot, and several employees of Sainsbury's Didcot also planning to take on the gauntlet.
It is hoped the team in total could raise up to £1,000 between them. The entire ‘Play2Givers’ team can be sponsored here
Play2Give has donated over £33,100 since 2007, and over £26,700 of this for the Children’s Hospital. Play2Give are now aiming towards raising a £40,000 target to sponsor the naming of its very own room within the hospital and the group are well over halfway towards this goal. Andrew founded Play2Give after being inspired following treatment from birth throughout childhood for various medical interventions after suffering a brain injury upon birth, head injury aged 8 and major brain surgery aged 12 in 2001. Andrew with the help of supporters, friends and schools, has raised over £48,000 for charities with over £41k of this for the Children's Hospital over the last 12 years. More information about Play2Give at www.play2give.org.uk.
Competition opens to another year of 'business brains' successors - 2 March 2015
Andrew, far right, and all the 2014 regional winners
Searching for outstanding business talent in the Thames Valley - that's the annual Young Entrepreneur competition that has opened for entries today.
The annual Haines Watts Thames Valley Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition has opened its doors today for entries from the business brains of the future - and they need your help to find them!
The Thames Valley firm Haines Watts, Chartered Accountants, has launched its region-wide search for young business talent with its free Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards scheme.
The competition encompasses Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire, with five local winners from each district and one overall 'regional' winner.
Our very own mastermind Andrew Baker was nominated in last year's search to find a brilliant brain-storming candidate from Oxfordshire, and went on to be declared as the 'local' winner for the county representing the Shire at the awards finals day in Reading on November 5th last year. After a Dragon's Den style presentation, Andrew wasn't declared 'regional winner' but it was fantastic he was recognised at the awards final amongst other outstanding business boffins and being recognised as the worthy winner for Oxfordshire for setting up his very own fundraising organisation, Play2Give.
Why not follow in Andrew's and all the other finalists and winners from years gone by and enter today? Or know somebody who fits the bill? Get them nominated today and they could be a 'local' winner just like Andrew!
For more information, or for details on how to nominate that 'inspirational' young entrepreneur, visit the HWYE website today - don't delay, as entries must be received by July 31st.
The annual Haines Watts Thames Valley Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition has opened its doors today for entries from the business brains of the future - and they need your help to find them!
The Thames Valley firm Haines Watts, Chartered Accountants, has launched its region-wide search for young business talent with its free Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards scheme.
The competition encompasses Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire, with five local winners from each district and one overall 'regional' winner.
Our very own mastermind Andrew Baker was nominated in last year's search to find a brilliant brain-storming candidate from Oxfordshire, and went on to be declared as the 'local' winner for the county representing the Shire at the awards finals day in Reading on November 5th last year. After a Dragon's Den style presentation, Andrew wasn't declared 'regional winner' but it was fantastic he was recognised at the awards final amongst other outstanding business boffins and being recognised as the worthy winner for Oxfordshire for setting up his very own fundraising organisation, Play2Give.
Why not follow in Andrew's and all the other finalists and winners from years gone by and enter today? Or know somebody who fits the bill? Get them nominated today and they could be a 'local' winner just like Andrew!
For more information, or for details on how to nominate that 'inspirational' young entrepreneur, visit the HWYE website today - don't delay, as entries must be received by July 31st.
Andrew Baker.. Oxfordshire's HWYE Winner 2014
Chomping Chillies for Charity Proves Red Hot Idea - 27 February 2015
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The amazing fireworks display courtesy of Illusion Fireworks
A fabulous fantastic five really got their tongues and mouths into a sizzle last Saturday night as they took part in a sponsored chilli eating challenge for charity.
The fantastic five - Karl Saunders, Chris Walker, Alfie Dallas, Phil Webber and Jayton Garnett - all took on the challenge as part of the Play2Give party at Didcot Football Club - and certainly left them feeling a bit chilli hot under the collar.
The guys all chomped their way through to see who could eat the hottest chillies going - and the winner was... Phil Webber.
Four of the guys - Karl, Chris, Alfie and Phil - are employees of the town's Sainsbury's, which chose Play2Give as its local charity of the year last July. Despite the nerves beforehand, all of the chilli conquering warriors enjioyed the experience, and not one of them required the services of the sick bucket - phew!
It wasn't quite tempting enough though for organisers of the night, Andy Baker and Danny Buttress, to take part themselves.
The Play2Give Party, the fifth such organised event, was the best in history with a spectacular dazzling and amazing 6-minute fireworks display - the best the town of Didcot has ever seen, kindly donated and run by Illusion Fireworks. There was also lots of boogie-ing on down with a fantastic disco all night long by Utopia Disco, which kickstarted the event's proceedings, a raffle of around 21 prizes, a luscious buffet provided by Sainsbury's and of course no party would be complete without drinks themselves - and a massive thank you to Didcot Town Football Club for hosting the entire evening and allowing use of their wonderful function room. And a massive thank you to our wonderful sponsors for the second year running, Johnsons Cars Oxford, for making this entire evening possible!
The party raised a fantastic £572.40, which will be split between the evening's charities - Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Hospital'sPaediatric Eye Fund. Both of which will receive £286.20 from the proceeds.
These fundraising evenings over the years has raised £3,520.73 in total for Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire, SpecialEffect, the Paediatric Eye Fund, the Footsteps Centre and Bone Cancer Research.
Thank you to everyone who came along and supported our fundraising evening this year - we plan to organise more in the future!
The fantastic five - Karl Saunders, Chris Walker, Alfie Dallas, Phil Webber and Jayton Garnett - all took on the challenge as part of the Play2Give party at Didcot Football Club - and certainly left them feeling a bit chilli hot under the collar.
The guys all chomped their way through to see who could eat the hottest chillies going - and the winner was... Phil Webber.
Four of the guys - Karl, Chris, Alfie and Phil - are employees of the town's Sainsbury's, which chose Play2Give as its local charity of the year last July. Despite the nerves beforehand, all of the chilli conquering warriors enjioyed the experience, and not one of them required the services of the sick bucket - phew!
It wasn't quite tempting enough though for organisers of the night, Andy Baker and Danny Buttress, to take part themselves.
The Play2Give Party, the fifth such organised event, was the best in history with a spectacular dazzling and amazing 6-minute fireworks display - the best the town of Didcot has ever seen, kindly donated and run by Illusion Fireworks. There was also lots of boogie-ing on down with a fantastic disco all night long by Utopia Disco, which kickstarted the event's proceedings, a raffle of around 21 prizes, a luscious buffet provided by Sainsbury's and of course no party would be complete without drinks themselves - and a massive thank you to Didcot Town Football Club for hosting the entire evening and allowing use of their wonderful function room. And a massive thank you to our wonderful sponsors for the second year running, Johnsons Cars Oxford, for making this entire evening possible!
The party raised a fantastic £572.40, which will be split between the evening's charities - Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Hospital'sPaediatric Eye Fund. Both of which will receive £286.20 from the proceeds.
These fundraising evenings over the years has raised £3,520.73 in total for Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire, SpecialEffect, the Paediatric Eye Fund, the Footsteps Centre and Bone Cancer Research.
Thank you to everyone who came along and supported our fundraising evening this year - we plan to organise more in the future!
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Sainsbury's Gets Play2Give In a Wrap for Valentines - 15 February 2015
Andrew, and volunteers Sharon Gaffka (centre) and Andrea Smith
Sainsbury's had a case of all things soppy going on over two days to raise a loved-up sum for Play2Give on February 13 and 14.
The Didcot store, which chose us as their fundraising partner of the year in July 2014, held their latest fundraising effort to raise funds for our charities, with a Valentine's gift wrapping service in return for donations.
The store ran a special flower wrapping two days in order for customers to donate spare change into the tin as a way to raise some romantic funds for their local charity.
Volunteers, including the store's very own Andrea Smith (on a week's holiday donated her own free time on both days), together with Sharon Gaffka from Didcot, Miss Crown and Glory, on Friday and Jess Clifton, another store colleague, together with help from Maggie Ingram and Andrea's very own youngest, Owen, Valentine's little helper, on the Saturday, together with our own Andrew Baker, bringing service with a smile adding an extra special touch of jazz to the flowers galore that was available within the store.
The scheme was so successful that the store has committed to running a 'Mother's Day' gift wrapping service to raise more funds for Play2Give over the weekend of March 14th. If you would like to help some spare time and provide your service for this fundraising weekend, please get in touch..
It is estimated that over £140 was raised over the two days - a soppy super sum and a hearty effort all round!
The Didcot store, which chose us as their fundraising partner of the year in July 2014, held their latest fundraising effort to raise funds for our charities, with a Valentine's gift wrapping service in return for donations.
The store ran a special flower wrapping two days in order for customers to donate spare change into the tin as a way to raise some romantic funds for their local charity.
Volunteers, including the store's very own Andrea Smith (on a week's holiday donated her own free time on both days), together with Sharon Gaffka from Didcot, Miss Crown and Glory, on Friday and Jess Clifton, another store colleague, together with help from Maggie Ingram and Andrea's very own youngest, Owen, Valentine's little helper, on the Saturday, together with our own Andrew Baker, bringing service with a smile adding an extra special touch of jazz to the flowers galore that was available within the store.
The scheme was so successful that the store has committed to running a 'Mother's Day' gift wrapping service to raise more funds for Play2Give over the weekend of March 14th. If you would like to help some spare time and provide your service for this fundraising weekend, please get in touch..
It is estimated that over £140 was raised over the two days - a soppy super sum and a hearty effort all round!
Volunteers Owain, Maggie, and Andrea
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Valentine's little helper.. Owen Smith
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Andrea with a wedding bouquet
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Sainsbury's Didcot Has Fundraising All Wrapped Up - 11 February 2015
Loved up shoppers purchasing all things romantic for their special Valentine at Sainsbury's Didcot can get wrapped up in fundraising.
Volunteers for Play2Give including two of the store's very own workers, Andrea Smith and Jess Clifton, to wrap Valentine's flowers, chocs and fizz purchased in the store on Friday (13th) from 10am to 7pm and on Saturday (14th), the big day itself, from 9am to 3pm.
Customers will be asked to make a donation in return to Play2Give, raising funds for Oxford Children's Hospital,Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund, after the store chose us as their fundraising partner of the year for 2014-2015.
Sainsbury's Didcot Fundraising Partner of the Year
Volunteers for Play2Give including two of the store's very own workers, Andrea Smith and Jess Clifton, to wrap Valentine's flowers, chocs and fizz purchased in the store on Friday (13th) from 10am to 7pm and on Saturday (14th), the big day itself, from 9am to 3pm.
Customers will be asked to make a donation in return to Play2Give, raising funds for Oxford Children's Hospital,Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund, after the store chose us as their fundraising partner of the year for 2014-2015.
Sainsbury's Didcot Fundraising Partner of the Year
Sainsbury's Donates a Winning £500! - 6 February 2015
Play2Give has just got £500 richer thanks to a latest incredible donation from Sainsbury's Didcot!
The donation, given as part of a competition won in-house within J Sainsbury's Plc, has boosted the supermarket in the town's fundraising to well over £2,000 for our chosen charities.
In December, Veronica Dallas, PR Ambassador of Didcot store, entered into a competition run by the company's head office for best promotional strategy, and Veronica only went and won the prize-money amounting to £500 - which was to be donated to a charity of the store's choice.
Of course, the apt choice to donate was naturally Play2Give, as Didcot have been fundraising tirelessly since last July to support Play2Give after choosing us as their local fundraising partner of the year.
So a very huge thank you to Veronica and everyone at the store for this incredible recent jackpot towards our fundraising work. This donation, along with the rest of the funds they've raised so far since July consisting of over £2,300 will benefit the Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Hospital's Paediatric Eye Fund.
The total already raised by the supermarket is absolutely amazing - and we look forward to the last few months of fundraising ventures with them!
The donation, given as part of a competition won in-house within J Sainsbury's Plc, has boosted the supermarket in the town's fundraising to well over £2,000 for our chosen charities.
In December, Veronica Dallas, PR Ambassador of Didcot store, entered into a competition run by the company's head office for best promotional strategy, and Veronica only went and won the prize-money amounting to £500 - which was to be donated to a charity of the store's choice.
Of course, the apt choice to donate was naturally Play2Give, as Didcot have been fundraising tirelessly since last July to support Play2Give after choosing us as their local fundraising partner of the year.
So a very huge thank you to Veronica and everyone at the store for this incredible recent jackpot towards our fundraising work. This donation, along with the rest of the funds they've raised so far since July consisting of over £2,300 will benefit the Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Hospital's Paediatric Eye Fund.
The total already raised by the supermarket is absolutely amazing - and we look forward to the last few months of fundraising ventures with them!
Strollers Stride Up Superhero Sums in Sponsored Jaunt - 2 February 2015
Sainsbury's Veronica Dallas, and Andrew, on half time
The very first Sainsbury's Sponsored Stroll Supporting Play2Give was a super success on February 1st surpassing all expectations - and raising hundreds in the process!
The six-miler walk took in a beautiful scenic route through South Oxfordshire countryside as a convoy of supermarket workers and other supporters in the Didcot community came together on a freezing cold Sunday lunchtime to walk six superhero miles raising a superhero sum for Play2Give - and the walk was so successful it is hoped to make the walk an annual fundraiser!
The stroll was organised by Sainsbury's Didcot as part of their year of support after choosing Play2Give last July as the local fundraising partner they most wanted to support - and this kick started their fundraising effort for 2015 off - as they come into their final few months of fundraising endeavours before the partnership ends in June.
The Oxford Mail was there to capture the stroll on camera for a newspaper feature, and of course Spiderman - the greatest hero of them all - also web slinged his way along route to bring superhero smiles as well as help stride in superhero funds inspiring the pack as they set off from the supermarket in the Orchard Centre through to Upton (where the pack had a nice pit stop to enjoy well earnt drinks and grub at the village's pub) before setting back on the journey home, well back to the store.
It was of course our very own Andrew Baker in guise as the infamous superhero character who along on the way had a fierce arch enemy to overcome, as every superhero needs a baddie to conquer! Even a couple of the store's workers - Lee Crook - nightshift team leader - and Ben Shaw, a manager - wore shorts and t-shirt as their fancy dress attire, which definitely drew in lots of strange looks! But well done to everyone who took part and who braved the cold in such good spirits to raise so much money for worthy causes.
The walk was such a success that it has surpassed all expectations and smashed the £500 barrier - (which was the target to raise) - and looks to have raised well over £800 through the sponsorship of the strollers that took part and their ever generous donators helping such wonderful local charities through Play2Give's fundraising campaign. Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund all benefit from the funds raised, as they will from the grand total that Sainsbury's will have accumulated come June from a variety of event and activities already held.
The six-miler walk took in a beautiful scenic route through South Oxfordshire countryside as a convoy of supermarket workers and other supporters in the Didcot community came together on a freezing cold Sunday lunchtime to walk six superhero miles raising a superhero sum for Play2Give - and the walk was so successful it is hoped to make the walk an annual fundraiser!
The stroll was organised by Sainsbury's Didcot as part of their year of support after choosing Play2Give last July as the local fundraising partner they most wanted to support - and this kick started their fundraising effort for 2015 off - as they come into their final few months of fundraising endeavours before the partnership ends in June.
The Oxford Mail was there to capture the stroll on camera for a newspaper feature, and of course Spiderman - the greatest hero of them all - also web slinged his way along route to bring superhero smiles as well as help stride in superhero funds inspiring the pack as they set off from the supermarket in the Orchard Centre through to Upton (where the pack had a nice pit stop to enjoy well earnt drinks and grub at the village's pub) before setting back on the journey home, well back to the store.
It was of course our very own Andrew Baker in guise as the infamous superhero character who along on the way had a fierce arch enemy to overcome, as every superhero needs a baddie to conquer! Even a couple of the store's workers - Lee Crook - nightshift team leader - and Ben Shaw, a manager - wore shorts and t-shirt as their fancy dress attire, which definitely drew in lots of strange looks! But well done to everyone who took part and who braved the cold in such good spirits to raise so much money for worthy causes.
The walk was such a success that it has surpassed all expectations and smashed the £500 barrier - (which was the target to raise) - and looks to have raised well over £800 through the sponsorship of the strollers that took part and their ever generous donators helping such wonderful local charities through Play2Give's fundraising campaign. Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund all benefit from the funds raised, as they will from the grand total that Sainsbury's will have accumulated come June from a variety of event and activities already held.
Two of the Play2Give team getting warmed up on pub stop halfway... Elaine and Andrew.
The Didcot Herald.. 4 February 2015. Page 5
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One of the many pictures taken by the Oxford Mail as the strollers set off
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Press Release: Sainsbury's Strolling and Striding Along for Charity with Help from Spiderman - 27 January 2015
Staff at the Didcot supermarket Sainsbury's will be showing that they really do make a difference locally by strolling and striding along through the countryside in aid of charity.
On Sunday, February 1st a large group of workers from the store along with supporters from the Didcot community at large will be taking part in a sponsored walk to raise funds for local charities through the Play2Give fundraising campaign.
The store in the Orchard Centre chose Play2Give as their local fundraising partner of the year last July and so far has raised around £1,500 through a wide variety of fundraising activities, and it is hoped the very first Sainsbury's Sponsored Stroll Supporting Play2Give will raise a few hundreds of pounds.
Play2Give is a fundraising organisation which raises funds through organising events and projects for Oxford Childrens Hospital, the local brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire, and the John Radcliffe Hospital's Paediatric Eye Fund, all of which benefits through the year of fundraising support that the store has committed to a years worth of fundraising and awareness to.
The stroll, a 6-miler, starts and finishes at the supermarket through to Upton and back, with a pub pit stop at The George and Dragon in Upton, before the walk back. The group of strollers including Play2Give's Andrew Baker, will set off from outside the store at 12.30pm.
Even the greatest hero of them all, Spiderman, will be giving a helping hand inspiring the pack along their way. This will be Andrew himself who will be dressed as the infamous web-slinging character to raise extra laughs and funds along the way from hopeful passers-by, with Andrew also having his hair dyed especially for the walk, after taking on a challenge set to him by the stores workers where if he raises £200 in sponsorship himself his hair becomes just as colourful as Spiderman.
Andrew from Didcot set up Play2Give in September, 2007, with a small team of friends and since its inception the fundraising group has gone on to raise over £32,000 for local charities to date, with over £26,500 of this for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Even a couple of the supermarket workers donning shorts for sure as fancy dress attire, and possibly even a minion and Batman might make appearances.
Various members of the public including the Didcot community, and even some supporters from Oxford, as well as walkers friends and families, and even dogs, will be joining in the fun, where an array of other fancy dress delights will be seen.
Every walker is encouraged to raise £20 minimum sponsorship to aid the charities.
For more information, see play2give.org.uk or speak to Andrew Baker, Play2Give co-ordinator, on 07939064308 / Veronica Dallas, PR Ambassador at the store, who are organising the walk, on prl.didcot@sainsburys.co.uk or 01235 814159 to arrange media interviews and/or photography.
Related links:
On Sunday, February 1st a large group of workers from the store along with supporters from the Didcot community at large will be taking part in a sponsored walk to raise funds for local charities through the Play2Give fundraising campaign.
The store in the Orchard Centre chose Play2Give as their local fundraising partner of the year last July and so far has raised around £1,500 through a wide variety of fundraising activities, and it is hoped the very first Sainsbury's Sponsored Stroll Supporting Play2Give will raise a few hundreds of pounds.
Play2Give is a fundraising organisation which raises funds through organising events and projects for Oxford Childrens Hospital, the local brain injury charity, Headway Oxfordshire, and the John Radcliffe Hospital's Paediatric Eye Fund, all of which benefits through the year of fundraising support that the store has committed to a years worth of fundraising and awareness to.
The stroll, a 6-miler, starts and finishes at the supermarket through to Upton and back, with a pub pit stop at The George and Dragon in Upton, before the walk back. The group of strollers including Play2Give's Andrew Baker, will set off from outside the store at 12.30pm.
Even the greatest hero of them all, Spiderman, will be giving a helping hand inspiring the pack along their way. This will be Andrew himself who will be dressed as the infamous web-slinging character to raise extra laughs and funds along the way from hopeful passers-by, with Andrew also having his hair dyed especially for the walk, after taking on a challenge set to him by the stores workers where if he raises £200 in sponsorship himself his hair becomes just as colourful as Spiderman.
Andrew from Didcot set up Play2Give in September, 2007, with a small team of friends and since its inception the fundraising group has gone on to raise over £32,000 for local charities to date, with over £26,500 of this for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Even a couple of the supermarket workers donning shorts for sure as fancy dress attire, and possibly even a minion and Batman might make appearances.
Various members of the public including the Didcot community, and even some supporters from Oxford, as well as walkers friends and families, and even dogs, will be joining in the fun, where an array of other fancy dress delights will be seen.
Every walker is encouraged to raise £20 minimum sponsorship to aid the charities.
For more information, see play2give.org.uk or speak to Andrew Baker, Play2Give co-ordinator, on 07939064308 / Veronica Dallas, PR Ambassador at the store, who are organising the walk, on prl.didcot@sainsburys.co.uk or 01235 814159 to arrange media interviews and/or photography.
Related links:
Lodge Adopts Play2Give - 26 January 2015
Thank you to the William Southby Lodge 4638 for choosing to adopt Play2Give to raise funds for throughout 2015.
The William Southby 4638 Lodge in Harwell (part of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes) will be doing several events this year to raise funds for P2G, including their first confirmed fundraiser - a charity race night in October at The Marlborough Club in Didcot.
We would like to thank everyone that is connected with the Lodge for their support, and look forward to receiving donations and their updates of fundraisers over the months.
Thank you to the William Southby Lodge 4638 for choosing to adopt Play2Give to raise funds for throughout 2015.
The William Southby 4638 Lodge in Harwell (part of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes) will be doing several events this year to raise funds for P2G, including their first confirmed fundraiser - a charity race night in October at The Marlborough Club in Didcot.
We would like to thank everyone that is connected with the Lodge for their support, and look forward to receiving donations and their updates of fundraisers over the months.
Sainsbury's Didcot Serves Up Super Sum So Far - 22 January 2015
Our friends at Sainsbury's Didcot in the Orchard Centre have been tremendously supportive of Play2Give since 2013 - and in particular since they adopted us as the store's local fundraising partner of the year in July, 2014.
Since choosing Play2Give as the store's fundraising partner they have had an amazing response in terms of the funds raised to date - and, with only 6 months into the year, they have already raised close on £1,600 - which is an amazing effort!
There are still a few months to go in their year of awareness and support for us, so the final total the store makes could total £2,000 alone by the time June comes round when the charity year ends!
The store staff and customers have been involved from sparing pennies and pounds in collection tins on the tills, to a team of colleagues taking on the mighty Play2Give Allstars in a football match last September, to Halloween ghoulish fundraising - face painting and a staff cake bake off, to bag packing, a raffle at the staff Christmas doo and £500 the store won in a national competition run by Sainsbury's HO.
All this, and with sponsored walks, Easter checkout bingos, valentine's flower wrapping, and an onesies day all planned to be run, will all contribute towards the grand total raised by the summer - which will make a massive difference to the charities that our fundraising supports: Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund.
We are totally amazed by the outstanding total that has been raised so far by the store's colleagues and customers, and we look forward to continue working in partnership with them on more fundraising ventures.
In 2013-2014, the store's chosen local charity of the year was the South & Vale Carers Centre in the town, of which they raised £1,850.
Since choosing Play2Give as the store's fundraising partner they have had an amazing response in terms of the funds raised to date - and, with only 6 months into the year, they have already raised close on £1,600 - which is an amazing effort!
There are still a few months to go in their year of awareness and support for us, so the final total the store makes could total £2,000 alone by the time June comes round when the charity year ends!
The store staff and customers have been involved from sparing pennies and pounds in collection tins on the tills, to a team of colleagues taking on the mighty Play2Give Allstars in a football match last September, to Halloween ghoulish fundraising - face painting and a staff cake bake off, to bag packing, a raffle at the staff Christmas doo and £500 the store won in a national competition run by Sainsbury's HO.
All this, and with sponsored walks, Easter checkout bingos, valentine's flower wrapping, and an onesies day all planned to be run, will all contribute towards the grand total raised by the summer - which will make a massive difference to the charities that our fundraising supports: Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund.
We are totally amazed by the outstanding total that has been raised so far by the store's colleagues and customers, and we look forward to continue working in partnership with them on more fundraising ventures.
In 2013-2014, the store's chosen local charity of the year was the South & Vale Carers Centre in the town, of which they raised £1,850.
Stride Along with Sainsbury's on Sunday Stroll for Play2Give - 12 January 2015
A sponsored stroll supporting Play2Give is striding along superbly - with a catalogue of supermarket workers limbering up for a 6-mile walk to and from Upton and back from Didcot on Sunday, February 1st.
The Sponsored Sainsbury's Stroll Supporting Play2Give is Sainsbury's Didcot's first big fundraiser of 2015 supporting the fundraising group's appeal this year for local charities - and the community at large are being invited to join in too!
The supermarket chose to support Play2Give as their local fundraising partner of the year back in July, and since then they have raised close on £900 since the partnership began in the summer. Activities from a football matchto Halloween face painting and cake bakes to bag packs, a raffle and a colleague's Movember effort have all been held to date with collecting tins on all the tills in the store raising awareness and spare pennies and £'s.
This estimated 6-mile stroll will begin and finish at Sainsbury's on Central Drive (off Station Road) and will take in the scenic route to Upton and back along the disused railway line with a pub pit stop at The George and Dragon in the villeage for well earnt munch and drinks before the 6-mile walk back to the store.
It is hoped a few hundred pounds will be raised between colleagues and other supporters, such as families and Play2Give's very own Andrew Baker who will be joining in. Andrew will be bringing 'superhero' smiles along the way as he dresses as Spider-Man for the occasion, with many others expected to don fancy dress on route for extra laughs, awareness and extra funds raised along the way from passers-by.
To sign up to join in this special sponsored stroll and support Sainsbury's Didcot in their fundraising mission this year for Play2Give, which supports and donates funds to Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund, contact us. There is no registration fee to take part, but every stroller is encouraged to raise at least £20 in sponsorship to aid these very worthy causes. Download a sponsorship form
Create a sponsorship page online
Related Links:
The Sponsored Sainsbury's Stroll Supporting Play2Give is Sainsbury's Didcot's first big fundraiser of 2015 supporting the fundraising group's appeal this year for local charities - and the community at large are being invited to join in too!
The supermarket chose to support Play2Give as their local fundraising partner of the year back in July, and since then they have raised close on £900 since the partnership began in the summer. Activities from a football matchto Halloween face painting and cake bakes to bag packs, a raffle and a colleague's Movember effort have all been held to date with collecting tins on all the tills in the store raising awareness and spare pennies and £'s.
This estimated 6-mile stroll will begin and finish at Sainsbury's on Central Drive (off Station Road) and will take in the scenic route to Upton and back along the disused railway line with a pub pit stop at The George and Dragon in the villeage for well earnt munch and drinks before the 6-mile walk back to the store.
It is hoped a few hundred pounds will be raised between colleagues and other supporters, such as families and Play2Give's very own Andrew Baker who will be joining in. Andrew will be bringing 'superhero' smiles along the way as he dresses as Spider-Man for the occasion, with many others expected to don fancy dress on route for extra laughs, awareness and extra funds raised along the way from passers-by.
To sign up to join in this special sponsored stroll and support Sainsbury's Didcot in their fundraising mission this year for Play2Give, which supports and donates funds to Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund, contact us. There is no registration fee to take part, but every stroller is encouraged to raise at least £20 in sponsorship to aid these very worthy causes. Download a sponsorship form
Create a sponsorship page online
Related Links:
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Oxford Mail: Football fundraising charity nets cash for children's hospital - 29 December 2014
A football fundraising group is celebrating a record year of supporting charities such as Oxford Children's Hospital. Read full story
Didcot Herald, 24/12/14, Page 2. Click for fullsize
Winter 2014 Newsletter Hot Off the Press - 17 December 2014
The Winter edition of our latest newsletter is now hot and available off the press.
Click here to read the issue. With news on our record breaking fundraising year, marathon men, an itchy month of fundraising with Movember, award winning Andrew, 2015 events coming up, super sports awards support and more.
View online
Click here to read the issue. With news on our record breaking fundraising year, marathon men, an itchy month of fundraising with Movember, award winning Andrew, 2015 events coming up, super sports awards support and more.
View online
Sports Awards Rows an Oar-some Sum In! - 9 December 2014
Breaking news! The super support of the Oxfordshire Sports Awards a week ago Friday night at the Kassam raised a magnificent £551.10!
This exceeds all expectations that Zoe O'Neill and all the organisers of the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership estimated to raise just £200 was expected to be raised from the raffle and collections round the tables. Thanks to great timing of great strategy (going round the tables during the interval once the wine had been consumed, more the notes poured in) and so this amazing result was achieved. This is the most amount that the Sports Awards has ever raised for charity in its 9-year history!
This means all 3 charities, Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the JR Paediatric Eye Fund will all benefit in 2015 from £183.70 from Play2Give as a result of all the hugely generous and hugely lovely sporting stars and the guests that turned out to celebrate the starry sports heroes at this glitzy awards doo on November 28th.
We are delighted to be chosen to now benefit from the Sports Awards every year going forward, and we look forward to 2015's awards night! We can't thank Zoe and everyone at the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership enough and all the guests and sponsors who all so generously contributed on the night.
This exceeds all expectations that Zoe O'Neill and all the organisers of the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership estimated to raise just £200 was expected to be raised from the raffle and collections round the tables. Thanks to great timing of great strategy (going round the tables during the interval once the wine had been consumed, more the notes poured in) and so this amazing result was achieved. This is the most amount that the Sports Awards has ever raised for charity in its 9-year history!
This means all 3 charities, Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the JR Paediatric Eye Fund will all benefit in 2015 from £183.70 from Play2Give as a result of all the hugely generous and hugely lovely sporting stars and the guests that turned out to celebrate the starry sports heroes at this glitzy awards doo on November 28th.
We are delighted to be chosen to now benefit from the Sports Awards every year going forward, and we look forward to 2015's awards night! We can't thank Zoe and everyone at the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership enough and all the guests and sponsors who all so generously contributed on the night.
Sainsbury's Staff Dance a Fantastic Result in for Play2Give - 9 December 2014
Mr raffle maestro... Andrew Baker
Sunday evening saw the staff of Sainsbury's Didcot put on their best frocks, suit and glad-rags as they headed on down to the Civic Centre in Didcot to party the night away at their annual Christmas bash.
A raffle was also held on the night in support of Play2Give, and saw a fantastic sum danced into the pot from staff generosity.
A brilliant £151.30 was raised through the staff raffle, which saw a number of prizes from bottles of wine to chocolates, to perfume and aftershave, to other items all part of the prizes, and our very own Andrew was there too! Andrew was invited along to join in the fun, and saw Andrew conduct the raffle, as part of the store's commitment to Play2Give, after choosing us as their local fundraising partner of the year back in July.
So far it is estimated that around £900 has now been raised by customers and store colleagues since July, which also has included a football match, Halloween face painting and staff cake and bake sale all held.
Next up on the store's fundraising ideas board before the year of 2014 is out includes an in-store raffle on December 20th giving customers the chance to donate for the lucky chance of bagging a £100 Sainsbury's Giftcard, to Christmas checkout bingo!
We are hugely indebted to the amazing ongoing support of everyone at the store, and for the staff who partied the night away at their annual knees-up to contributing so generously which will help swell those less fortunate living locally.
A raffle was also held on the night in support of Play2Give, and saw a fantastic sum danced into the pot from staff generosity.
A brilliant £151.30 was raised through the staff raffle, which saw a number of prizes from bottles of wine to chocolates, to perfume and aftershave, to other items all part of the prizes, and our very own Andrew was there too! Andrew was invited along to join in the fun, and saw Andrew conduct the raffle, as part of the store's commitment to Play2Give, after choosing us as their local fundraising partner of the year back in July.
So far it is estimated that around £900 has now been raised by customers and store colleagues since July, which also has included a football match, Halloween face painting and staff cake and bake sale all held.
Next up on the store's fundraising ideas board before the year of 2014 is out includes an in-store raffle on December 20th giving customers the chance to donate for the lucky chance of bagging a £100 Sainsbury's Giftcard, to Christmas checkout bingo!
We are hugely indebted to the amazing ongoing support of everyone at the store, and for the staff who partied the night away at their annual knees-up to contributing so generously which will help swell those less fortunate living locally.
Supermarket Sweep Serves Up Coffers in 3.5 Hours! - 7 December 2014
Bag packing for Play2Give in 3.5 hours today at Sainsbury's Didcot raised £92.05 in two buckets all aiding swell the coffers in Sainsbury's year of fundraising support!
For all the proceeds of which will benefit Headway Oxfordshire, Oxford Children's Hospital and the JR Paediatric Eye Fund. It is estimated that around £100 would of been raised altogether from today's supermarket check out sweep as money also went into the collecting tins besides the buckets. A fantastic result!
Thank you to all the customers who contributed and to all the lovely helpers today for helping make this little but perfectly formed total possible.
We now look forward to our next bag packing at the store over the weekend of December 20th and 21st, which is expected to the busiest shopping weekend of the year as Christmas fever sweeps the nation of Didcot!
We are still in need of volunteers particularly for Saturday, December 20th between 10am-4pm. Please get in touch if you can help spare a couple of hours.
For all the proceeds of which will benefit Headway Oxfordshire, Oxford Children's Hospital and the JR Paediatric Eye Fund. It is estimated that around £100 would of been raised altogether from today's supermarket check out sweep as money also went into the collecting tins besides the buckets. A fantastic result!
Thank you to all the customers who contributed and to all the lovely helpers today for helping make this little but perfectly formed total possible.
We now look forward to our next bag packing at the store over the weekend of December 20th and 21st, which is expected to the busiest shopping weekend of the year as Christmas fever sweeps the nation of Didcot!
We are still in need of volunteers particularly for Saturday, December 20th between 10am-4pm. Please get in touch if you can help spare a couple of hours.
Play2Give Raises a Record for Children's Hospital in 2014 - 5 December 2014
CHOX presented with £8,590 raised in 2014
The Children's Hospital received a record breaking cheque at Tuesday's presentation.
Play2Give in 2014 have just celebrated this phenomenal achievement of raising the most ever for local charities in 7 years. In particular this year being our biggest ever single donation to CHOX in history of£8,590.29!
This results in £26,590.86 in total over the last seven years for the John Radcliffe Children's Hospital!
We raised this amount this year from a record breaking kids football tournament in July which raised £7,209 (Botley Boys U10s received a cup at Tuesday's visit for raising the most money out of all the teams that took part - an incredible £686). Along with other activities, such as our 4th fundraising party back in February which also broke records and saw £1,814 raised for CHOX and the Paediatric Eye Fund, together with other activities from book sale proceeds raised by Sainsbury's Didcot customers to wristband sales and more, we were delighted to celebrate and present such an amazing amount of money to Children's Hospital representatives on the evening of December 2nd. We were accompanied by good media interest from the Oxford Mail, Hospital Radio Cherwell and SH Creative.
It felt great to give such a record breaking amount to CHOX this year. We now look forward to another hopeful successful year of fundraising again in 2015. We also had the opportunity to go and view the Room that Play2Give will be naming at a cost of £40,000 on Melanie's Ward, (the teenage ward), and we over £26.5k raised over 7 years for the hospital. Once we have achieved our £40k goal, Play2Give's name will be on a plaque on the door of the room! This will serve as a lovely long lasting legacy of all of our fundraising work for the hospital.
Thank you to everyone this year who has made this record possible, and we look forward to your lovely continuing support in 2015. We have much planned for 2015, including another fundraising party in February, to our annual kids tournament returning in July, football match, and a sponsored walk with Sainsbury's Didcot in February as just some of our planned fundraising endeavours for the next year.
Related links
Play2Give in 2014 have just celebrated this phenomenal achievement of raising the most ever for local charities in 7 years. In particular this year being our biggest ever single donation to CHOX in history of£8,590.29!
This results in £26,590.86 in total over the last seven years for the John Radcliffe Children's Hospital!
We raised this amount this year from a record breaking kids football tournament in July which raised £7,209 (Botley Boys U10s received a cup at Tuesday's visit for raising the most money out of all the teams that took part - an incredible £686). Along with other activities, such as our 4th fundraising party back in February which also broke records and saw £1,814 raised for CHOX and the Paediatric Eye Fund, together with other activities from book sale proceeds raised by Sainsbury's Didcot customers to wristband sales and more, we were delighted to celebrate and present such an amazing amount of money to Children's Hospital representatives on the evening of December 2nd. We were accompanied by good media interest from the Oxford Mail, Hospital Radio Cherwell and SH Creative.
It felt great to give such a record breaking amount to CHOX this year. We now look forward to another hopeful successful year of fundraising again in 2015. We also had the opportunity to go and view the Room that Play2Give will be naming at a cost of £40,000 on Melanie's Ward, (the teenage ward), and we over £26.5k raised over 7 years for the hospital. Once we have achieved our £40k goal, Play2Give's name will be on a plaque on the door of the room! This will serve as a lovely long lasting legacy of all of our fundraising work for the hospital.
Thank you to everyone this year who has made this record possible, and we look forward to your lovely continuing support in 2015. We have much planned for 2015, including another fundraising party in February, to our annual kids tournament returning in July, football match, and a sponsored walk with Sainsbury's Didcot in February as just some of our planned fundraising endeavours for the next year.
Related links
A grand £26.5k raised in 7 years for CHOX
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Botley Boys U10s presented with a special cup - raising the most sponsorship of any team
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A Grand Day for Paediatric Eye - 5 December 2014
Ross, left, with Andrew and Dale, right
We were delighted to present Ross Downes of the Paediatric Eye Fund at the JR with an enormous cheque for £1,101.71 on Tuesday evening at the Children's Hospital.
The proceeds was raised from this year's Play2Give fundraising endeavours, including the record-breaking fundraising evening, in February 2014.
This is a huge benefit to PEF which works as a small fund within the Oxford Eye Hospital at the JR raising funds for research, equipment and development for the treatment of children with eye disease. Ross has been a pivotal point of their fundraising helping set up the fund in 2013 alongside a team of staff including CK Patel, Eye Surgeon. Ross is pictured opposite receiving their grand cheque from Andrew and Dale.
We look forward to another exciting year of fundraising with PEF as we continue our support in 2015, including our fifth fundraising party which is being planned for February 2015.
Please follow Paediatric Eye Fund on their Facebook page by clicking a like to keep up with all of their fundraising and events news.
The proceeds was raised from this year's Play2Give fundraising endeavours, including the record-breaking fundraising evening, in February 2014.
This is a huge benefit to PEF which works as a small fund within the Oxford Eye Hospital at the JR raising funds for research, equipment and development for the treatment of children with eye disease. Ross has been a pivotal point of their fundraising helping set up the fund in 2013 alongside a team of staff including CK Patel, Eye Surgeon. Ross is pictured opposite receiving their grand cheque from Andrew and Dale.
We look forward to another exciting year of fundraising with PEF as we continue our support in 2015, including our fifth fundraising party which is being planned for February 2015.
Please follow Paediatric Eye Fund on their Facebook page by clicking a like to keep up with all of their fundraising and events news.
Beary Great Bear Pays CHOX a Visit - 3 December 2014
Barry Bear. Copyright Ross Downes.
It was beary great to have this chap, Barry Bear, from Newbury Building Society, come along to join in the fun at yesterday evening's Play2Give visit to the Children's Hospital.
He certainly brought lots of cheer, smiles and lots of bear hugs to the kids for sure, he even gave out Barry good goodies!
And, as they say, it's always fur better to gift than to receive!
Full report from Play2Give's visit yesterday to follow with pictures...
He certainly brought lots of cheer, smiles and lots of bear hugs to the kids for sure, he even gave out Barry good goodies!
And, as they say, it's always fur better to gift than to receive!
Full report from Play2Give's visit yesterday to follow with pictures...
Vote Now for 'Play2Give' in the 'Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund' - 1 December 2014
Please vote for Play2Give in the Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund 2014.
The more votes cast the more chance Play2Give has of winning a cash grant from this great scheme.
It is so easy, and only takes 1 minute literally of your time by entering your email address by clicking vote! Thank you!!!
http://www.galaxyhotchocolate.com/galaxyfund2014/profiles/play2give
The more votes cast the more chance Play2Give has of winning a cash grant from this great scheme.
It is so easy, and only takes 1 minute literally of your time by entering your email address by clicking vote! Thank you!!!
http://www.galaxyhotchocolate.com/galaxyfund2014/profiles/play2give
PT's Taking On 'Decembeard' Challenge - 1 December 2014
Huge Thank you to Sam Vaughan, opposite, who is just a few of the PT's at The Park Club, Milton Park taking on 'Decembeard' to support fundraising for Play2Give.
Sam is aiming to raise £50 in his sponsorship.
Thanks Sam, and to all the other guys there who is taking on the challenge too! We look forward to seeing them sporting their finest bushiest faces over the weeks!
Play2Give raises money for the Oxford Children's Hospital, brain injury charity Headway Oxfordshire based in Kennington, and the John Radcliffe's Paediatric Eye Fund. In 2014, we have raised an amazing record-breaking £9,838.81 for these charities, with over £8,590 of this being donated to the Oxford Children's Hospital this month.
Sam is pictured before the 'growth'. We will bring you pictures of his beard growth over the weeks.
Sam's fundraising page
Sam is aiming to raise £50 in his sponsorship.
Thanks Sam, and to all the other guys there who is taking on the challenge too! We look forward to seeing them sporting their finest bushiest faces over the weeks!
Play2Give raises money for the Oxford Children's Hospital, brain injury charity Headway Oxfordshire based in Kennington, and the John Radcliffe's Paediatric Eye Fund. In 2014, we have raised an amazing record-breaking £9,838.81 for these charities, with over £8,590 of this being donated to the Oxford Children's Hospital this month.
Sam is pictured before the 'growth'. We will bring you pictures of his beard growth over the weeks.
Sam's fundraising page
Sports Awards an Oar-Some Success as Funds Pour in for Play2Give - 30 November 2014
Weightlifting star... Ben Watson
Friday evening saw the 9th Oxfordshire Sports Awards take place at The Kassam Stadium where a packed room of stars and guests turned out for the celebration of Oxfordshire's best talented sportsmen, women, groups, teams and volunteers.
The Kassam, home of Oxford United, saw the most packed out of numbers than ever before and began at 6pm with a pre awards drinks reception downstairs.
The Oxfordshire Sports Awards recognise and celebrate the wealth of sporting talent and commitment seen in community sport in the county raising awareness of the value of sport and physical activity at local level. Sporting heroes came together with a wide range of sports represented across the board on Friday evening, from netball, to football, to hockey, to rugby, to swimming, to weightlifting, cricket and more.
The entire evening was hosted by BBC Radio Oxford's Jerome Sale with help from Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes, BBC presenter, best known for presenting Sports News on the BBC News Channel and CBBC's Newsround, with broadcasting help amongst the crowds by from Andrew Self.
Didcot was well represented with two homegrown St Birinus School stars being honoured in the 'Sportsman of the Year' category. Dan Rivers and Ben Watson. Dan, named the winner of the Sportsman title, for achieving a Gold in the Commonwealth Games this summer in shooting, whilst Ben, who missed out and landing in runner-up position with Jack Brooks, was commended for his 'Bronze' achievement in weightlifting at the games, which were held in Glasgow in July. Both boys attended St Birinus School, for Ben he was a fellow pupil and sixth former with our very own Andrew Baker. Both Ben and Andrew are good friends.
The legend that is Sir Roger Bannister was awarded the very first 'Lifetime Achievement' Award in the 60th year that the 85-year-old former neurologist from Oxford ran the first sub-four-minute mile at Iffley Road. Sir Bannister wasn't present on the night but had pre recorded a special thank you message played to the crowd via TV screens. Sir Roger also achieved a Commonwealth Games gold medal for athletics in 1954. Sir Roger, such a legend!
Other winners out of 12 awards given on the night included Sports Team of the Year won by Henley Hawks Women rugby team, Club of the Year went to Zappi's Cycling Club and Sportswoman of the Year went to Jeanette Cardy for aquathlon.
The evening also for the first time fund-raised and Play2Give was chosen to benefit from the proceeds raised on the night. Donations were raised through a raffle around the tables and bucket collections. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of guests on the night an unprecedented £551.10 was raised on the night benefiting the Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the Paediatric Eye Fund at the JR - thats £183.70 that will be shared equally between all these three charities.
Andrew and Dale went along as special guests to represent P2G, and shared the evening experience, which included enjoying a pre-dinner drinks reception, 3-course meal and of course the big awards themselves, sat on the same table along with Ben Watson, mum Erica (play specialist at the Children's Hospital), Mr Thompson, teacher from St Birinus and Ben's friend, Jenna Gesner, also a teacher at St Birinus, along with Oxford United representative & Wellers Accountant's Stuart Crook (a fellow play2give supporter) and his wife Lisa, and two ladies representing CoreFiling Limited, who were finalists in the Active Workplace Award.
Raffle prizes kindly donated came from Oxford City Stars Ice Hockey Club (shirt), Oxford United (signed shirt), London Welsh RFC (shirt), Brookes Sport (group wall climbing experience) and Parkwood Community Leisure (membership).
Thank you so much to everyone who supported and gave so generously on the night, and to everyone who gave so generously raising a brilliant sum!
The Kassam, home of Oxford United, saw the most packed out of numbers than ever before and began at 6pm with a pre awards drinks reception downstairs.
The Oxfordshire Sports Awards recognise and celebrate the wealth of sporting talent and commitment seen in community sport in the county raising awareness of the value of sport and physical activity at local level. Sporting heroes came together with a wide range of sports represented across the board on Friday evening, from netball, to football, to hockey, to rugby, to swimming, to weightlifting, cricket and more.
The entire evening was hosted by BBC Radio Oxford's Jerome Sale with help from Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes, BBC presenter, best known for presenting Sports News on the BBC News Channel and CBBC's Newsround, with broadcasting help amongst the crowds by from Andrew Self.
Didcot was well represented with two homegrown St Birinus School stars being honoured in the 'Sportsman of the Year' category. Dan Rivers and Ben Watson. Dan, named the winner of the Sportsman title, for achieving a Gold in the Commonwealth Games this summer in shooting, whilst Ben, who missed out and landing in runner-up position with Jack Brooks, was commended for his 'Bronze' achievement in weightlifting at the games, which were held in Glasgow in July. Both boys attended St Birinus School, for Ben he was a fellow pupil and sixth former with our very own Andrew Baker. Both Ben and Andrew are good friends.
The legend that is Sir Roger Bannister was awarded the very first 'Lifetime Achievement' Award in the 60th year that the 85-year-old former neurologist from Oxford ran the first sub-four-minute mile at Iffley Road. Sir Bannister wasn't present on the night but had pre recorded a special thank you message played to the crowd via TV screens. Sir Roger also achieved a Commonwealth Games gold medal for athletics in 1954. Sir Roger, such a legend!
Other winners out of 12 awards given on the night included Sports Team of the Year won by Henley Hawks Women rugby team, Club of the Year went to Zappi's Cycling Club and Sportswoman of the Year went to Jeanette Cardy for aquathlon.
The evening also for the first time fund-raised and Play2Give was chosen to benefit from the proceeds raised on the night. Donations were raised through a raffle around the tables and bucket collections. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of guests on the night an unprecedented £551.10 was raised on the night benefiting the Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the Paediatric Eye Fund at the JR - thats £183.70 that will be shared equally between all these three charities.
Andrew and Dale went along as special guests to represent P2G, and shared the evening experience, which included enjoying a pre-dinner drinks reception, 3-course meal and of course the big awards themselves, sat on the same table along with Ben Watson, mum Erica (play specialist at the Children's Hospital), Mr Thompson, teacher from St Birinus and Ben's friend, Jenna Gesner, also a teacher at St Birinus, along with Oxford United representative & Wellers Accountant's Stuart Crook (a fellow play2give supporter) and his wife Lisa, and two ladies representing CoreFiling Limited, who were finalists in the Active Workplace Award.
Raffle prizes kindly donated came from Oxford City Stars Ice Hockey Club (shirt), Oxford United (signed shirt), London Welsh RFC (shirt), Brookes Sport (group wall climbing experience) and Parkwood Community Leisure (membership).
Thank you so much to everyone who supported and gave so generously on the night, and to everyone who gave so generously raising a brilliant sum!
Oxford Mail article: 27/11/14
Ben also visited the Children's Hospital four days before whilst attending a sports taster day at the hospital school. He met many youngsters including Chrislin Bose, being treated on the Kamran's cancer ward, and lifted spirits all round with smiles, laughs and did some dancing as well as PE. Oxford Mail article > Weightlifter lifts spirits at children's hospital
Dale, left, Andrew, and Oxford Cllr Mark Lygo, right, at the pre drinks reception
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Mates... Andrew and Ben after the awards bash
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WE DID IT! P2G smashes all records in 2014
Press Release: Play2Give Raises Record Breaking Amount for Charities - 27 November 2014
Play2Give, set up by Didcot’s Andrew Baker in 2007, has seen 2014’s fundraising endeavours the group have organised, and the help of supporters who have taken part in their own challenges, break all records in terms of money raised than ever in its 7-year history - a grand £9,838.81!
On Tuesday (December 2nd) at 4.30pm, Play2Give’s volunteers Andrew, along with friends and fellow organisers Dale Harris, Teresa Strike and Elaine Childs, will be visiting the Oxford Children’s Hospital bringing early Christmas cheer to the young patients in the way of the huge cheque totalling £8,590.29, and maybe a beary special visitor too - Barry Bear, the furry life-sized mascot of Newbury Building Society!
July’s football tournament alone raised £7,209 for hospital funds! Play2Give are now naming a room on Melanie’s Ward of the hospital at a £40,000 fundraising goal, and the group are already halfway in this special lifelong commitment with over £26.5k raised towards the hospital.
Andrew, a volunteer at the JR, began fundraising aged 14 in 2003 for the Children’s Hospital with the help and support of school friends and teachers at St Birinus in Didcot, and then the Didcot Girls’ School and sixth formers, before embarking on P2G in late 2007. Andrew has been repaying the Oxford hospital after being treated for a multitude of medical problems after suffering a brain injury at birth, which resulted in various medical interventions. Most notably the major brain surgery he endured aged 12 in 2001, at the Radcliffe Infirmary being the ‘inspiration’ behind his debt of gratitude back.
In February 2013, he was awarded the ‘Inspirational Entrepreneur’ Award at the Oxfordshire Youth Awards, and last month he was named winner of the Oxfordshire region in the Haines Watts Thames Valley Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards in Reading.
A fellow organiser and joint co-ordinator, Dale Harris, is involved with Andrew for Dale’s daughter, Mya Harris, has been a patient at CHOX since 2002 after she was born with spina bifida. Dale works at Elmer Cotton sports shop in the city centre, and also runs his own youth football team. Teresa and Elaine help run the football tournaments.
An army of other helpers and friends also get involved with Andrew, such as Ross Downes, who works at the Eye Hospital and is a volunteer organiser of the Paediatric Eye Fund, (a small charity set up by CK Patel, Consultant Eye Surgeon) in early 2013, by helping organise the fundraising evenings.
Ross will also be presented with a huge cheque totalling £1,101.71 to the Paediatric Eye Fund through the Play2Give group’s fundraising endeavours this year.
Play2Give was born with a football tournament, and since then a whole host of other endeavours and initiatives have been mustered.
Today, the fundraising organisation has grown and grown into a successful institution and the football fun days alone have become well renowned across the county. 2014’s day in July saw 18 boys teams take part, including Barton United U10s who will be receiving a special cup at Tuesday’s grand presentation for the team raising the most amount of sponsorship of any of the teams at this year’s tournament.
Play2Give has raised over £32,0277 in total over the last 7 years, with Andrew and his army of thousands of fundraising friends efforts over near 12 years having reached £41,362 for the Children’s Hospital. Andrew’s grand total for charities now stands at £46,877.58!
2014 Play2Give highlights
OxBox.TV article
Play2Give, set up by Didcot’s Andrew Baker in 2007, has seen 2014’s fundraising endeavours the group have organised, and the help of supporters who have taken part in their own challenges, break all records in terms of money raised than ever in its 7-year history - a grand £9,838.81!
On Tuesday (December 2nd) at 4.30pm, Play2Give’s volunteers Andrew, along with friends and fellow organisers Dale Harris, Teresa Strike and Elaine Childs, will be visiting the Oxford Children’s Hospital bringing early Christmas cheer to the young patients in the way of the huge cheque totalling £8,590.29, and maybe a beary special visitor too - Barry Bear, the furry life-sized mascot of Newbury Building Society!
July’s football tournament alone raised £7,209 for hospital funds! Play2Give are now naming a room on Melanie’s Ward of the hospital at a £40,000 fundraising goal, and the group are already halfway in this special lifelong commitment with over £26.5k raised towards the hospital.
Andrew, a volunteer at the JR, began fundraising aged 14 in 2003 for the Children’s Hospital with the help and support of school friends and teachers at St Birinus in Didcot, and then the Didcot Girls’ School and sixth formers, before embarking on P2G in late 2007. Andrew has been repaying the Oxford hospital after being treated for a multitude of medical problems after suffering a brain injury at birth, which resulted in various medical interventions. Most notably the major brain surgery he endured aged 12 in 2001, at the Radcliffe Infirmary being the ‘inspiration’ behind his debt of gratitude back.
In February 2013, he was awarded the ‘Inspirational Entrepreneur’ Award at the Oxfordshire Youth Awards, and last month he was named winner of the Oxfordshire region in the Haines Watts Thames Valley Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards in Reading.
A fellow organiser and joint co-ordinator, Dale Harris, is involved with Andrew for Dale’s daughter, Mya Harris, has been a patient at CHOX since 2002 after she was born with spina bifida. Dale works at Elmer Cotton sports shop in the city centre, and also runs his own youth football team. Teresa and Elaine help run the football tournaments.
An army of other helpers and friends also get involved with Andrew, such as Ross Downes, who works at the Eye Hospital and is a volunteer organiser of the Paediatric Eye Fund, (a small charity set up by CK Patel, Consultant Eye Surgeon) in early 2013, by helping organise the fundraising evenings.
Ross will also be presented with a huge cheque totalling £1,101.71 to the Paediatric Eye Fund through the Play2Give group’s fundraising endeavours this year.
Play2Give was born with a football tournament, and since then a whole host of other endeavours and initiatives have been mustered.
Today, the fundraising organisation has grown and grown into a successful institution and the football fun days alone have become well renowned across the county. 2014’s day in July saw 18 boys teams take part, including Barton United U10s who will be receiving a special cup at Tuesday’s grand presentation for the team raising the most amount of sponsorship of any of the teams at this year’s tournament.
Play2Give has raised over £32,0277 in total over the last 7 years, with Andrew and his army of thousands of fundraising friends efforts over near 12 years having reached £41,362 for the Children’s Hospital. Andrew’s grand total for charities now stands at £46,877.58!
2014 Play2Give highlights
- The annual children’s football tournament, in July 2014, at Oxford City Football Club saw the most amount of funds raised in the football tournament’s history - £7,209 for the Children’s Hospital.
- A fundraising party, held in February 2014 with the support of Didcot Rugby Club, saw Play2Give’s 2014 fundraising kick started, raising a record £1,814 - shared between the Children’s Hospital and the Paediatric Eye Fund of the John Radcliffe. Andrew celebrated a decade of fundraising, which he achieved in early 2013, by having his head shaved on the night - and added an extra £700 into charity funds.
- Sainsbury’s Didcot adopted Play2Give as their ‘Fundraising Partner of the Year’ in July, 2014, after nominations from customers, and a calendar of activities and events have been planned until summer 2015.
- A team of 6 took on the annual OX5 Run at Blenheim Palace in March, which helped the run with near 1,500 competitors raise a record £114,000 for the hospital.
- Supporters Matthew Hambridge, of Witney, and Lee Crook, nightshift worker at Sainsbury’s Didcot, have both taken on ‘Movember’ in November supporting Play2Give sporting mo's and between them have raised near on £270 between them
- Tesco Didcot held a sponsored slim-a-thon between store staff in January as well as buying Play2Give wristbands.
- The Park Club on Milton Park have also recently joined the bandwagon, by selling wristbands at reception and a group of Personal Trainers at the gym are taking on ‘Decembeard’ next month raising money by sprouting the most bushiest of beards throughout the festive month
- The 9th Oxfordshire Sports Awards, organised by the Oxfordshire Sport Partnership and held at Kassam Stadium, on November 28th, are also supporting Play2Give through a raffle and table collections.
OxBox.TV article
Paediatric Eye Fund Shortlisted for Innovation Award - 21 November 2014
We are chuffed to hear that our friends at the Paediatric Eye Fund at the Oxford Eye Hospital are short-listed for the 2015 Oxfordshire Charity & Volunteer Awards.
This is well deserved for all their amazing work as a small fund as part of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds established in early 2013. We are proud to support them as one of our benefiting charities in our own fundraising & awareness work, and we wish them all the very best for the awards night in February at Oxford Town Hall! We keep fingers and toes crossed as you are winners in our eyes!
Play2Give was shortlisted in the 2013 OCVA Awards which was a honour to attend, and although we didn't win our category we were in, it was just lovely to have been recognised by the judges and the awards themselves, so good luck all at PEF! We hope you win as you truly deserve in your fantastic first couple of years that has been!
We are chuffed to hear that our friends at the Paediatric Eye Fund at the Oxford Eye Hospital are short-listed for the 2015 Oxfordshire Charity & Volunteer Awards.
This is well deserved for all their amazing work as a small fund as part of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds established in early 2013. We are proud to support them as one of our benefiting charities in our own fundraising & awareness work, and we wish them all the very best for the awards night in February at Oxford Town Hall! We keep fingers and toes crossed as you are winners in our eyes!
Play2Give was shortlisted in the 2013 OCVA Awards which was a honour to attend, and although we didn't win our category we were in, it was just lovely to have been recognised by the judges and the awards themselves, so good luck all at PEF! We hope you win as you truly deserve in your fantastic first couple of years that has been!
Mo Going So Well for Matt and Lee - 17 November 2014
And it's all going 'mo well' for two of our super supporters Matthew Hambridge and Lee Crook who are both undertaking 'Movember 4 Play2Give' this month.
Both of them chose to support P2G after being inspired by all the goodness we do as a fundraising group and both have already raised £234 between them.
Lee is aiming for £100 and will dye his beard at the end of the month a vivid colour if he smashes his target. Matty has smashed his £150 goal and raised £165 already!!
All the money they raise will make a huge difference to the charities that Play2Give support, from the poorly children in hospital to those with brain injuries by the great support and work Headway Oxfordshire provide, to those children with eye disorders through the Paediatric Eye Fund.
We think Matty and Lee are mo-awesome!!!! Excuse the pun! Thank you both, and keep it going you've only 2 more weeks! And in Matty's own words this morning "the beard is itchey as hell!! it's horrific and the wife hates it!! lol". Oh dear, Matt we hope this isn't grounds for divorce for you and Jo, haha!
Here are both Matty and Lee pictured below, Matty in day 12 last week, and Lee at day 16 yesterday! http://www.make-a-donation.org/fundraisers/lee-crook and http://www.make-a-donation.org/fundraisers/matthew-hambridge
And it's all going 'mo well' for two of our super supporters Matthew Hambridge and Lee Crook who are both undertaking 'Movember 4 Play2Give' this month.
Both of them chose to support P2G after being inspired by all the goodness we do as a fundraising group and both have already raised £234 between them.
Lee is aiming for £100 and will dye his beard at the end of the month a vivid colour if he smashes his target. Matty has smashed his £150 goal and raised £165 already!!
All the money they raise will make a huge difference to the charities that Play2Give support, from the poorly children in hospital to those with brain injuries by the great support and work Headway Oxfordshire provide, to those children with eye disorders through the Paediatric Eye Fund.
We think Matty and Lee are mo-awesome!!!! Excuse the pun! Thank you both, and keep it going you've only 2 more weeks! And in Matty's own words this morning "the beard is itchey as hell!! it's horrific and the wife hates it!! lol". Oh dear, Matt we hope this isn't grounds for divorce for you and Jo, haha!
Here are both Matty and Lee pictured below, Matty in day 12 last week, and Lee at day 16 yesterday! http://www.make-a-donation.org/fundraisers/lee-crook and http://www.make-a-donation.org/fundraisers/matthew-hambridge
Matty... Day 12
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Lee... Day 16
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Stroll with Sainsbury's to Support Play2Give - 11 November 2014
Play2Give invites you to take part in an easy peasy gentle fundraising stroll with Sainsbury's Didcot staff to support local charities.
'Stroll With Sainsbury's Sponsored Walk' is scheduled to take place on the afternoon of Sunday, February 1st 2015 raising money for Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund.
Every person taking place is encouraged to raise a minimum £20 in sponsorship - there is no entry fee!
This walk will start and finish at Sainsbury's Didcot going through to Upton and back via the old railway line and with a nice pub stop as well for well earnt drinks and grub.
Give it some heart for February, help those less fortunate and join this sponsored walk by wrapping up warm and enjoying a Sunday afternoon leisurely stroll - get your friends, family, colleagues together to join in!
This event kick starts Sainsbury's Didcot year of fundraising in 2015 for Play2Give after we were chosen by the store as their fundraising partner of the year in July, 2014.
Sainsbury's Sponsored Stroll
Play2Give invites you to take part in an easy peasy gentle fundraising stroll with Sainsbury's Didcot staff to support local charities.
'Stroll With Sainsbury's Sponsored Walk' is scheduled to take place on the afternoon of Sunday, February 1st 2015 raising money for Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund.
Every person taking place is encouraged to raise a minimum £20 in sponsorship - there is no entry fee!
This walk will start and finish at Sainsbury's Didcot going through to Upton and back via the old railway line and with a nice pub stop as well for well earnt drinks and grub.
Give it some heart for February, help those less fortunate and join this sponsored walk by wrapping up warm and enjoying a Sunday afternoon leisurely stroll - get your friends, family, colleagues together to join in!
This event kick starts Sainsbury's Didcot year of fundraising in 2015 for Play2Give after we were chosen by the store as their fundraising partner of the year in July, 2014.
Sainsbury's Sponsored Stroll
Andrew: Oxfordshire's Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2014
Andrew Honoured in Best of Young Entrepreneurs - 7 November 2014
On November 5, Andrew attended the finals of the Haines Watts Thames Valley 'Young Entrepreneurs of the Year' Awards representing Play2Give and Oxfordshire.
Andrew, who was named the local winner for the Oxfordshire region, was invited to attend the grand final of this year's awards contest, where the overall regional winner was announced.
Andrew was one of four local winners from four counties chosen. The grand final was held at The Forbury Hotel in Reading, and was attended by representatives from Haines Watts, the award organisers, as well as successful millionaire businessmen, which included special guest judges and successful entrepreneurs, Simon Biltcliffe, CEO of Webmart UK, and Sean Taylor, MD of Redwood Technologies and Content Guru.
The Haines Watts Thames Valley Young Entrepreneur of the Year recognises and celebrates the best young talent 35 and under in the region, the best of young entrepreneurs to reward them for their efforts in outstanding business talents.
The awards, now in their fifth year, are a scheme run by Haines Watts, one of the top 20 firms of chartered accountants in the UK.
Speaking about Andrew, Simon Garrett, partner of HW Oxford office, and one of the judges, quoted: "Awards such as that of the Haines Watts Young Entrepreneur of the Year are much-deserved recognition for all the hard work that Andrew and his team tirelessly and enthusiastically put in. Andrew is a real powerhouse in getting things done - his energy is amazing. Play2Give has a great social media presence too. Well done again!"
Other regional winners were Antony Holeska from Slough, Sian Brennan-Todd from Reading and David Adams from Farnborough. Antony runs Learn to Dance, a Ballroom and Latin American Dance School running a variety of group classes, Sian's business Dance & Cheer 49 Ltd offers many types of dance and cheerleading classes. David's company is Pennyhill Timber, one of the South's largest independent timber merchants and wholesale retailers.
David was named the overall regional winner after Andrew, Antony, Sian and David presented their pitches for each company to the 7-member judging panel in a 'Dragon's Den' style sessions.
Congratulations Andrew - everyone involved with Play2Give are very proud of your achievement and representing Oxfordshire!
Hear Andrew speaking to BBC Radio Oxford's Drivetime show from 7 November
Related links:
On November 5, Andrew attended the finals of the Haines Watts Thames Valley 'Young Entrepreneurs of the Year' Awards representing Play2Give and Oxfordshire.
Andrew, who was named the local winner for the Oxfordshire region, was invited to attend the grand final of this year's awards contest, where the overall regional winner was announced.
Andrew was one of four local winners from four counties chosen. The grand final was held at The Forbury Hotel in Reading, and was attended by representatives from Haines Watts, the award organisers, as well as successful millionaire businessmen, which included special guest judges and successful entrepreneurs, Simon Biltcliffe, CEO of Webmart UK, and Sean Taylor, MD of Redwood Technologies and Content Guru.
The Haines Watts Thames Valley Young Entrepreneur of the Year recognises and celebrates the best young talent 35 and under in the region, the best of young entrepreneurs to reward them for their efforts in outstanding business talents.
The awards, now in their fifth year, are a scheme run by Haines Watts, one of the top 20 firms of chartered accountants in the UK.
Speaking about Andrew, Simon Garrett, partner of HW Oxford office, and one of the judges, quoted: "Awards such as that of the Haines Watts Young Entrepreneur of the Year are much-deserved recognition for all the hard work that Andrew and his team tirelessly and enthusiastically put in. Andrew is a real powerhouse in getting things done - his energy is amazing. Play2Give has a great social media presence too. Well done again!"
Other regional winners were Antony Holeska from Slough, Sian Brennan-Todd from Reading and David Adams from Farnborough. Antony runs Learn to Dance, a Ballroom and Latin American Dance School running a variety of group classes, Sian's business Dance & Cheer 49 Ltd offers many types of dance and cheerleading classes. David's company is Pennyhill Timber, one of the South's largest independent timber merchants and wholesale retailers.
David was named the overall regional winner after Andrew, Antony, Sian and David presented their pitches for each company to the 7-member judging panel in a 'Dragon's Den' style sessions.
Congratulations Andrew - everyone involved with Play2Give are very proud of your achievement and representing Oxfordshire!
Hear Andrew speaking to BBC Radio Oxford's Drivetime show from 7 November
Related links:
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Sports Awards To Serve Up an Ace of Support - 6 November 2014
We are delighted to be supported at this year's Oxfordshire Sports Awards by being chosen to benefit from fundraising on the night of the awards ceremony.
The Awards - now in their 9th year - takes place at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford on the evening of Friday, November 28 and will recognise and celebrate the wealth of sporting talent and commitment seen in community sport across the 5 districts in Oxfordshire. The Awards raises awareness of the value of sport and physical activity to individuals and communities across Oxfordshire recognising those who deliver sport and physical activity at local level, from schools and clubs, volunteers, coaches and sport development officers, athletes and unsung sportsmen and women.
The Oxfordshire Sports Awards 2014 will be host by BBC Radio Oxford's Jerome Sale and Kat Orman and will see 11 awards given out in a prestigious glittering ceremony. http://www.oxfordshiresport.org
The awards are run by Oxfordshire Sports Partnership with Oxford Mail as official media partner and BBC Radio Oxford as official broadcast partner.
As well as the main evening of the incredible winners and finalists being applauded, there will also be fundraising taking place supporting Play2Give to raise additional funds for its charities. Fundraising on the night will include a table collections and various items up for grabs. We are thankful to Oxfordshire Sports Partnership, the Oxford Mail, BBC Radio Oxford and the awards for supporting and also celebrating Play2Give's fantastic work.
Thank you to the below companies who have all donated items to aid the fundraising on the night:-
Finalists have been announced for this year's awards. Click here to view the full list of finalists in each category.
We look forward to a fantastic night on November 28!
We are delighted to be supported at this year's Oxfordshire Sports Awards by being chosen to benefit from fundraising on the night of the awards ceremony.
The Awards - now in their 9th year - takes place at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford on the evening of Friday, November 28 and will recognise and celebrate the wealth of sporting talent and commitment seen in community sport across the 5 districts in Oxfordshire. The Awards raises awareness of the value of sport and physical activity to individuals and communities across Oxfordshire recognising those who deliver sport and physical activity at local level, from schools and clubs, volunteers, coaches and sport development officers, athletes and unsung sportsmen and women.
The Oxfordshire Sports Awards 2014 will be host by BBC Radio Oxford's Jerome Sale and Kat Orman and will see 11 awards given out in a prestigious glittering ceremony. http://www.oxfordshiresport.org
The awards are run by Oxfordshire Sports Partnership with Oxford Mail as official media partner and BBC Radio Oxford as official broadcast partner.
As well as the main evening of the incredible winners and finalists being applauded, there will also be fundraising taking place supporting Play2Give to raise additional funds for its charities. Fundraising on the night will include a table collections and various items up for grabs. We are thankful to Oxfordshire Sports Partnership, the Oxford Mail, BBC Radio Oxford and the awards for supporting and also celebrating Play2Give's fantastic work.
Thank you to the below companies who have all donated items to aid the fundraising on the night:-
- London Welsh RFC Shirt Donated by London Welsh RFC
- Oxford United Male Shirt (signed) Donated by OUFC
- Parkwood Leisure Membership Donated by Parkwood Community Leisure
- Oxford City Stars Ice Hockey Shirt Donated by Oxford City Stars
- Group wall climbing experience Donated by Brookes Sport
Finalists have been announced for this year's awards. Click here to view the full list of finalists in each category.
We look forward to a fantastic night on November 28!
Sainsbury's Andrea Smith at her spidery best
Supermarket Serves Up Devilishly Good Funds - 1 November 2014
There was some spooktacular, ghoulishly good and wonderfully wicked fundraising going on in Sainsbury's Didcot yesterday as the store embraced the spirit of Halloween with some devilishly delightful fun.
Face painting and a Great Sainsbury's Bake off contest were both held throughout the store as part of the haunting fun.
This was the supermarket's latest fundraising effort to add pounds to Play2Give - which they adopted in July as their Fundraising Partner of the Year.
Thanks to the Angels Stage School Didcot who were on hand to put the most frightening of face paints on the little ones and adults faces alike, whilst the bake off took place upstairs where the staff baked their hands off to create a dazzling array of tasty and ghoulishly good looking cakes with one being crowned the champion of all champion cakes!
£125 was raised alone by the face painting, and the cake bake off raised another healthy amount!
So far, the store has to date raised £446 for Play2Give since launching the partnership in July, with events including a football match in September and collection tins on most tills. We are hugely grateful for their incredible support and can't wait to be involved in more of their fundraisers!
There was some spooktacular, ghoulishly good and wonderfully wicked fundraising going on in Sainsbury's Didcot yesterday as the store embraced the spirit of Halloween with some devilishly delightful fun.
Face painting and a Great Sainsbury's Bake off contest were both held throughout the store as part of the haunting fun.
This was the supermarket's latest fundraising effort to add pounds to Play2Give - which they adopted in July as their Fundraising Partner of the Year.
Thanks to the Angels Stage School Didcot who were on hand to put the most frightening of face paints on the little ones and adults faces alike, whilst the bake off took place upstairs where the staff baked their hands off to create a dazzling array of tasty and ghoulishly good looking cakes with one being crowned the champion of all champion cakes!
£125 was raised alone by the face painting, and the cake bake off raised another healthy amount!
So far, the store has to date raised £446 for Play2Give since launching the partnership in July, with events including a football match in September and collection tins on most tills. We are hugely grateful for their incredible support and can't wait to be involved in more of their fundraisers!
One of the ghoulishly good cakes made
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The Angels ready to serve up a fright with face paints
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Andrew's a Finalist in Young Entrepreneurial Contest - 27 October 2014
We are delighted to report that our very own Andrew Baker is a finalist in a competition which recognises the very best of young entrepreneurs in the Thames Valley - with Andrew being chosen to represent the Oxfordshire region.
Two weeks ago, Andrew, was invited to attend the Oxford offices of Haines Watts in Kidlington, to give a short presentation talk to Simon Garrett, a partner of the company, about Play2Give and how Andrew set it up in 2007 - as Play2Give being the reason behind Andrew's nomination.
Andrew, who was put forward for the Haines Watts 'Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2014' contest in the summer, is one of many finalists who pitched their companies to the company's local offices throughout October.
Haines Watts are chartered accountants and are one of the top 20 firms of chartered accountants in the UK. Each year they run this scheme to recognise the wealth of young business talents and young business brains across the Thames Valley and those who excel with entrepreneurial and innovative spirit.
Andrew gets to attend the Regional Finals Ceremony in Reading on November 5th, when the overall regional winner will be announced. Each finalist receives £250 for their company, and the overall winner receives an additional £500 boost, which for Andrew all prize money will be of huge benefit to Play2Give.
Finalists represent many areas of the Thames Valley with regions including Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, and Hampshire. Each faces a panel in a 'Dragon's Den' style pitched panel of which Andrew will present his best case about Play2Give and then face grilling questions on the spot from 9 judges.
"The judges chose Andrew and felt he was a worthy deserving contender to represent Oxfordshire in this year's finals due to his great achievement of raising money for worthwhile causes, with good ideas for raising money and his enthusiasm which never hinders and of which he was a choice to be the Oxfordshire winner given his very difficult medical history, how impressive and wonderful it is that he has achieved all of the above regardless" - Haines Watts 2014 Judges
Everyone involved in Play2Give with Andrew would like to congratulate Andrew - and wish him the best of luck for Finals Day of HWYE 2014 in Reading on November 5th!
We are delighted to report that our very own Andrew Baker is a finalist in a competition which recognises the very best of young entrepreneurs in the Thames Valley - with Andrew being chosen to represent the Oxfordshire region.
Two weeks ago, Andrew, was invited to attend the Oxford offices of Haines Watts in Kidlington, to give a short presentation talk to Simon Garrett, a partner of the company, about Play2Give and how Andrew set it up in 2007 - as Play2Give being the reason behind Andrew's nomination.
Andrew, who was put forward for the Haines Watts 'Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2014' contest in the summer, is one of many finalists who pitched their companies to the company's local offices throughout October.
Haines Watts are chartered accountants and are one of the top 20 firms of chartered accountants in the UK. Each year they run this scheme to recognise the wealth of young business talents and young business brains across the Thames Valley and those who excel with entrepreneurial and innovative spirit.
Andrew gets to attend the Regional Finals Ceremony in Reading on November 5th, when the overall regional winner will be announced. Each finalist receives £250 for their company, and the overall winner receives an additional £500 boost, which for Andrew all prize money will be of huge benefit to Play2Give.
Finalists represent many areas of the Thames Valley with regions including Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, and Hampshire. Each faces a panel in a 'Dragon's Den' style pitched panel of which Andrew will present his best case about Play2Give and then face grilling questions on the spot from 9 judges.
"The judges chose Andrew and felt he was a worthy deserving contender to represent Oxfordshire in this year's finals due to his great achievement of raising money for worthwhile causes, with good ideas for raising money and his enthusiasm which never hinders and of which he was a choice to be the Oxfordshire winner given his very difficult medical history, how impressive and wonderful it is that he has achieved all of the above regardless" - Haines Watts 2014 Judges
Everyone involved in Play2Give with Andrew would like to congratulate Andrew - and wish him the best of luck for Finals Day of HWYE 2014 in Reading on November 5th!
Matty Hambridge, before his beard growth
Matthew's Movember for Play2Give - 15 October 2014
"I am doing it to help raise funds for an amazing cause and for two people, my friends, who works tirelessly, (Andrew Baker and Dale Harris), to help raise funds for great causes" - Matty
That's the words echoed by Matthew Hambridge as he embarks on a hairy and itchy fundraiser throughout November to support Play2Give - of which he has become involved with in 2014 - as a volunteer and supporter in inspiration of Play2Give's very own Dale Harris and Andrew Baker. Two friends of which Matthew is honoured to support.
Instead of the usual Movember for Men's Prostate Cancer and Testicular Cancer, Matty from Witney, has decided to grow a mammoth beard throughout the usual 'Movember' November and raise funds for Play2Give which will benefit local charities that Matt holds a close connection with - the Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund.
Matt is aiming to raise a hair-tastic £150 and is already at £60!
Matty is no stranger to taking part in various charity events over the years, he has run races, he has taken part in obstacle courses, football tournaments and football matches for Play2Give and even tattoos (albeit the latter just for pleasure), so he was only too keen to step up to this challenge in which he says he will look like 'The Yeti'. We can't wait to say his transformation as the weeks go on! HUGE THANK YOU MATTY - YOUR HAIR-SOMINGLY AWESOME!
Anyone who wishes to sponsor Matt in his hair-razing challenge can click here to be taken to his online page. All donations are gratefully received!
Matthew Does Movember
"I am doing it to help raise funds for an amazing cause and for two people, my friends, who works tirelessly, (Andrew Baker and Dale Harris), to help raise funds for great causes" - Matty
That's the words echoed by Matthew Hambridge as he embarks on a hairy and itchy fundraiser throughout November to support Play2Give - of which he has become involved with in 2014 - as a volunteer and supporter in inspiration of Play2Give's very own Dale Harris and Andrew Baker. Two friends of which Matthew is honoured to support.
Instead of the usual Movember for Men's Prostate Cancer and Testicular Cancer, Matty from Witney, has decided to grow a mammoth beard throughout the usual 'Movember' November and raise funds for Play2Give which will benefit local charities that Matt holds a close connection with - the Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund.
Matt is aiming to raise a hair-tastic £150 and is already at £60!
Matty is no stranger to taking part in various charity events over the years, he has run races, he has taken part in obstacle courses, football tournaments and football matches for Play2Give and even tattoos (albeit the latter just for pleasure), so he was only too keen to step up to this challenge in which he says he will look like 'The Yeti'. We can't wait to say his transformation as the weeks go on! HUGE THANK YOU MATTY - YOUR HAIR-SOMINGLY AWESOME!
Anyone who wishes to sponsor Matt in his hair-razing challenge can click here to be taken to his online page. All donations are gratefully received!
Matthew Does Movember
Help Bag Pack for Play2Give and Make a Difference in December - 15 October 2014
Super supporters of Play2Give, Sainsbury's Didcot, are offering Play2Give bag packing weekends in the run up to the busy festive season over two weekends in December - as part of their year of support for our fundraising organisation.
We are in need of volunteers to help us bag pack customers' shopping in return for customers giving donations on Sunday, 7th December and Saturday & Sunday 20th & 21st December. All proceeds raised will benefit the Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund.
The times are:-
If you are able to spare a couple of hours or a whole day, and would love to get involved and bring charitable customer service with a smile and neatly and carefully pack customers' shopping, please get in touch.
Super supporters of Play2Give, Sainsbury's Didcot, are offering Play2Give bag packing weekends in the run up to the busy festive season over two weekends in December - as part of their year of support for our fundraising organisation.
We are in need of volunteers to help us bag pack customers' shopping in return for customers giving donations on Sunday, 7th December and Saturday & Sunday 20th & 21st December. All proceeds raised will benefit the Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund.
The times are:-
- 7th December: 10.30am-3.30pm (based around 2 hour slots)
- 20th December: 9.30am-4.30pm and 21st December: 10.30am-3.30pm (again both days based around 2 hour slots)
If you are able to spare a couple of hours or a whole day, and would love to get involved and bring charitable customer service with a smile and neatly and carefully pack customers' shopping, please get in touch.
Matt, left, and Stuart, right, ready to run
CHOX Running Heroes Complete Oxford Half - 12 October 2014
Brotherly love - that was the order of the day for two Oxford chaps and supporters of Play2Give who completed the Oxford Half-Marathon today - Sunday October 12.
Stuart and Matthew Crook, from Oxford, both signed up to take on the daunting challenge inspired to run to say a 'thank you' back to the Oxford doctors for treating their children
Both the chaps children have spent time in hospital, and ran in Play2Give's honour to raise money for the Oxford Children's Hospital's Fund for Children.
For both Stuart and Matt they have usually taken on marathons and runs for pleasure, but jumped at the chance to help the hospital raise extra funds for top notch medical equipment and facilities as a debt of gratitude. And, after being encouraged by Play2Give's Andrew that they teamed up in partnership with Play2Give, and even wore customised running tops produced by our friends at Elmer Cotton Oxford.
Stuart's son Jacob was cared for by CHOX as a small baby, whilst Matt's daughter Ava has been cared for over the two past years where she has been treated for Infantile Haemangioma.
They pledged to raise £400 between them for the hospital but as of race day they have raised with including gift aid over £770 - absolutely amazing! This money will make a real difference to the lives of so many children, such as that of Matt's own daughter Ava, and tens of thousands of others treated by the everyday superheroes at the hospital.
Huge congratulations to both Matt and Stuart on their amazing achievement and for helping so raise much money for such a wonderful charity, close to so many's hearts. The guys both finished in just over 1 hour 49 minutes, although it is believed from official race results that Matt just pipped Stuart over the finish line - not that they was having a competition or anything, much!!
The brothers sponsorship page
Please contact us if you would like to take part in the 2015 Oxford Half-Marathon to support Play2Give.
Brotherly love - that was the order of the day for two Oxford chaps and supporters of Play2Give who completed the Oxford Half-Marathon today - Sunday October 12.
Stuart and Matthew Crook, from Oxford, both signed up to take on the daunting challenge inspired to run to say a 'thank you' back to the Oxford doctors for treating their children
Both the chaps children have spent time in hospital, and ran in Play2Give's honour to raise money for the Oxford Children's Hospital's Fund for Children.
For both Stuart and Matt they have usually taken on marathons and runs for pleasure, but jumped at the chance to help the hospital raise extra funds for top notch medical equipment and facilities as a debt of gratitude. And, after being encouraged by Play2Give's Andrew that they teamed up in partnership with Play2Give, and even wore customised running tops produced by our friends at Elmer Cotton Oxford.
Stuart's son Jacob was cared for by CHOX as a small baby, whilst Matt's daughter Ava has been cared for over the two past years where she has been treated for Infantile Haemangioma.
They pledged to raise £400 between them for the hospital but as of race day they have raised with including gift aid over £770 - absolutely amazing! This money will make a real difference to the lives of so many children, such as that of Matt's own daughter Ava, and tens of thousands of others treated by the everyday superheroes at the hospital.
Huge congratulations to both Matt and Stuart on their amazing achievement and for helping so raise much money for such a wonderful charity, close to so many's hearts. The guys both finished in just over 1 hour 49 minutes, although it is believed from official race results that Matt just pipped Stuart over the finish line - not that they was having a competition or anything, much!!
The brothers sponsorship page
Please contact us if you would like to take part in the 2015 Oxford Half-Marathon to support Play2Give.
Nominated for the 'BACAs' the Oscars of Didcot - 10 October 2014
We are thrilled to have been nominated in the Oscars of Didcot - the Business and Community Awards 2014 (BACAs).
Yesterday, (October 9), we found out we had been entered for the Didcot Business & Community Awards 2014 (also known as the BACAs).
We would like to the 'mystery person/s' that put Play2Give forward. Sadly we didn't make the short list of finalists but we are just chuffed to have been recognised in the nominations stage for what must of been a very difficult job for the judging panel to choose the finalists and winners this year.
This is the first time we had been nominated for the Oscars of Didcot. Although we didn't make the finals we do not mind as we just do our work to fundraise tirelessly for all the charities we help to help bring joy, cheers and smiles to those who need it most!
Whoever you were (if your the nominators and reading this), thank you very very much)!
Good Luck to all the finalists in Didcot's companies, charities and groups with the awards evening at Didcot's Cornerstone Arts Centre which sounds a superb event on November 15th!
The BACAs, first launched by Didcot First in 2009, recognise and reward excellence amongst local businesses, community groups and young enterprise, celebrating those successes in and around the South Oxfordshire area.
Click here for more information on the BACAs.
We are thrilled to have been nominated in the Oscars of Didcot - the Business and Community Awards 2014 (BACAs).
Yesterday, (October 9), we found out we had been entered for the Didcot Business & Community Awards 2014 (also known as the BACAs).
We would like to the 'mystery person/s' that put Play2Give forward. Sadly we didn't make the short list of finalists but we are just chuffed to have been recognised in the nominations stage for what must of been a very difficult job for the judging panel to choose the finalists and winners this year.
This is the first time we had been nominated for the Oscars of Didcot. Although we didn't make the finals we do not mind as we just do our work to fundraise tirelessly for all the charities we help to help bring joy, cheers and smiles to those who need it most!
Whoever you were (if your the nominators and reading this), thank you very very much)!
Good Luck to all the finalists in Didcot's companies, charities and groups with the awards evening at Didcot's Cornerstone Arts Centre which sounds a superb event on November 15th!
The BACAs, first launched by Didcot First in 2009, recognise and reward excellence amongst local businesses, community groups and young enterprise, celebrating those successes in and around the South Oxfordshire area.
Click here for more information on the BACAs.
A Runaway Group of Wonderful Supporters Tackling Challenges for Play2Give - 3 October 2014
Play2Give have some wonderful individuals taking on sponsored challenges over the coming weeks - all of which help Play2Give raise even more for the 3 charities we support. Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund benefit from the generosity of everyone who fundraises for P2G.
First off, we have Oxford brothers Stuart Crook and Matthew Crook taking on the challenge of running the Oxford Half Marathon a week Sunday, (October 12th).
They will be honouring Play2Give's name in running with customised running tops whilst raising money for the Children's Hospital. Both their children have been treated at the hospital and so they didn't hesitate to run the gruelling race to support a cause close to their hearts.
The Oxford Half starts and finishes at the Kassam Stadium and will pass the BMW Cowley Plant. Stuart and Matt's page. They pledged to raise £400 and have now smashed their goal! Brilliant!
Next we have Matthew Hambridge - volunteer with and supporter of Play2Give - who, back in the summer, promised he would help raise funds by taking part in 'Movember' in November. But, instead of the money going to the usual charity, Matty has decided to use his hairy itchy fundraiser with all the money he raises through sponsorship being donated coming Play2Give's way.
Matty's page: Matty is already 27% into his fundraising target of £150. Matty will keep all of his supporters and contacts updated with pictures of his weekly bushy growth and he is quite looking forward to looking like 'The Yeti'. Well done Matty, hope you enjoy being itchy and hairy!! We will share some of his beard growing adventure on here form time to time
Our friend and fellow P2G volunteer helper, Craig Harris, has promised to do the Monster Run 2015 and hopes to get his own friends and anyone else who wishes to join him making up a team of Play2Givers in this fun event which is one muddy great event on April 15th at Cornbury Park. See the official event website for more details. We are welcome to anyone who wishes to take on The Monster 2015 to sign up and support Play2Give at the same time! Thank you Craig and all!
And finally, Robert Bailey-Day has decided to step up and support P2G, (back in March Rob was one of 5 who took part in The Play2Givers team raising funds for the Children's Hospital in the annual OX5RUN),to dye his hair vivid red and white in honour of Play2Give's logo colours which are red and white! Rob isn't looking at raising money, just awareness raising of P2G but knowing Rob he'll persuade his family & friends to part with some coffers to add to Play2Give's fundraising work!
THANK YOU to all these awesome individuals for taking on such challenges, from the physically painful of running miles, to being itchy and hair-raising, we think all of you are wonderful!
Want to take on your own personal sponsorship challenge or want to do some fundraising for Play2Give? Contact Us.
Play2Give have some wonderful individuals taking on sponsored challenges over the coming weeks - all of which help Play2Give raise even more for the 3 charities we support. Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund benefit from the generosity of everyone who fundraises for P2G.
First off, we have Oxford brothers Stuart Crook and Matthew Crook taking on the challenge of running the Oxford Half Marathon a week Sunday, (October 12th).
They will be honouring Play2Give's name in running with customised running tops whilst raising money for the Children's Hospital. Both their children have been treated at the hospital and so they didn't hesitate to run the gruelling race to support a cause close to their hearts.
The Oxford Half starts and finishes at the Kassam Stadium and will pass the BMW Cowley Plant. Stuart and Matt's page. They pledged to raise £400 and have now smashed their goal! Brilliant!
Next we have Matthew Hambridge - volunteer with and supporter of Play2Give - who, back in the summer, promised he would help raise funds by taking part in 'Movember' in November. But, instead of the money going to the usual charity, Matty has decided to use his hairy itchy fundraiser with all the money he raises through sponsorship being donated coming Play2Give's way.
Matty's page: Matty is already 27% into his fundraising target of £150. Matty will keep all of his supporters and contacts updated with pictures of his weekly bushy growth and he is quite looking forward to looking like 'The Yeti'. Well done Matty, hope you enjoy being itchy and hairy!! We will share some of his beard growing adventure on here form time to time
Our friend and fellow P2G volunteer helper, Craig Harris, has promised to do the Monster Run 2015 and hopes to get his own friends and anyone else who wishes to join him making up a team of Play2Givers in this fun event which is one muddy great event on April 15th at Cornbury Park. See the official event website for more details. We are welcome to anyone who wishes to take on The Monster 2015 to sign up and support Play2Give at the same time! Thank you Craig and all!
And finally, Robert Bailey-Day has decided to step up and support P2G, (back in March Rob was one of 5 who took part in The Play2Givers team raising funds for the Children's Hospital in the annual OX5RUN),to dye his hair vivid red and white in honour of Play2Give's logo colours which are red and white! Rob isn't looking at raising money, just awareness raising of P2G but knowing Rob he'll persuade his family & friends to part with some coffers to add to Play2Give's fundraising work!
THANK YOU to all these awesome individuals for taking on such challenges, from the physically painful of running miles, to being itchy and hair-raising, we think all of you are wonderful!
Want to take on your own personal sponsorship challenge or want to do some fundraising for Play2Give? Contact Us.
Wristbands just £1.00 donation
Wristbands Now Helping Even More - 29 September 2014
Our Play2Give Wristbands are still available with our nice red bands now open to helping even more not just the Children's Hospital. Now, you can also do your bit at a little £1 suggested donation to also support the Paediatric Eye Fund and Headway Oxfordshire at the same time too.
Our wristbands have been successful since they were introduced in summer last year, and the likes of Sainsbury's in Didcot and Wantage have all helped to sell these over the past year raising hundreds of pounds!
Thank you to everyone whose already brought or sporting one of our nifty looking P2G wristbands, and if you would like one, please contact us.
The Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF) is part of the John Radcliffe Hospital's Eye hospital and raises funds for pioneering equipment and research into debilitating childhood eye diseases. PEF's aim for the purchase of incredible diagnostic equipment to help children and premature babies born with eye sight threatening diseases. This includes their recent purchase of a RET-CAM, a revolutionary piece of kit used to photograph the retina of infants with a range of disorders, from cancer of the retina to Retinopathy of prematurity and shaken baby injury.
Headway Oxfordshire is our local brain injury charity and supports those with brain injuries and their families with practical support, advice and rehabilitation and are currently have a huge £200,000 appeal to redevelop their Activity & Rehabilitation Centre in Kennington for all their service users. And we all know what brilliant work our local Oxford Children's Hospital is and funds raised enables facilities and equipment above and beyond what standard NHS funds can provide!
Find Out More About Our Wristbands
Our Play2Give Wristbands are still available with our nice red bands now open to helping even more not just the Children's Hospital. Now, you can also do your bit at a little £1 suggested donation to also support the Paediatric Eye Fund and Headway Oxfordshire at the same time too.
Our wristbands have been successful since they were introduced in summer last year, and the likes of Sainsbury's in Didcot and Wantage have all helped to sell these over the past year raising hundreds of pounds!
Thank you to everyone whose already brought or sporting one of our nifty looking P2G wristbands, and if you would like one, please contact us.
The Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF) is part of the John Radcliffe Hospital's Eye hospital and raises funds for pioneering equipment and research into debilitating childhood eye diseases. PEF's aim for the purchase of incredible diagnostic equipment to help children and premature babies born with eye sight threatening diseases. This includes their recent purchase of a RET-CAM, a revolutionary piece of kit used to photograph the retina of infants with a range of disorders, from cancer of the retina to Retinopathy of prematurity and shaken baby injury.
Headway Oxfordshire is our local brain injury charity and supports those with brain injuries and their families with practical support, advice and rehabilitation and are currently have a huge £200,000 appeal to redevelop their Activity & Rehabilitation Centre in Kennington for all their service users. And we all know what brilliant work our local Oxford Children's Hospital is and funds raised enables facilities and equipment above and beyond what standard NHS funds can provide!
Find Out More About Our Wristbands
Summertown Stars Super Sum Aids Tournament Funds - 26 September 2014
Summertown Stars are super stars when it comes to helping raise funds.
The Oxford football club are donating an amazing £760 towards swelling the coffers raised through the funds the2014 football tournament has raised...
This means we are on course to smash over £7,000 in our kids football fun day back in July which all helps the Oxford Children's Hospital. The club's under-10s took part in this year's event on July 13th at Oxford City Football Club, which saw the most number of kids teams enter - an amazing 18 across under 9s and under 10s.
We must say a great big thank you to John Chelsom, David Rundle and all at the club for choosing to add to their support to the football tournament funds and all on the committee - a staggering 30 managers and members - who all voted in this decision. The donation comes from extra activities held at their own football tournament in June generated. Great to have Summertown Stars lovely support as always!
The final grand total raised by our footy tourno in July to be announced real soon...
Summertown Stars are super stars when it comes to helping raise funds.
The Oxford football club are donating an amazing £760 towards swelling the coffers raised through the funds the2014 football tournament has raised...
This means we are on course to smash over £7,000 in our kids football fun day back in July which all helps the Oxford Children's Hospital. The club's under-10s took part in this year's event on July 13th at Oxford City Football Club, which saw the most number of kids teams enter - an amazing 18 across under 9s and under 10s.
We must say a great big thank you to John Chelsom, David Rundle and all at the club for choosing to add to their support to the football tournament funds and all on the committee - a staggering 30 managers and members - who all voted in this decision. The donation comes from extra activities held at their own football tournament in June generated. Great to have Summertown Stars lovely support as always!
The final grand total raised by our footy tourno in July to be announced real soon...
The Summertown Stars under 9s at the 2013 tournament
Are You Brave Enough to Take on the Monster Run? - 24 September 2014
Anyone fancy taking on the Monster Race 2015 at Cornbury Park on April 8 2015 and support Play2Give at the same time?
This is a fun filled adrenaline event filled with many different obstacles but be prepared to get wet and muddy in either a 5k or a 10k run! A run with a difference - this isn't just any ordinary bog standard run!
We already have 3 people ready to take on the gauntlet, want to join them? Are you brave enough to take on The Monster?
See www.monsterrace.co.uk for all of the information and the obstacle course details. Please consider Play2Give to raise funds for, as all the money Play2Give raises helps the Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe's Paediatric Eye Fund!
All you have to do is register via the official event website, link above, and then commit to raising a minimum £150 in sponsorship!
Please leave a message below or send a pm if you wish to take part and join Team Captain Craig Harris and co as The Play2Givers take on this cracking challenge! It's lots of fun!!!
Anyone fancy taking on the Monster Race 2015 at Cornbury Park on April 8 2015 and support Play2Give at the same time?
This is a fun filled adrenaline event filled with many different obstacles but be prepared to get wet and muddy in either a 5k or a 10k run! A run with a difference - this isn't just any ordinary bog standard run!
We already have 3 people ready to take on the gauntlet, want to join them? Are you brave enough to take on The Monster?
See www.monsterrace.co.uk for all of the information and the obstacle course details. Please consider Play2Give to raise funds for, as all the money Play2Give raises helps the Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe's Paediatric Eye Fund!
All you have to do is register via the official event website, link above, and then commit to raising a minimum £150 in sponsorship!
Please leave a message below or send a pm if you wish to take part and join Team Captain Craig Harris and co as The Play2Givers take on this cracking challenge! It's lots of fun!!!
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Nominate Your Sporting Unsung Heroes - 22 September 2014
The Oxfordshire Sports Awards are back for 2014 and they're looking for nominations of sporting heroes.
This is your chance to put forward all those special achievers in the field of sport, and get them the recognition they deserve! The 2012 Olympics and Paralympics in London provided the single biggest opportunity in our lifetime to transform sport, and participation in sport within the UK and to create a lasting legacy for sport and communities throughout Oxfordshire. What better time than now to support your local sporting hero's and see them rewarded and take centre stage at this year's Sports Awards?
The Oxfordshire Sports Awards are an annual event hosted by the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership and supported by BBC Oxford and the Oxford Mail. This year marks the 9th ceremony and is the flagship event of the year for Oxfordshire's sporting calendar.
The Oxfordshire Sports Awards raises awareness of the value of sport and physical activity to individuals and communities in Oxfordshire and recognises the contribution of those who deliver sport and physical activity at local level, including schools and clubs, volunteers, coaches, sports clubs, teams, young sport-stars and sport development officers.
Nominations are now open and close on October 10th at noon. Don't delay get those pens and fingers typing and get your sporting hero standing out in the name of the judges! Our very own Andrew Baker is very honoured to be asked to help choose the winners and finalists on judging day on October 24th.
This year's prestigious glittering star-studded awards ceremony will be held be at the Kassam Stadium on Friday, November 28th. As well as all celebrating all things great in the sporting world, guests will turn out to also support charity - and that is Play2Give! Fundraising will take place throughout the evening to support Play2Give, and the charities we help.
So we'd like to thank Zoe O'Neill and all the team at the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership for supporting P2G at this year's awards.
So get your thinking caps on and get nominating - nominations close October 10th at midday!
Awards website and details of how to nominate
The Oxfordshire Sports Awards are back for 2014 and they're looking for nominations of sporting heroes.
This is your chance to put forward all those special achievers in the field of sport, and get them the recognition they deserve! The 2012 Olympics and Paralympics in London provided the single biggest opportunity in our lifetime to transform sport, and participation in sport within the UK and to create a lasting legacy for sport and communities throughout Oxfordshire. What better time than now to support your local sporting hero's and see them rewarded and take centre stage at this year's Sports Awards?
The Oxfordshire Sports Awards are an annual event hosted by the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership and supported by BBC Oxford and the Oxford Mail. This year marks the 9th ceremony and is the flagship event of the year for Oxfordshire's sporting calendar.
The Oxfordshire Sports Awards raises awareness of the value of sport and physical activity to individuals and communities in Oxfordshire and recognises the contribution of those who deliver sport and physical activity at local level, including schools and clubs, volunteers, coaches, sports clubs, teams, young sport-stars and sport development officers.
Nominations are now open and close on October 10th at noon. Don't delay get those pens and fingers typing and get your sporting hero standing out in the name of the judges! Our very own Andrew Baker is very honoured to be asked to help choose the winners and finalists on judging day on October 24th.
This year's prestigious glittering star-studded awards ceremony will be held be at the Kassam Stadium on Friday, November 28th. As well as all celebrating all things great in the sporting world, guests will turn out to also support charity - and that is Play2Give! Fundraising will take place throughout the evening to support Play2Give, and the charities we help.
So we'd like to thank Zoe O'Neill and all the team at the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership for supporting P2G at this year's awards.
So get your thinking caps on and get nominating - nominations close October 10th at midday!
Awards website and details of how to nominate
Such a Beautiful Day Captured on Film: Watch our Video of Footballing Fun 2014 - 18 September 2014
'Such a beautiful day... That was Play2Give's 2014 football tournament'.
Such a fun great Sunday back in July and one that was for sure there was nothing but all smiles all round. And that is what Play2Give is all about... Raising smiles to bring smiles to children in hospital.
Our video (link below) kindly produced and filmed all day long by our friends Simon Haynes and his team at SH Creative had produced an amazing short promo packed with lots of the days action over 7 hours footage all into one 3 minute video!
Check out the vid below, which is also up to view on YouTube.
We couldn't of had a better beautiful day and the grand total is looking impressive! Final total raised for the Children's Hospital from this years kidsfootballing fun day to be announced soon. We are delighted to have broken new records and we can definitely say YOU our wonderful supporters have helped us smashed over £6,000 which is the most biggest and impressive total raised from football tournaments to date!!!
A Huge Thank you to everyone - all volunteers on the day, all the organisers, all the 18 teams, all the footy managers, our amazing sponsors Breckon & Breckon and Newbury Building Society, Our terrific event host Oxford City Football Club, Oxford United, 106 JACK fm Oxfordshire, Elmer Cotton Oxford, all those who supported through raffle tickets, bids on the signed Arsenal picture, produced tasty brownies (Nick & Evette), and just everyone who came along or gave a hand to make such a huge amount of money - we salute you!
2014 Video
'Such a beautiful day... That was Play2Give's 2014 football tournament'.
Such a fun great Sunday back in July and one that was for sure there was nothing but all smiles all round. And that is what Play2Give is all about... Raising smiles to bring smiles to children in hospital.
Our video (link below) kindly produced and filmed all day long by our friends Simon Haynes and his team at SH Creative had produced an amazing short promo packed with lots of the days action over 7 hours footage all into one 3 minute video!
Check out the vid below, which is also up to view on YouTube.
We couldn't of had a better beautiful day and the grand total is looking impressive! Final total raised for the Children's Hospital from this years kidsfootballing fun day to be announced soon. We are delighted to have broken new records and we can definitely say YOU our wonderful supporters have helped us smashed over £6,000 which is the most biggest and impressive total raised from football tournaments to date!!!
A Huge Thank you to everyone - all volunteers on the day, all the organisers, all the 18 teams, all the footy managers, our amazing sponsors Breckon & Breckon and Newbury Building Society, Our terrific event host Oxford City Football Club, Oxford United, 106 JACK fm Oxfordshire, Elmer Cotton Oxford, all those who supported through raffle tickets, bids on the signed Arsenal picture, produced tasty brownies (Nick & Evette), and just everyone who came along or gave a hand to make such a huge amount of money - we salute you!
2014 Video
Champions . . . P2G Allstars won 20-1
Play2Give Turns 7 Years Old with Football Match to Celebrate - 15 September 2014
A nail-biting fun football match took Didcot Town FC by storm on Sunday 14 September as the Play2Give Allstars took on Sainsbury's Didcot to raise money as well as laughs.
The staff from the supermarket have chosen Play2Give as their Fundraising Partner of the Year and kicked off the year-long partnership by staging a football match at the Loop Meadow Stadium, home of Didcot Town Football Club, in a bid to raise as much money as possible.
The determined squad from Sainsbury's who put their hearts and soles into taking part and a determined will to score goals was no might for the strong 18-squad Play2Givers, who ended up winning 20-1 against Sainsbury's and took home the glittering piece of silverware that was the P2G Cup, which both teams were desperate to win!
Even Chipper the Squirrel, the town's very own cuddly mascot, joined in the fun and rattled the bucket round the crowd, helping to raise money and lots of smiles with the children!
The P2G team are pictured with their victory in the bar afterwards, after winning a P2G Cup sponsored by CK Patel, Consultant Eye Consultant at the John Radcliffe Hospital and Chairman of the Paediatric Eye Fund, which benefited alongside the Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire in the match proceeds. The event coincided on the same weekend as Play2Give turned 7 years old, 7 glorious years of fundraising and success for local charities!
The match raised £232.47 - a great start to Sainsbury's year of fundraising for Play2Give, with many more events planned including a quiz night, a bag packing Saturday, lots of in-store fundraising for the store's 10th Anniversary in December and much more!
A nail-biting fun football match took Didcot Town FC by storm on Sunday 14 September as the Play2Give Allstars took on Sainsbury's Didcot to raise money as well as laughs.
The staff from the supermarket have chosen Play2Give as their Fundraising Partner of the Year and kicked off the year-long partnership by staging a football match at the Loop Meadow Stadium, home of Didcot Town Football Club, in a bid to raise as much money as possible.
The determined squad from Sainsbury's who put their hearts and soles into taking part and a determined will to score goals was no might for the strong 18-squad Play2Givers, who ended up winning 20-1 against Sainsbury's and took home the glittering piece of silverware that was the P2G Cup, which both teams were desperate to win!
Even Chipper the Squirrel, the town's very own cuddly mascot, joined in the fun and rattled the bucket round the crowd, helping to raise money and lots of smiles with the children!
The P2G team are pictured with their victory in the bar afterwards, after winning a P2G Cup sponsored by CK Patel, Consultant Eye Consultant at the John Radcliffe Hospital and Chairman of the Paediatric Eye Fund, which benefited alongside the Oxford Children's Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire in the match proceeds. The event coincided on the same weekend as Play2Give turned 7 years old, 7 glorious years of fundraising and success for local charities!
The match raised £232.47 - a great start to Sainsbury's year of fundraising for Play2Give, with many more events planned including a quiz night, a bag packing Saturday, lots of in-store fundraising for the store's 10th Anniversary in December and much more!
Hip Hip Hooray for Seven Super Years of Play2Give Fundraising - 13 September 2014
7 years ago today Play2Give was born. And then that's where the story begins...
On 13th September 2007 Play2Give (or P2G for short) came alive in Oxfordshire and a football tournament was cemented. And who knew that in 2014 P2G would still be going strong!!
Every year P2G has just grown and grown stronger and stronger. In fact, this year - 2014 - has been a record breaking year of fundraising for local charities close to the committee's hearts.
From the very first men's 6-a-side football tournament in November 2007 which was just a small humble occasion to the amazing kids football fun tournament day of today that just gets bigger to fundraising parties, our very own wristbands, to being chosen as Sainsburys Didcot's very own fundraising partner of the year in July this year, we continue to thrive and widely known throughout the county with our football tournaments in particular well renowned.
So many people have helped make P2G what it is today from the very beginning in 2007 to the present day today, P2G has the most amazing small team of people all who give up their time and volunteer, to organise these great events to raise money for needy charities. Meet the team of today here
There's been hundreds of thousands of supporters to many sponsors and lots of fun along the way but a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to the small team of friends who work on Play2Give so hard and tirelessly to make a difference to so many people.
Hard to say thank you to everyone so here goes a huge thank you to the following who have helped make P2G so successful both present and past:
Dale Harris, Teresa Strike, Elaine Childs, Ross Downes, Nick Madani, Craig Harris, Chris Tarratt, Nathan Ford, Paul Finch, Maxine Ford, Claire Hughes, Alison Russell, Alison Stone
We have raised close on £30,000 now for local charities from currently the Oxford Children's Hospital to Headway Oxfordshire and the Paediatric Eye Fund to other chariites over the years from SpecialEffect, Heads Up Oxford to Footsteps Foundation to more... And here's to hopefully another amazing few years of fun and fundraising!
Coincidentally the Charity Football Match at Didcot Town FC tomorrow (14th September) coincides with the 7th anniversary of P2G being born! In this fundraiser organised by Sainsburys Didcot will raise money for the Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the Oxford Paediatric Eye Fund. So 'happy birthday' to P2G at the match tomorrow and hopefully the P2G Allstars team will win victory as a nice way to top off the birthday weekend!!
7 years ago today Play2Give was born. And then that's where the story begins...
On 13th September 2007 Play2Give (or P2G for short) came alive in Oxfordshire and a football tournament was cemented. And who knew that in 2014 P2G would still be going strong!!
Every year P2G has just grown and grown stronger and stronger. In fact, this year - 2014 - has been a record breaking year of fundraising for local charities close to the committee's hearts.
From the very first men's 6-a-side football tournament in November 2007 which was just a small humble occasion to the amazing kids football fun tournament day of today that just gets bigger to fundraising parties, our very own wristbands, to being chosen as Sainsburys Didcot's very own fundraising partner of the year in July this year, we continue to thrive and widely known throughout the county with our football tournaments in particular well renowned.
So many people have helped make P2G what it is today from the very beginning in 2007 to the present day today, P2G has the most amazing small team of people all who give up their time and volunteer, to organise these great events to raise money for needy charities. Meet the team of today here
There's been hundreds of thousands of supporters to many sponsors and lots of fun along the way but a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to the small team of friends who work on Play2Give so hard and tirelessly to make a difference to so many people.
Hard to say thank you to everyone so here goes a huge thank you to the following who have helped make P2G so successful both present and past:
Dale Harris, Teresa Strike, Elaine Childs, Ross Downes, Nick Madani, Craig Harris, Chris Tarratt, Nathan Ford, Paul Finch, Maxine Ford, Claire Hughes, Alison Russell, Alison Stone
We have raised close on £30,000 now for local charities from currently the Oxford Children's Hospital to Headway Oxfordshire and the Paediatric Eye Fund to other chariites over the years from SpecialEffect, Heads Up Oxford to Footsteps Foundation to more... And here's to hopefully another amazing few years of fun and fundraising!
Coincidentally the Charity Football Match at Didcot Town FC tomorrow (14th September) coincides with the 7th anniversary of P2G being born! In this fundraiser organised by Sainsburys Didcot will raise money for the Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the Oxford Paediatric Eye Fund. So 'happy birthday' to P2G at the match tomorrow and hopefully the P2G Allstars team will win victory as a nice way to top off the birthday weekend!!
Chipper the Squirrel
Football Match to be Nuts as Chipper the Squirrel Chips in the Action - 5 September 2014
Didcot's very own 'nutty' resident, a real life-sized cuddly ginger squirrel, will be making the action of the charity match a nutcracker as the town's Chipper makes an appearance!
Chipper is the mascot of The Treehouse Play Centre and will be popping along to join in the action at the charity football game on Sunday, September 14th at Didcot Town FC's Loop Meadow ground.
The charity football match - in association with Sainsbury's Didcot - will see a Sainsbury's Stars staff team take on Play2Give Allstars in a fun, friendly 90-minute game in which all proceeds raised will benefit the Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the Paediatric Eye Fund at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Sainsbury's Didcot supports Play2Give as the store's 'fundraising partner for 2014/2015' and this is the first of many events being drawn up by the store to raise funds for Play2Give which supports these local charities.
The football match launches the special partnership, and the match kicks off at 5pm with gates opening to spectators from 4.30pm.
Chipper will be at the ground for 4.30pm to join in the action - and we hope you will join in the fun too as the bar and clubhouse will be opened following the match for drinks and nibbles!
Didcot's very own 'nutty' resident, a real life-sized cuddly ginger squirrel, will be making the action of the charity match a nutcracker as the town's Chipper makes an appearance!
Chipper is the mascot of The Treehouse Play Centre and will be popping along to join in the action at the charity football game on Sunday, September 14th at Didcot Town FC's Loop Meadow ground.
The charity football match - in association with Sainsbury's Didcot - will see a Sainsbury's Stars staff team take on Play2Give Allstars in a fun, friendly 90-minute game in which all proceeds raised will benefit the Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the Paediatric Eye Fund at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Sainsbury's Didcot supports Play2Give as the store's 'fundraising partner for 2014/2015' and this is the first of many events being drawn up by the store to raise funds for Play2Give which supports these local charities.
The football match launches the special partnership, and the match kicks off at 5pm with gates opening to spectators from 4.30pm.
Chipper will be at the ground for 4.30pm to join in the action - and we hope you will join in the fun too as the bar and clubhouse will be opened following the match for drinks and nibbles!
Sainsbury's to Show Off their Ball Skills in Football Match - 23 August 2014
Do you eat, sleep and breathe the beautiful game of football? Want to see Sainsbury's take on a Play2Give team for charity? Read on...
Sainsbury's Didcot in association with Play2Give are staging a charity 11-a-side football match on Sunday 14 September supporting three charities as part of the store's commitment to supporting P2G over the coming year.
Play2Give was chosen by the supermarket in Didcot as their Charity Partner for 2014-2015 and as a result are planning a year's worth of fundraising and awareness for Play2Give, and proceedings are kicking off with this special match, including drinks and nibbles, on the evening of Sunday, September 14 at Didcot Town Football Club's Loop Meadow Stadium. It all begins at 4.30pm when gates open, and the match KO at 5pm.
Charity Football Match: Sunday September 14
The Sainsbury's Stars will be taking on Play2Give Allstars in a fun friendly battle of the best, and we would love to see as many people come along to enjoy by cheering on our wonderful players as well as supporting some incredibly great local charities that the money raised for Play2Give will benefit.
Through the funds Sainsbury's Didcot raises for P2G will benefit our local charities:
Oxford Children's Hospital: Opened in 2007 following a successful £15 million fundraising appeal. Today your donations support facilities and equipment to treat, distract, calm and bring a smile to our young patients. The Fund for Children continues to provide the very latest medical equipment and best possible facilities, for babies and toddlers through to teens and has funded some top notch state of the art medical equipment and sensory items that only fundraising can pay for.
Headway Oxfordshire: We support this charity which provides advice, information and support to anyone (the individual and family members) affected by brain injury across Oxfordshire. Support is provided for the individual - and family members - either within the Activity & Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) at Kennington, Oxford or through county-wide Outreach Community Support Team. Funds raised will go towards HWO's biggest campaign - its £200,000 fundraising appeal to redevelop its new ARC.
Oxford Paediatric Eye Fund: A small charity run from the Oxford Eye Hospital at the JR, set up in May 2013, raising funds for research, equipment and development for the treatment of children with debilitating eye disease.
Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy a great fun friendly footballing atmosphere watching the beautiful game, whilst donating into the buckets to watch and support Play2Give's charities. Following the match, the club's function room and bar will be open to unwind, socialise and enjoy a special evening of fundraising, together with nibbles provided by Sainsbury's.
If you will be unable to make the event but would still wish to make a donation to help these wonderful causes, please click here to be taken to our secure mini donation website.
Do you eat, sleep and breathe the beautiful game of football? Want to see Sainsbury's take on a Play2Give team for charity? Read on...
Sainsbury's Didcot in association with Play2Give are staging a charity 11-a-side football match on Sunday 14 September supporting three charities as part of the store's commitment to supporting P2G over the coming year.
Play2Give was chosen by the supermarket in Didcot as their Charity Partner for 2014-2015 and as a result are planning a year's worth of fundraising and awareness for Play2Give, and proceedings are kicking off with this special match, including drinks and nibbles, on the evening of Sunday, September 14 at Didcot Town Football Club's Loop Meadow Stadium. It all begins at 4.30pm when gates open, and the match KO at 5pm.
Charity Football Match: Sunday September 14
The Sainsbury's Stars will be taking on Play2Give Allstars in a fun friendly battle of the best, and we would love to see as many people come along to enjoy by cheering on our wonderful players as well as supporting some incredibly great local charities that the money raised for Play2Give will benefit.
Through the funds Sainsbury's Didcot raises for P2G will benefit our local charities:
Oxford Children's Hospital: Opened in 2007 following a successful £15 million fundraising appeal. Today your donations support facilities and equipment to treat, distract, calm and bring a smile to our young patients. The Fund for Children continues to provide the very latest medical equipment and best possible facilities, for babies and toddlers through to teens and has funded some top notch state of the art medical equipment and sensory items that only fundraising can pay for.
Headway Oxfordshire: We support this charity which provides advice, information and support to anyone (the individual and family members) affected by brain injury across Oxfordshire. Support is provided for the individual - and family members - either within the Activity & Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) at Kennington, Oxford or through county-wide Outreach Community Support Team. Funds raised will go towards HWO's biggest campaign - its £200,000 fundraising appeal to redevelop its new ARC.
Oxford Paediatric Eye Fund: A small charity run from the Oxford Eye Hospital at the JR, set up in May 2013, raising funds for research, equipment and development for the treatment of children with debilitating eye disease.
Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy a great fun friendly footballing atmosphere watching the beautiful game, whilst donating into the buckets to watch and support Play2Give's charities. Following the match, the club's function room and bar will be open to unwind, socialise and enjoy a special evening of fundraising, together with nibbles provided by Sainsbury's.
If you will be unable to make the event but would still wish to make a donation to help these wonderful causes, please click here to be taken to our secure mini donation website.
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Oxjam Deano Blog: Hardworkers, fundraisers and life changers! Love for Play2Give - 21 August 2014
It's a bit later than planned as I'm a very busy boy, sometimes. But I wanted to give a bit of love and shine to some of my hard working cohorts who strive to raise money for good causes, are in charge of good causes and/or make a huge difference to many people's lives...
Read full blog post
It's a bit later than planned as I'm a very busy boy, sometimes. But I wanted to give a bit of love and shine to some of my hard working cohorts who strive to raise money for good causes, are in charge of good causes and/or make a huge difference to many people's lives...
Read full blog post
Collection Tins at Sainsbury's Didcot
Sainsbury's Didcot Kick Starts Year's Worth of Fundraising - 28 July 2014
Spare those pennies and help charity when your supermarket sweeping!
These babies, left, are now in Sainsburys Didcot smiling at you at many of the tills. These collection tins are the start of the supermarket's drive over the next year to raise funds in a charity partnership with Play2Give.
All money that is raised through the customers and staff by the store over the coming year Play2Give will donate to the 3 charities it supports:- Headway Oxfordshire (the local brain injury charity for adults), the Oxford Children's Hospital and the Paediatric Eye Fund at the JR which raises funds for pioneering diagnostic equipment and research into children and babies born with debilitating eye diseases.
So when your doing your supermarket sweep please consider donating any spare change into these tins and make a difference to so many peoples lives. Together we can 'Play2Give it' for charity.
With thanks to Sainsburys Didcot for choosing P2G as their fundraising partner over the coming year so we can raise many more £££'s for these wonderful charities through P2G's tireless all year round work of hard fundraising.
We can't thank the supermarket enough for their wonderful support! We are already planning fundraising ideas and look forward to sharing these as the plans come to fruition! Ideas already include a sponsored staff walk, a sponsored bath full of gunk, a sponsored run, in store competitions, and a haunted sleep over. Watch this space...
Spare those pennies and help charity when your supermarket sweeping!
These babies, left, are now in Sainsburys Didcot smiling at you at many of the tills. These collection tins are the start of the supermarket's drive over the next year to raise funds in a charity partnership with Play2Give.
All money that is raised through the customers and staff by the store over the coming year Play2Give will donate to the 3 charities it supports:- Headway Oxfordshire (the local brain injury charity for adults), the Oxford Children's Hospital and the Paediatric Eye Fund at the JR which raises funds for pioneering diagnostic equipment and research into children and babies born with debilitating eye diseases.
So when your doing your supermarket sweep please consider donating any spare change into these tins and make a difference to so many peoples lives. Together we can 'Play2Give it' for charity.
With thanks to Sainsburys Didcot for choosing P2G as their fundraising partner over the coming year so we can raise many more £££'s for these wonderful charities through P2G's tireless all year round work of hard fundraising.
We can't thank the supermarket enough for their wonderful support! We are already planning fundraising ideas and look forward to sharing these as the plans come to fruition! Ideas already include a sponsored staff walk, a sponsored bath full of gunk, a sponsored run, in store competitions, and a haunted sleep over. Watch this space...
Sainsbury's Didcot 2014-15 Fundraising Partner
Hinksey Park the victorious under-9s with Max Crocombe
U's Stars Play Along With the Kids at Footballing Fun Day - 21 July 2014
Oxford United's midfielder Callum O'Dowda and goalie Max Crocombe both popped along to the recent children's football tournament held on July 13th, and joined in the fun with the youngsters.
This year's tournament, held as always in support of the Oxford Children's Hospital, saw Max visit in the morning and handed out prizes to all the boys in the under 9s contest, whilst Callum popped along later in the afternoon and as well as handing out the prizes to the Under 10s players, he also showed off his ball skills for a filming shoot with SH Creative.
SH Creative have once again kindly filmed the entire event, and are busy editing the whole's day worth of footage into a new short promotional video, which will be released soon.
You can view Callum in a 'moment of time' video doing keepy uppys below.
We would like to thank Oxford United for supporting this year's fundraising kids tournament by sending along both Max and Callum, who went down a storm with all the boys, with Max making one young Didcot supporter's day by signing her shirt - as photographed by the Oxford Mail. In 2012, both Ryan Clarke and Max Crocombe made special appearances.
More pictures from the day
Oxford United's midfielder Callum O'Dowda and goalie Max Crocombe both popped along to the recent children's football tournament held on July 13th, and joined in the fun with the youngsters.
This year's tournament, held as always in support of the Oxford Children's Hospital, saw Max visit in the morning and handed out prizes to all the boys in the under 9s contest, whilst Callum popped along later in the afternoon and as well as handing out the prizes to the Under 10s players, he also showed off his ball skills for a filming shoot with SH Creative.
SH Creative have once again kindly filmed the entire event, and are busy editing the whole's day worth of footage into a new short promotional video, which will be released soon.
You can view Callum in a 'moment of time' video doing keepy uppys below.
We would like to thank Oxford United for supporting this year's fundraising kids tournament by sending along both Max and Callum, who went down a storm with all the boys, with Max making one young Didcot supporter's day by signing her shirt - as photographed by the Oxford Mail. In 2012, both Ryan Clarke and Max Crocombe made special appearances.
More pictures from the day
It's a New Raffle Record for all the Fun of Football Fundraising - 19 July 2014
Play2Give has scored a new raffle record!
New records yet again have been broken by Play2Give as we're chuffed to announce that the legendary raffle, as part of Sundays fundraising football tournament, has beaten last years event record for a raffle. The raffle, as part of this year's event, has seen well over £860 raised this time round as part of the super day held last weekend in support of the Oxford Children's Hospital!!!
Last years event saw the raffle alone break a record of £660.50 raised so to have topped that by just over £200 more this time round is just amazing!!!
We'd like to thank everyone of you who brought raffle tickets and supported the football fundraising day in this way.
Whether you won a prize or you were unlucky the real winner is the Oxford Children's Hospital charity - and we are on top of the world as drum-roll the event this year is looking set to break all previous football tournament fundraising records which is great. It was certainly the biggest kids football tournament in history and the best fundraising tournament held in 6 years!!
More figures will be released in due course as the grand total raised by last weekends fundraising footy fun day will be announced once it is all in and a cheque presentation arranged to the Children's Hospital.
P2G just keeps going from strength to strength and it's ALL thanks to people like YOU - our terrific supporters!!
Our year started with a bang as our fundraising evening in February broke all records in funds and now the football tournament, this 2014 is Play2Give's most successful year ever!!!!
We are absolutely delighted with the astounding support we have already received this year, and we look forward to the cheque presentation to the hospital later in the year.
Play2Give has scored a new raffle record!
New records yet again have been broken by Play2Give as we're chuffed to announce that the legendary raffle, as part of Sundays fundraising football tournament, has beaten last years event record for a raffle. The raffle, as part of this year's event, has seen well over £860 raised this time round as part of the super day held last weekend in support of the Oxford Children's Hospital!!!
Last years event saw the raffle alone break a record of £660.50 raised so to have topped that by just over £200 more this time round is just amazing!!!
We'd like to thank everyone of you who brought raffle tickets and supported the football fundraising day in this way.
Whether you won a prize or you were unlucky the real winner is the Oxford Children's Hospital charity - and we are on top of the world as drum-roll the event this year is looking set to break all previous football tournament fundraising records which is great. It was certainly the biggest kids football tournament in history and the best fundraising tournament held in 6 years!!
More figures will be released in due course as the grand total raised by last weekends fundraising footy fun day will be announced once it is all in and a cheque presentation arranged to the Children's Hospital.
P2G just keeps going from strength to strength and it's ALL thanks to people like YOU - our terrific supporters!!
Our year started with a bang as our fundraising evening in February broke all records in funds and now the football tournament, this 2014 is Play2Give's most successful year ever!!!!
We are absolutely delighted with the astounding support we have already received this year, and we look forward to the cheque presentation to the hospital later in the year.
Charity Gooners Mad Bidding Ends at £225 Boost - 16 July 2014
Thank you to everyone who made a bid for our signed Arsenal framed picture signed by the first team squad.
With bids open until Sunday and on display at our football fundraising day, the final bid ended on £225 boosting our football fundraising coffers for the Oxford Children's Hospital, and we would like thank everyone who supported this by making a bid.
Thank you hugely to the very kind lady, Elaine Hambridge, who ended the bid on £225 for her Arsenal loving husband, Raymond who runs All Seasons of Oxford Gardening Services!
Last year this exact same piece of signed memorabilia from the club made £185 in bids so we are over the moon to have received £40 more this time round!
With thanks to Arsenal Football Club for their continuing fantastic support!
Thank you to everyone who made a bid for our signed Arsenal framed picture signed by the first team squad.
With bids open until Sunday and on display at our football fundraising day, the final bid ended on £225 boosting our football fundraising coffers for the Oxford Children's Hospital, and we would like thank everyone who supported this by making a bid.
Thank you hugely to the very kind lady, Elaine Hambridge, who ended the bid on £225 for her Arsenal loving husband, Raymond who runs All Seasons of Oxford Gardening Services!
Last year this exact same piece of signed memorabilia from the club made £185 in bids so we are over the moon to have received £40 more this time round!
With thanks to Arsenal Football Club for their continuing fantastic support!
Dale, left, Andrew, right, with U's Max Crocombe, centre and all the under 10s
Beautiful Day as Annual Footballing Fun Another Match of the Day - 15 July 2014
Sunday's footballing fun day was another huge success - with some surprise visitors and the best number of turn out in teams to date.
This year's event, the sixth Play2Give football tournament (the third as a junior's tournament), was such an amazing success and even the weather was kind to us too.
Whilst clouds loomed over at parts of the day but staying away so as to not to dampen the spirits of all the football loving young budding stars of the future. There were big smiles not round - from not just the children but the adults alike too - everyone had an 'amazing' day for an amazing result in being the biggest and best tournament fun day yet!
This year's day, as always supporting the Oxford Children's Hospital, saw the most number of boys teams take part than the previous two contests, and even saw a team from Enfield, London, take part getting up extra early travelling all the way down the M-Way to join in this special day of fun.
As always, organised by Dale, Andrew, Teresa and Elaine and ably assisted by wonderful helpers Nick, Evette and Craig, this year's Play2Give tournament was probably the best in its six-year history, and the money raised so far is looking mightily healthy too!!
With teams including Didcot, Wantage Town Juniors, Summertown Stars, the Oxford City Nomads, Marston Saints and Crowmarsh, there was plenty of young footballing talent galore!
The victorious under-9s taking home the Play2Give Cup were the Hinksey Park Youth team, whilst the champion Under-10s team were Oxford City Blues, narrowly clinching the title in a closely fought final with Oxford City Nomads Hoops. With all this talent and superb level of play from all parties involved, it made for a cracking day's entertainment of football.
And with a beary special appearance from a real life size ted, hugely cuddly and somewhat into dancing, Barry Bear delighted the little ones and big kids at heart - though we think our own Andrew Baker may have been the most excited about meeting Barry, the mascot of our long-standing sponsors, Newbury Building Society.
Barry got the kids - and adults alike - lucky and mucky fingered in a 'mucky dip' game full of prizes galore, whilst our main event sponsors, Breckon & Breckon, provided what they do best - coconuts (of the shell kind) - and adding over £100 into the day's proceeds! Our ever-successful raffle was yet again another legendary part of the day, and we even had £225 raised in a bid for a signed Arsenal first team squad photo.
With music from Jack FM, refreshments, burgers and bacon rolls from the football clubhouse, some lush chocolate brownies made by Nick and Evette (who can certainly cook!) and special guest appearances from Oxford United's goalkeeper Max Crocombe, and midfielder Callum O'Dowd, who got a rousing welcome, it was certainly a truly special and memorable day which was the main emphasis on not just fun bringing smiles for the kids but raising smiles for the most poorliest of children in hospital!
Early figures suggest that over £3,400 has already been raised, and it is hoped that up to £8,000 could be raised as the grand total for the hospital.
Our new promotional film showcasing such a beautiful day will be released soon made by our friends at SH Creative, who spent a whole day filming all the action as it happened.
We say a huge thank you to our two wonderful sponsors, Breckon & Breckon and Newbury Building Society, to Elmer Cotton, Jack FM and Oxford United, a huge thank you to Oxford City Football Club for being such brilliant event hosts and supporters each year, to all our great refs, the event volunteers and of course to our 18 amazing teams for which without there would of been no football tournament to have enjoyed! We are hugely indebted to each and every one person and supporter who helped raise money and put their support towards the event, in this way and through raffle tickets, bidding on the signed Arsenal item, making brownies, producing fixtures and everything else to much to mention!
So from us we say Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray 3 cheers we did it!! See you next year, when the event is pencilled in for Sunday 12th July 2015!
Oxford Mail: U's star brings joy to young supporter
Sunday's footballing fun day was another huge success - with some surprise visitors and the best number of turn out in teams to date.
This year's event, the sixth Play2Give football tournament (the third as a junior's tournament), was such an amazing success and even the weather was kind to us too.
Whilst clouds loomed over at parts of the day but staying away so as to not to dampen the spirits of all the football loving young budding stars of the future. There were big smiles not round - from not just the children but the adults alike too - everyone had an 'amazing' day for an amazing result in being the biggest and best tournament fun day yet!
This year's day, as always supporting the Oxford Children's Hospital, saw the most number of boys teams take part than the previous two contests, and even saw a team from Enfield, London, take part getting up extra early travelling all the way down the M-Way to join in this special day of fun.
As always, organised by Dale, Andrew, Teresa and Elaine and ably assisted by wonderful helpers Nick, Evette and Craig, this year's Play2Give tournament was probably the best in its six-year history, and the money raised so far is looking mightily healthy too!!
With teams including Didcot, Wantage Town Juniors, Summertown Stars, the Oxford City Nomads, Marston Saints and Crowmarsh, there was plenty of young footballing talent galore!
The victorious under-9s taking home the Play2Give Cup were the Hinksey Park Youth team, whilst the champion Under-10s team were Oxford City Blues, narrowly clinching the title in a closely fought final with Oxford City Nomads Hoops. With all this talent and superb level of play from all parties involved, it made for a cracking day's entertainment of football.
And with a beary special appearance from a real life size ted, hugely cuddly and somewhat into dancing, Barry Bear delighted the little ones and big kids at heart - though we think our own Andrew Baker may have been the most excited about meeting Barry, the mascot of our long-standing sponsors, Newbury Building Society.
Barry got the kids - and adults alike - lucky and mucky fingered in a 'mucky dip' game full of prizes galore, whilst our main event sponsors, Breckon & Breckon, provided what they do best - coconuts (of the shell kind) - and adding over £100 into the day's proceeds! Our ever-successful raffle was yet again another legendary part of the day, and we even had £225 raised in a bid for a signed Arsenal first team squad photo.
With music from Jack FM, refreshments, burgers and bacon rolls from the football clubhouse, some lush chocolate brownies made by Nick and Evette (who can certainly cook!) and special guest appearances from Oxford United's goalkeeper Max Crocombe, and midfielder Callum O'Dowd, who got a rousing welcome, it was certainly a truly special and memorable day which was the main emphasis on not just fun bringing smiles for the kids but raising smiles for the most poorliest of children in hospital!
Early figures suggest that over £3,400 has already been raised, and it is hoped that up to £8,000 could be raised as the grand total for the hospital.
Our new promotional film showcasing such a beautiful day will be released soon made by our friends at SH Creative, who spent a whole day filming all the action as it happened.
We say a huge thank you to our two wonderful sponsors, Breckon & Breckon and Newbury Building Society, to Elmer Cotton, Jack FM and Oxford United, a huge thank you to Oxford City Football Club for being such brilliant event hosts and supporters each year, to all our great refs, the event volunteers and of course to our 18 amazing teams for which without there would of been no football tournament to have enjoyed! We are hugely indebted to each and every one person and supporter who helped raise money and put their support towards the event, in this way and through raffle tickets, bidding on the signed Arsenal item, making brownies, producing fixtures and everything else to much to mention!
So from us we say Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray 3 cheers we did it!! See you next year, when the event is pencilled in for Sunday 12th July 2015!
Oxford Mail: U's star brings joy to young supporter
GAME ON: Dale Harris, left, and Andrew Baker
Young footballers are lacing up charity boots - 10 July 2014
By Luke Sproule
Oxford Mail
lsproule@oxfordmail.co.uk
A RECORD number of young footballers will pull on their boots this Sunday to raise money for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Read the Oxford Mail's full story
By Luke Sproule
Oxford Mail
lsproule@oxfordmail.co.uk
A RECORD number of young footballers will pull on their boots this Sunday to raise money for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Read the Oxford Mail's full story
Sainsbury's Didcot's Local Fundraising Partner of the Year 2014-15
Joining Forces in Partnership with Sainsbury's - 8 July 2014
Wow what a day filled of surprises and amazing news...
Delighted to announce that PLAY2GIVE have only gone and done it our short presentation to Sainsburys Didcot's panel went so well this morning - 8th July - that we have won!!
Play2Give has been chosen by their 'Great Place to Work' panel as their Charity Partner for the next calendar year!
This means we will be their official fundraising partner for 2014-15 and will be teaming up with our friends at the store on fundraising events and initiatives over the next year.
We are truly shocked and flabbergasted to have been chosen as we were up against two other worthy deserving causes and were thrilled to just be short-listed in the top 3 finalists.
We are amazed and can't wait to begin our fundraising year with the store. What stood P2G out is that we are unique as we are a fundraising organisation that works to raise funds by raising money for local charities through events, such as football fun days and parties, to then distributing the funds we raise through events such as football fun days and fundraising parties to our chosen charities, like the Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the Oxford Paediatric Eye Fund. We only raise these funds for these registered charities and P2G has raised over £25, 000 in nearly 7 years! !!
Thank you so much to lovely PRL Ambassador Veronica Dallas, the store manager Kevin everyone at the store for choosing Play2Give as the store's official fundraising partner with what will be an exciting year ahead.
Time to put thinking caps into motion and come up with some brilliant ways of raising funds at the store with customers and the staff. Got some ideas in mind so very excited for the year ahead!! Watch this space!!
2014 has started off as an astounding year to P2G's funds in a record breaking start with the fundraising party in February and looking set to be a record year!
Wow what a day filled of surprises and amazing news...
Delighted to announce that PLAY2GIVE have only gone and done it our short presentation to Sainsburys Didcot's panel went so well this morning - 8th July - that we have won!!
Play2Give has been chosen by their 'Great Place to Work' panel as their Charity Partner for the next calendar year!
This means we will be their official fundraising partner for 2014-15 and will be teaming up with our friends at the store on fundraising events and initiatives over the next year.
We are truly shocked and flabbergasted to have been chosen as we were up against two other worthy deserving causes and were thrilled to just be short-listed in the top 3 finalists.
We are amazed and can't wait to begin our fundraising year with the store. What stood P2G out is that we are unique as we are a fundraising organisation that works to raise funds by raising money for local charities through events, such as football fun days and parties, to then distributing the funds we raise through events such as football fun days and fundraising parties to our chosen charities, like the Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the Oxford Paediatric Eye Fund. We only raise these funds for these registered charities and P2G has raised over £25, 000 in nearly 7 years! !!
Thank you so much to lovely PRL Ambassador Veronica Dallas, the store manager Kevin everyone at the store for choosing Play2Give as the store's official fundraising partner with what will be an exciting year ahead.
Time to put thinking caps into motion and come up with some brilliant ways of raising funds at the store with customers and the staff. Got some ideas in mind so very excited for the year ahead!! Watch this space!!
2014 has started off as an astounding year to P2G's funds in a record breaking start with the fundraising party in February and looking set to be a record year!
Get Bidding If Your Gooner Mad - 24 June 2014
Do you breathe and live Arsenal? Are you a diehard Gunners fan? Perhaps you know of an Gooner-mad fan? Well you could help a fantastic cause by bidding on a donated signed piece of memorabilia.
Arsenal has for the second year very generously donated a signed squad photograph autographed by the 2013/14 first-team players, and we have had it framed to make it extra special. You could bag it just by simply making a silent bid. Last year's signed picture made £185 and was won by Karen Russell, an Oxfordshire lady who added the item to her spare bedroom known as her 'Arsenal shrine'.
The bid was started at £5 and already there has been great interest with a frenzy of bids! Get in touch to make a bid
All bids will be taken right up until the morning of July 13th, when the lucky winner who bids the highest will win this piece of signed Arsenal history. So far £200 as of the evening of 24th June has been bid!
* As of July 13th - the day of the fundraising football tournament - the finishing bid was £225, won by Arsenal-mad fan Raymond Hambridge, of All Seasons of Oxford Gardening Services. Huge Thanks to everyone who made a bid and to Raymond for his generosity! *
Do you breathe and live Arsenal? Are you a diehard Gunners fan? Perhaps you know of an Gooner-mad fan? Well you could help a fantastic cause by bidding on a donated signed piece of memorabilia.
Arsenal has for the second year very generously donated a signed squad photograph autographed by the 2013/14 first-team players, and we have had it framed to make it extra special. You could bag it just by simply making a silent bid. Last year's signed picture made £185 and was won by Karen Russell, an Oxfordshire lady who added the item to her spare bedroom known as her 'Arsenal shrine'.
The bid was started at £5 and already there has been great interest with a frenzy of bids! Get in touch to make a bid
All bids will be taken right up until the morning of July 13th, when the lucky winner who bids the highest will win this piece of signed Arsenal history. So far £200 as of the evening of 24th June has been bid!
* As of July 13th - the day of the fundraising football tournament - the finishing bid was £225, won by Arsenal-mad fan Raymond Hambridge, of All Seasons of Oxford Gardening Services. Huge Thanks to everyone who made a bid and to Raymond for his generosity! *
Play2Give Summer Newsletter - June 2014
The new look Play2Give newsletter (summer issue) is now out with thanks to support from Creative Haus.
Thanks to graphic designer Natalie Bright, of Wantage, who runs Creative Haus and is a supporter of Play2Give, we have been able to take up a notch our e-promotions with the launch of our new good looking e-newsletter, which is now available for subscriptions.
In this edition, in the preview left, contains news on Play2Give's party in February a record breaker, raffle tickets available, how to bid for a signed Arsenal framed picture and news on our nomination in Sainsbury's charity of the year and lots more.
We would love to hear your thoughts and feedback on the new e-newsletter, and if you have any comments or suggestions, get in touch.
Subscribe here
The new look Play2Give newsletter (summer issue) is now out with thanks to support from Creative Haus.
Thanks to graphic designer Natalie Bright, of Wantage, who runs Creative Haus and is a supporter of Play2Give, we have been able to take up a notch our e-promotions with the launch of our new good looking e-newsletter, which is now available for subscriptions.
In this edition, in the preview left, contains news on Play2Give's party in February a record breaker, raffle tickets available, how to bid for a signed Arsenal framed picture and news on our nomination in Sainsbury's charity of the year and lots more.
We would love to hear your thoughts and feedback on the new e-newsletter, and if you have any comments or suggestions, get in touch.
Subscribe here
Play2Give Nominated in Sainsbury's Local Charity of the Year Initiative - 21 June 2014
Today, June 21st, our Andrew Baker had some amazing news broken to him by phone. Play2Give has been nominated in the search for Didcot Sainsbury's new 'Charity of the Year for 2014/15' and out of a record amount of nominations received from customers, Play2Give has only gone and been selected as one of 3 to potentially be 'chosen' as 'the lucky one'. If successful, Play2Give will be supported further by the store throughout the year through collection tins at the tills and a range of fundraising activities over the year in partnership with the store.
On July 8th Andrew has been invited to attend a 'Judges' day in front of Sainsbury's reps from the store to showcase in brief what Play2Give does, is all about and the charities we support.
Play2Give works as a local fundraising group raising money through organised events for local registered charities such as the Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the Paediatric Eye Fund. To be chosen amongst judges as one of the possible winners for this coming year amongst the top 3 is astounding and well we are just a little bit shocked as it was so unexpected.
We are up against tough competition for two other amazing local causes that also do good. Play2Give as a fundraising organisation has come a long way since it was set up as a mens football tournament in 2007. Since then we have gone on to raise over £25,000 for local causes with over £19,000 of this for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Sainsbury's Didcot are already fantastic supporters of our fundraising as they have supported P2G since last summer and we have raised over £600 through the store alone with our wristbands at customer services, and collections through book sales in recent weeks all of which have supported the Children's Hospital, the Paediatric Eye Fund and Headway Oxfordshire brain injury charity. So a huge thank you to Veronica Dallas and all the team at the store who have and continue to support Play2Give so much.
Today, June 21st, our Andrew Baker had some amazing news broken to him by phone. Play2Give has been nominated in the search for Didcot Sainsbury's new 'Charity of the Year for 2014/15' and out of a record amount of nominations received from customers, Play2Give has only gone and been selected as one of 3 to potentially be 'chosen' as 'the lucky one'. If successful, Play2Give will be supported further by the store throughout the year through collection tins at the tills and a range of fundraising activities over the year in partnership with the store.
On July 8th Andrew has been invited to attend a 'Judges' day in front of Sainsbury's reps from the store to showcase in brief what Play2Give does, is all about and the charities we support.
Play2Give works as a local fundraising group raising money through organised events for local registered charities such as the Oxford Children's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the Paediatric Eye Fund. To be chosen amongst judges as one of the possible winners for this coming year amongst the top 3 is astounding and well we are just a little bit shocked as it was so unexpected.
We are up against tough competition for two other amazing local causes that also do good. Play2Give as a fundraising organisation has come a long way since it was set up as a mens football tournament in 2007. Since then we have gone on to raise over £25,000 for local causes with over £19,000 of this for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Sainsbury's Didcot are already fantastic supporters of our fundraising as they have supported P2G since last summer and we have raised over £600 through the store alone with our wristbands at customer services, and collections through book sales in recent weeks all of which have supported the Children's Hospital, the Paediatric Eye Fund and Headway Oxfordshire brain injury charity. So a huge thank you to Veronica Dallas and all the team at the store who have and continue to support Play2Give so much.
Run the Oxford Half and Support Play2Give - 20 June 2014
It's back for another year. It can only be the fourth Oxford Half-Marathon on Sunday October 12th.
The Oxford Half is a fantastic half marathon set at the heart of the world famous university city, Oxford. A flat, single-lap route, that takes you on a tour of this beautiful city, known as the 'Dreaming Spires'
Why not set yourself a challenge and raise money to support Play2Give's fundraising campaign for the charities we help such as the Children's Hospital by taking part?
Route
The route is a single-lap relatively flat course, starting at the Kassam Stadium (home of Oxford United and London Welsh Rugby Club), the course threads through the Mini plant in Cowley and continuing past the track where Sir Roger Bannister broke the first ever four-minute mile in May 1954 at Iffley Road, over Magdalen Bridge, breezing past the world-famous university college grounds, the city’s iconic spires and continuing through the beautiful Christchurch Meadow.
Crossing Folly Bridge, then heading south onto the scenic Thames Path, before joining Oxford Road. Complete your challenge and cross the finish line in the Kassam, in front of the roaring crowds!
Final details for the Oxford Half Marathon are yet to be finalised but keep an eye on the event's website
Thank you to Oxford man Stuart Crook who has already signed up to support Play2Give.
Please contact Andrew Baker if you would like to take part.
It's back for another year. It can only be the fourth Oxford Half-Marathon on Sunday October 12th.
The Oxford Half is a fantastic half marathon set at the heart of the world famous university city, Oxford. A flat, single-lap route, that takes you on a tour of this beautiful city, known as the 'Dreaming Spires'
Why not set yourself a challenge and raise money to support Play2Give's fundraising campaign for the charities we help such as the Children's Hospital by taking part?
Route
The route is a single-lap relatively flat course, starting at the Kassam Stadium (home of Oxford United and London Welsh Rugby Club), the course threads through the Mini plant in Cowley and continuing past the track where Sir Roger Bannister broke the first ever four-minute mile in May 1954 at Iffley Road, over Magdalen Bridge, breezing past the world-famous university college grounds, the city’s iconic spires and continuing through the beautiful Christchurch Meadow.
Crossing Folly Bridge, then heading south onto the scenic Thames Path, before joining Oxford Road. Complete your challenge and cross the finish line in the Kassam, in front of the roaring crowds!
Final details for the Oxford Half Marathon are yet to be finalised but keep an eye on the event's website
Thank you to Oxford man Stuart Crook who has already signed up to support Play2Give.
Please contact Andrew Baker if you would like to take part.
Roll Up, Roll Up Buy a Ticket and Help a Local Child! - 19 June 2014
Raffle tickets are now available for this year's raffle as part of July's Play2Give football tournament
Prizes have been pouring in over the last few weeks. Tickets are now available to purchase, and to stand with a chance to winning over 30 fantastic prizes that have been donated by local companies and kind-hearted individuals, buy yours today and help a local child. Help Play2Give in its fundraising goal, with next month'sfootball fun day, by supporting the purchase of raffle tickets.
As always, the raffle is a star attraction of this annual event for the Oxford Children's Hospital. This year is no exception, and we are hoping for another sell-out of tickets, as last year's event saw all raffle tickets sell by the lunchtime and raised a record £660.50 - the highest ever as part of the raffle for the football tournament in history!
Raffle tickets are available at just 50p each, or £2.50 a book, and all proceeds raised from the raffle along with the event itself on June 16th, all goes to the Children's Hospital Charity. All helping fund top notch medical specialist equipment and facilities above and beyond NHS standard treating tens of thousands of young patients. If you would like some, or can help sell some, please contact us.
There are lots of superb prizes up for grabs ranging from: a Sunday carvery for four at any Four Pillars Hotel, to a Miele hoover to Oxford United match-day tickets, £50 cash, £60 M&S vouchers, 1/2 a days gardening, a Day at the Races to much much more!!
We look forward to a fantastic day on Sunday July 13th. And hope that the raffle will help this year's footballing fun day raise just as much if not more than last year, in which we aim for the biggest and best event yet - and with 18 childrens teams registered we are on course for our biggest event yet!
With huge thanks to all our wonderful raffle contributors. So come on get your raffle tickets now while they last!
Raffle tickets are now available for this year's raffle as part of July's Play2Give football tournament
Prizes have been pouring in over the last few weeks. Tickets are now available to purchase, and to stand with a chance to winning over 30 fantastic prizes that have been donated by local companies and kind-hearted individuals, buy yours today and help a local child. Help Play2Give in its fundraising goal, with next month'sfootball fun day, by supporting the purchase of raffle tickets.
As always, the raffle is a star attraction of this annual event for the Oxford Children's Hospital. This year is no exception, and we are hoping for another sell-out of tickets, as last year's event saw all raffle tickets sell by the lunchtime and raised a record £660.50 - the highest ever as part of the raffle for the football tournament in history!
Raffle tickets are available at just 50p each, or £2.50 a book, and all proceeds raised from the raffle along with the event itself on June 16th, all goes to the Children's Hospital Charity. All helping fund top notch medical specialist equipment and facilities above and beyond NHS standard treating tens of thousands of young patients. If you would like some, or can help sell some, please contact us.
There are lots of superb prizes up for grabs ranging from: a Sunday carvery for four at any Four Pillars Hotel, to a Miele hoover to Oxford United match-day tickets, £50 cash, £60 M&S vouchers, 1/2 a days gardening, a Day at the Races to much much more!!
We look forward to a fantastic day on Sunday July 13th. And hope that the raffle will help this year's footballing fun day raise just as much if not more than last year, in which we aim for the biggest and best event yet - and with 18 childrens teams registered we are on course for our biggest event yet!
With huge thanks to all our wonderful raffle contributors. So come on get your raffle tickets now while they last!
The Play2Givers team
Play2Givers Help OX5 for CHOX Smash a Record £112k! - 16 June 2014
Back in March the 'Play2Givers' team of a fantastic five of Andrew's friends and relatives took part in the annual Oxford Mail OX5 Run, the Oxford Children's Hospital's annual fun run.
Well, yesterday it was announced that the OX5, (this year in its 12th year), has smashed all previous totals and broken its fundraising target of £100k by raising £112,000 - and by the time the hospital receives more sponsorship and gift aid, the final total could be even higher!
This is a little in thanks to the spritely athletic bunch of Play2Givers who ran, jogged, walked, panted round the beautiful Blenheim Palace grounds - and between us as a team, Play2Give helped put £472.50 into the OX5's grand total this year!
Huge thanks and well done to everyone in the team - Elaine Childs, Patrick Mills, Robert Bailey-Day, James Churchward and Thomas Churchward, who competed to make up our team this year, and to everyone who helped the Oxford Children's Hospital's poorly patients by raising big smiles and running 5 miles breaking records for top of the range medical equipment, upgrading of facilities and comfort and sensory items that only fundraising can pay for above and beyond NHS standard.
Oxford Mail: OX5 Run sets new record by raising £112,000
Back in March the 'Play2Givers' team of a fantastic five of Andrew's friends and relatives took part in the annual Oxford Mail OX5 Run, the Oxford Children's Hospital's annual fun run.
Well, yesterday it was announced that the OX5, (this year in its 12th year), has smashed all previous totals and broken its fundraising target of £100k by raising £112,000 - and by the time the hospital receives more sponsorship and gift aid, the final total could be even higher!
This is a little in thanks to the spritely athletic bunch of Play2Givers who ran, jogged, walked, panted round the beautiful Blenheim Palace grounds - and between us as a team, Play2Give helped put £472.50 into the OX5's grand total this year!
Huge thanks and well done to everyone in the team - Elaine Childs, Patrick Mills, Robert Bailey-Day, James Churchward and Thomas Churchward, who competed to make up our team this year, and to everyone who helped the Oxford Children's Hospital's poorly patients by raising big smiles and running 5 miles breaking records for top of the range medical equipment, upgrading of facilities and comfort and sensory items that only fundraising can pay for above and beyond NHS standard.
Oxford Mail: OX5 Run sets new record by raising £112,000
Chipper the Squirrel
Chipper and Peppa Make Activity Week an Arty Success - 9 June 2014
A kids activity week ''Flashop Minis' organised and run by Art Haus Club last week has been an arty success - and added to Play2Give's coffers.
Natalie Bright, who runs the company, set up this year's Kids Activity Week, the resounding success that was 'Flashop Minis', held from 2nd-8th June, in partnership with Play2Give and through a super duper raffle of prizes donated by Wantage companies, a magnificent £150 was raised - this will be split by Play2Give between theChildren's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe's Paediatric Eye Fund.
Even Chipper the Squirrel from Didcot's The Treehouse Playcentre and Peppa Pig made special apperances at the weekend and went down a storm with all the children taking part in this fun-packed week of colouring and artistic fun, to face painting and crafty sessions. Huge thank you to Natalie for her unstinting wonderful support. We look forward to next year's week and working on more fundraising opportunities with Creative Haus in the near future!
Visit the website www.arthausclub.co.uk to find out more.
A kids activity week ''Flashop Minis' organised and run by Art Haus Club last week has been an arty success - and added to Play2Give's coffers.
Natalie Bright, who runs the company, set up this year's Kids Activity Week, the resounding success that was 'Flashop Minis', held from 2nd-8th June, in partnership with Play2Give and through a super duper raffle of prizes donated by Wantage companies, a magnificent £150 was raised - this will be split by Play2Give between theChildren's Hospital, Headway Oxfordshire and the John Radcliffe's Paediatric Eye Fund.
Even Chipper the Squirrel from Didcot's The Treehouse Playcentre and Peppa Pig made special apperances at the weekend and went down a storm with all the children taking part in this fun-packed week of colouring and artistic fun, to face painting and crafty sessions. Huge thank you to Natalie for her unstinting wonderful support. We look forward to next year's week and working on more fundraising opportunities with Creative Haus in the near future!
Visit the website www.arthausclub.co.uk to find out more.
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Sainsbury's Serves Up More Fantastic Funds - 4 June 2014
The support from Sainsbury's just keeps on coming - with another fantastic amount raised by both Didcot and Wantage recently.
'Live Well for Less' certainly rings true as the lovely customers and staff of both supermarkets have served up over £299 between them recently.
In January, Sainsbury's Wantage joined our band aid crusade by taking stocks of our 'Play2Give' wristbands for the Oxford Children's Hospital following in their Didcot counterparts direction, and in just a month they raised a fantastic £105.66 at customer services! Sainsbury's Didcot have added to their unstinting support by notching up another £193.61 supporting Play2Give with the second books stall which was held between 29th-31st May at the store. In April the store in the Orchard Centre held the first 'second hand books sale' for Play2Give, and was such a success it has become a regular fixture in their fundraising support for Play2Give. In April £270.73 was raised and this helped Play2Give donate £135 to both the Oxford Children's Hospital and the John Radcliffe'sPaediatric Eye Fund.
The second such stall added £193.61 and this has been shared between Headway Oxfordshire and the Paediatric Eye Fund of over £96 between them.
Thank you to both Sainsbury's and their lovely customers and staff for their ongoing and amazing support over the last year. Sainsbury's Didcot have raised £647.82 in total for Play2Give's campaign since last July through wristbands, collection tins and the book stalls and we are hugely grateful!
Headway Oxfordshire, the local brain injury charity for adults, was boosted by £96.81 handed over recently through half the proceeds raised by our collection at Sainsbury's Didcot at the end of May.
The money - with £96.80 collected for the Paediatric Eye Fund - will help Headway Oxfordshire in its £150,000 fundraising drive - its current biggest campaign - for the redevelopment of their Activity and Rehabilitation Centre in Kennington. Like so many others, our very own Andrew Baker attends the centre every Tuesday as part of his ongoing rehabilitation, and this donation will make a huge difference, as the thank you letter from Charlotte Carlisle, of Headway, explains, left.
Headway Oxfordshire relies entirely on fundraising to continue its good work and support services across Oxfordshire for all those affected by an acquired brain injury, providing practical support and advice to their families and carers.
See our page for more about Headway Oxfordshire and how you can get involved and help make the goal for the new centre a reality, or alternatively visit their official website where all their latest events are listed.
Story updated June 13th 2014
The support from Sainsbury's just keeps on coming - with another fantastic amount raised by both Didcot and Wantage recently.
'Live Well for Less' certainly rings true as the lovely customers and staff of both supermarkets have served up over £299 between them recently.
In January, Sainsbury's Wantage joined our band aid crusade by taking stocks of our 'Play2Give' wristbands for the Oxford Children's Hospital following in their Didcot counterparts direction, and in just a month they raised a fantastic £105.66 at customer services! Sainsbury's Didcot have added to their unstinting support by notching up another £193.61 supporting Play2Give with the second books stall which was held between 29th-31st May at the store. In April the store in the Orchard Centre held the first 'second hand books sale' for Play2Give, and was such a success it has become a regular fixture in their fundraising support for Play2Give. In April £270.73 was raised and this helped Play2Give donate £135 to both the Oxford Children's Hospital and the John Radcliffe'sPaediatric Eye Fund.
The second such stall added £193.61 and this has been shared between Headway Oxfordshire and the Paediatric Eye Fund of over £96 between them.
Thank you to both Sainsbury's and their lovely customers and staff for their ongoing and amazing support over the last year. Sainsbury's Didcot have raised £647.82 in total for Play2Give's campaign since last July through wristbands, collection tins and the book stalls and we are hugely grateful!
Headway Oxfordshire, the local brain injury charity for adults, was boosted by £96.81 handed over recently through half the proceeds raised by our collection at Sainsbury's Didcot at the end of May.
The money - with £96.80 collected for the Paediatric Eye Fund - will help Headway Oxfordshire in its £150,000 fundraising drive - its current biggest campaign - for the redevelopment of their Activity and Rehabilitation Centre in Kennington. Like so many others, our very own Andrew Baker attends the centre every Tuesday as part of his ongoing rehabilitation, and this donation will make a huge difference, as the thank you letter from Charlotte Carlisle, of Headway, explains, left.
Headway Oxfordshire relies entirely on fundraising to continue its good work and support services across Oxfordshire for all those affected by an acquired brain injury, providing practical support and advice to their families and carers.
See our page for more about Headway Oxfordshire and how you can get involved and help make the goal for the new centre a reality, or alternatively visit their official website where all their latest events are listed.
Story updated June 13th 2014
Football Tournament Shaping Up To Be a Perfect Goal - 2 June 2014
This summer's Play2Give football tournament in aid of the Oxford Children's Hospital is looking set to be a perfect match of the day - and entries for teams are now closed!
Due to amazing response from teams this year, entries into this July's fundraising tournament have now closed and we have 17 boys teams ready to do battle on the footbal field!
The tournament, once again in aid of the hospital, takes place on July 13th at the home of Oxford City Football Club and looks set to help break records this year - with Play2Give's start to 2014 having been a storming success! We are on course for a record breaking year in terms of funds raised for the charities we support.
This year will see under 9s and under 10s from Didcot to Crowmarsh to Oxford City to Summertown, Yarnton and even a team from Newbury descend onto the 3G arena pitches at the football ground in a bid to raise scores - and money - for children in hospital less fortunate.
Our sponsors Breckon & Breckon will be providing fun with a coconut shy, and JACK FM will be providing music all day long adding to a great atmosphere!
We have over 30 fantastic prizes in our raffle, and the draw will be held on the early afternoon. Raffle tickets will be available to buy soon. Arsenal FC have also once again donated a signed picture signed by the first team squad and anyone wishing to make a bid should contact us.
This summer's Play2Give football tournament in aid of the Oxford Children's Hospital is looking set to be a perfect match of the day - and entries for teams are now closed!
Due to amazing response from teams this year, entries into this July's fundraising tournament have now closed and we have 17 boys teams ready to do battle on the footbal field!
The tournament, once again in aid of the hospital, takes place on July 13th at the home of Oxford City Football Club and looks set to help break records this year - with Play2Give's start to 2014 having been a storming success! We are on course for a record breaking year in terms of funds raised for the charities we support.
This year will see under 9s and under 10s from Didcot to Crowmarsh to Oxford City to Summertown, Yarnton and even a team from Newbury descend onto the 3G arena pitches at the football ground in a bid to raise scores - and money - for children in hospital less fortunate.
Our sponsors Breckon & Breckon will be providing fun with a coconut shy, and JACK FM will be providing music all day long adding to a great atmosphere!
We have over 30 fantastic prizes in our raffle, and the draw will be held on the early afternoon. Raffle tickets will be available to buy soon. Arsenal FC have also once again donated a signed picture signed by the first team squad and anyone wishing to make a bid should contact us.
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Andrew gives the thumbs up!
Bookworms and Easter Brings a Cracking Sum - 23 April 2014
Sainsbury's in Didcot have added to their fantastic support to Play2Give by opening up a second-hand book-sale with all proceeds supporting the work of Play2Give.
Our own Andrew Baker, aided by supermarket workers, was present on Easter Saturday and again on Easter Monday with a Play2Give stall, where book-worms grabbed bargain books at just 50p each aiding the Oxford Children's Hospital and the Paediatric Eye Fund at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Sainsbury's in Didcot introduced the initiative for Sport Relief in March, and due to the overwhelming response and number of second-hand books donated by the stores customers and staff, the supermarket is opening up the initiative to support more locally-based charities and fundraising groups, such as Play2Give, the first to benefit from this page-turning concept.
A eggs-cellent total of £270.73 was raised over the Easter weekend by lots of very generous and kind-hearted customers and staff at the store, who are huge supporters of Play2Give, as they also continue to sell Play2Give's wristbands for the hospital at customer services.
Play2Give will be back to raise more funds in its 2014 appeal at the store with more book-sales in the coming weeks!!
Andrew is pictured giving everyone the 'thumbs-up'! It was a cracking result for sure!! THANK YOU EVERYONE!
Sainsbury's in Didcot have added to their fantastic support to Play2Give by opening up a second-hand book-sale with all proceeds supporting the work of Play2Give.
Our own Andrew Baker, aided by supermarket workers, was present on Easter Saturday and again on Easter Monday with a Play2Give stall, where book-worms grabbed bargain books at just 50p each aiding the Oxford Children's Hospital and the Paediatric Eye Fund at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Sainsbury's in Didcot introduced the initiative for Sport Relief in March, and due to the overwhelming response and number of second-hand books donated by the stores customers and staff, the supermarket is opening up the initiative to support more locally-based charities and fundraising groups, such as Play2Give, the first to benefit from this page-turning concept.
A eggs-cellent total of £270.73 was raised over the Easter weekend by lots of very generous and kind-hearted customers and staff at the store, who are huge supporters of Play2Give, as they also continue to sell Play2Give's wristbands for the hospital at customer services.
Play2Give will be back to raise more funds in its 2014 appeal at the store with more book-sales in the coming weeks!!
Andrew is pictured giving everyone the 'thumbs-up'! It was a cracking result for sure!! THANK YOU EVERYONE!
The Super Six: Play2Givers
Play2Givers 2014 Conquers OX5RUN 2014 - 30 March 2014
Raising Big Smiles By Running Five Miles
Every March the Oxford Mail OX5RUN is held as the annual big fundraiser of the year for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
This fantastic 5-mile fun run takes place in the beautiful grounds of Blenheim Palace, and every year raises tens of thousands of pounds for children's causes across the hospital.
This year, 2014 was a record run with 1,450 registered for the OX5 Run just days before - smashing all records and is on course to hopefully set a new figure raised for this annual run by a hopeful £100,000!! In 2013, the run on a bitterly freezing Sunday morning broke records and raised £98,000 for the Children's Hospital but this years event on March 30th - once again contested with a Play2Give team included - was the biggest ever in its 12-year history!
Play2Give's team of 5 made up of friends and relatives of our Andrew Baker were amongst the 1,450 and a staggering number of teams who pounded the Blenheim Palace grounds. Last year Andrew's Play2Givers raised over £3,000 as a combined team effort between 7 runners! In 2014, it is estimated the Play2Givers team have already raised around £550 already!!!
Huge thank you to the Play2Give team all 5 of them who all completed the run by 1 hour and 11 minutes, with Andrew's two nephews being the most speedy of all team members with James (below) finishing in a fantastic 37 minutes without much training build-up and his first ever OX5Run!! Elaine Childs, Rob Bailey-Day, Patrick Mills, James Churchward and Thomas Churchward were the fabulous five representing Team Play2Give this year. Well done guys for a tremendous effort!
Raising Big Smiles By Running Five Miles
Every March the Oxford Mail OX5RUN is held as the annual big fundraiser of the year for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
This fantastic 5-mile fun run takes place in the beautiful grounds of Blenheim Palace, and every year raises tens of thousands of pounds for children's causes across the hospital.
This year, 2014 was a record run with 1,450 registered for the OX5 Run just days before - smashing all records and is on course to hopefully set a new figure raised for this annual run by a hopeful £100,000!! In 2013, the run on a bitterly freezing Sunday morning broke records and raised £98,000 for the Children's Hospital but this years event on March 30th - once again contested with a Play2Give team included - was the biggest ever in its 12-year history!
Play2Give's team of 5 made up of friends and relatives of our Andrew Baker were amongst the 1,450 and a staggering number of teams who pounded the Blenheim Palace grounds. Last year Andrew's Play2Givers raised over £3,000 as a combined team effort between 7 runners! In 2014, it is estimated the Play2Givers team have already raised around £550 already!!!
Huge thank you to the Play2Give team all 5 of them who all completed the run by 1 hour and 11 minutes, with Andrew's two nephews being the most speedy of all team members with James (below) finishing in a fantastic 37 minutes without much training build-up and his first ever OX5Run!! Elaine Childs, Rob Bailey-Day, Patrick Mills, James Churchward and Thomas Churchward were the fabulous five representing Team Play2Give this year. Well done guys for a tremendous effort!
Play2Give Spring Newsletter - 26 March 2014
Our Spring newsletter is now available to read...
In this edition news on our record breaking fundraising party, the date of our football fun day for 2014, Mya Harris is the Pride of Oxfordshire and the link to view our short-promo video showcasing our annual fundraising football fun day, which returns this summer.
Download
Our Spring newsletter is now available to read...
In this edition news on our record breaking fundraising party, the date of our football fun day for 2014, Mya Harris is the Pride of Oxfordshire and the link to view our short-promo video showcasing our annual fundraising football fun day, which returns this summer.
Download
Mya Harris: Pride of Oxfordshire
Mya Is Pride of Oxfordshire - 18 March 2014
We are delighted to report that a friend and inspiration to Play2Give, Mya Harris, has been crowned Pride of Oxfordshire at this year's Oxfordshire Youth Awards.
Young Mya (daughter of Dale, a co-organiser of Play2Give) received her award in front of a packed Oxford New Theatre arena of 1,800 on Monday, March 17th.
Mya was named as winner in the Pride of Oxfordshire category. Out of an amazing 35 contenders, Mya made it through as one of 3 finalists. Mya won her award for showing courage and inspirational resilience, positivity and strength of character in the face of challenging life circumstances. For Mya the result after being born with Spina Bifida in 2002.
Mya has undergone 30 operations at the Oxford Children's Hospital, and has been an inspirational ambassador in encouraging funds to be raised for the hospital - through starring in a promotional video for the OX5 Run in 2012, to just raising lots of inspiration to other people to run the OX5 amongst Team Mya, and being the 'unofficial' face of fundraising over many years. In September 2003, on the first birthday of the fundraising appeal for the building of the Oxford Children's Hospital, Mya starred in the Oxford Mail with Dale and mum Leah to encourage people to carry on raising money for the £15 million that was needed to be raised to get the hospital built.
Mya underwent major surgery in the first 24 hours of her life to close a hole in her spine, and has suffered a multitude of different medical conditions ever since, including Hydrocephalus and hip reconstruction surgery to line up her body. She spends nearly all of her life confined to a wheelchair, but her positivity and strength of character to overcome so many obstacles and medical interventions to lead a determined life shone through this year's youth awards. Mya is a huge inspiration to everyone involved with Play2Give and the Oxford Children's Hospital!!
Our Andrew sat on the youth awards judging panel back in February, with the committee selecting the winners and finalists from a shortlist, and so choosing the winner of Pride of Oxfordshire was no easy feat.
This year the awards received a record breaking 700 nominations of young people and groups put forward across 7 categories, and with a packed arena at the New Theatre of 1,800 the awards was a huge night. With 11 perfomances from local young Oxfordshire talent including a very bendy flexible Tyler Jacobson, who hula hooped on stage, to The Ultrasounds, an all-male all-medic a cappella group to Jack Bushrod, a rap/hip hop artist and Messy Jam a community based dance school group, to many more, to hundreds of shining stars all in one room to find out who was named winners and finalists in each category. It was the biggest and best Oxfordshire Youth Awards to date!
Huge well done Mya - you really deserved it!
We are delighted to report that a friend and inspiration to Play2Give, Mya Harris, has been crowned Pride of Oxfordshire at this year's Oxfordshire Youth Awards.
Young Mya (daughter of Dale, a co-organiser of Play2Give) received her award in front of a packed Oxford New Theatre arena of 1,800 on Monday, March 17th.
Mya was named as winner in the Pride of Oxfordshire category. Out of an amazing 35 contenders, Mya made it through as one of 3 finalists. Mya won her award for showing courage and inspirational resilience, positivity and strength of character in the face of challenging life circumstances. For Mya the result after being born with Spina Bifida in 2002.
Mya has undergone 30 operations at the Oxford Children's Hospital, and has been an inspirational ambassador in encouraging funds to be raised for the hospital - through starring in a promotional video for the OX5 Run in 2012, to just raising lots of inspiration to other people to run the OX5 amongst Team Mya, and being the 'unofficial' face of fundraising over many years. In September 2003, on the first birthday of the fundraising appeal for the building of the Oxford Children's Hospital, Mya starred in the Oxford Mail with Dale and mum Leah to encourage people to carry on raising money for the £15 million that was needed to be raised to get the hospital built.
Mya underwent major surgery in the first 24 hours of her life to close a hole in her spine, and has suffered a multitude of different medical conditions ever since, including Hydrocephalus and hip reconstruction surgery to line up her body. She spends nearly all of her life confined to a wheelchair, but her positivity and strength of character to overcome so many obstacles and medical interventions to lead a determined life shone through this year's youth awards. Mya is a huge inspiration to everyone involved with Play2Give and the Oxford Children's Hospital!!
Our Andrew sat on the youth awards judging panel back in February, with the committee selecting the winners and finalists from a shortlist, and so choosing the winner of Pride of Oxfordshire was no easy feat.
This year the awards received a record breaking 700 nominations of young people and groups put forward across 7 categories, and with a packed arena at the New Theatre of 1,800 the awards was a huge night. With 11 perfomances from local young Oxfordshire talent including a very bendy flexible Tyler Jacobson, who hula hooped on stage, to The Ultrasounds, an all-male all-medic a cappella group to Jack Bushrod, a rap/hip hop artist and Messy Jam a community based dance school group, to many more, to hundreds of shining stars all in one room to find out who was named winners and finalists in each category. It was the biggest and best Oxfordshire Youth Awards to date!
Huge well done Mya - you really deserved it!
Mya: very proud winner of Pride of Oxfordshire with dad Dale
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Mya, Dale and Andrew backstage after the awards
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Didcot Supermarkets Ringing in the Cash - 16 March 2014
Two Didcot supermarkets have rung in the cash over recent weeks both helping boost our coffers this year for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Both Sainsbury's and Tesco have been supporting Play2Give, and have raised £110.48 between them.
Staunch supporters Sainsbury's joined our fundraising crusade last summer, and have been selling our wristbands at customer services and driving donations not just from the bands but spare loose change from the pockets of customers and staff into the collection tin. By last October, in just over 2 months of their first cash collection, they injected our funds supporting the hospital with £110. Now, after their second instalment of tin topping, they have raised an additional £75.48.
Tesco staff at the store on Wallingford Road have added £35 towards our 2014 fundraising efforts for the hospital at the John Radcliffe, through selling wristbands in the staff canteen, and through a couple of the ladies undertaking a sponsored slim.
We are incredibly grateful to both supermarkets for their super support towards Play2Give. Our wristbands continue to be available across several outlets in Didcot, so get yours today, donate a quid for a kid and make lives better for those youngsters in hospital!
Play2Give wristbands at a minimum £1 wristband can be brought from both Sainsbury's on Station Road, Didcot and from Wantage's store on Limborough Road, Newbury Building Society on the Broadway in Didcot, Zoddy Tattoos on Wantage Road, Spirit 2 Hair Salon on the Broadway, Didcot, and Hook and Eye on Corn Street, Witney. Alternatively, please contact us to have a band sent out to you, or to offer to stock supplies of these stylish red bands.
Since the wristbands were debuted at our fundraising football tournament last June, they have gone on to raise over £320 to date!
Two Didcot supermarkets have rung in the cash over recent weeks both helping boost our coffers this year for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Both Sainsbury's and Tesco have been supporting Play2Give, and have raised £110.48 between them.
Staunch supporters Sainsbury's joined our fundraising crusade last summer, and have been selling our wristbands at customer services and driving donations not just from the bands but spare loose change from the pockets of customers and staff into the collection tin. By last October, in just over 2 months of their first cash collection, they injected our funds supporting the hospital with £110. Now, after their second instalment of tin topping, they have raised an additional £75.48.
Tesco staff at the store on Wallingford Road have added £35 towards our 2014 fundraising efforts for the hospital at the John Radcliffe, through selling wristbands in the staff canteen, and through a couple of the ladies undertaking a sponsored slim.
We are incredibly grateful to both supermarkets for their super support towards Play2Give. Our wristbands continue to be available across several outlets in Didcot, so get yours today, donate a quid for a kid and make lives better for those youngsters in hospital!
Play2Give wristbands at a minimum £1 wristband can be brought from both Sainsbury's on Station Road, Didcot and from Wantage's store on Limborough Road, Newbury Building Society on the Broadway in Didcot, Zoddy Tattoos on Wantage Road, Spirit 2 Hair Salon on the Broadway, Didcot, and Hook and Eye on Corn Street, Witney. Alternatively, please contact us to have a band sent out to you, or to offer to stock supplies of these stylish red bands.
Since the wristbands were debuted at our fundraising football tournament last June, they have gone on to raise over £320 to date!
Skinhead was the order of the night for Andrew
Hello to Beckham Baker as Andrew Becomes Scalped - 28 February 2014
'Hair today, gone tomorrow...!' That was literally the case for Play2Give's very own Andrew Baker, who encountered his very own hair-raising experience on the night of February 22nd 2014!
As part of the Play2Give Fundraising Party, which was held to raise money for the Oxford Children's Hospital(CHOX) and the John Radcliffe's Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF), Andrew was dragged into the chair and braved a bald feat - he said 'goodbye' to his hair as a very lovely lady hairdresser go to work and shaved off his barnet to raise funds for the two charities, and has helped the fundraising evening's grand total to over a healthy and record-breaking £1,000+ !!
Andrew, who aimed to raise £250 in total (60% for Chox and 40% for PEF) and an additional £50 for Headway Oxfordshire, was celebrating achieving his 10-year of fundraising support for the Oxford Children's Hospital which he accomplished in 2013, at the evening of entertainment which was part the reason behind becoming scalped.
Andrew has now raised over £700 for all 3 charities, close to his heart. Thank you to everyone who has supported him!!
This fun, entertainment evening also celebrated the success of Play2Give over the past six years. The evening organised by both Andrew and fellow friend and supporter Ross Downes (founder-volunteer of PEF) was a record breaker, as the evening raised the most money ever than any other previous Play2Give night ever held over the years.
Andrew braved the cold and hilarity live on the night in a packed room at the Marlborough Club in Didcot, and now sports a very cool and well-suited skinhead. Andrew was first in the chair on the dancefloor and was followed by several other chaps who also raised money though sponsored head shaves.
Read the Oxfordshire Guardian write-up
You can help Andrew in his fundraising goal by sponsoring him at the button below
'Hair today, gone tomorrow...!' That was literally the case for Play2Give's very own Andrew Baker, who encountered his very own hair-raising experience on the night of February 22nd 2014!
As part of the Play2Give Fundraising Party, which was held to raise money for the Oxford Children's Hospital(CHOX) and the John Radcliffe's Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF), Andrew was dragged into the chair and braved a bald feat - he said 'goodbye' to his hair as a very lovely lady hairdresser go to work and shaved off his barnet to raise funds for the two charities, and has helped the fundraising evening's grand total to over a healthy and record-breaking £1,000+ !!
Andrew, who aimed to raise £250 in total (60% for Chox and 40% for PEF) and an additional £50 for Headway Oxfordshire, was celebrating achieving his 10-year of fundraising support for the Oxford Children's Hospital which he accomplished in 2013, at the evening of entertainment which was part the reason behind becoming scalped.
Andrew has now raised over £700 for all 3 charities, close to his heart. Thank you to everyone who has supported him!!
This fun, entertainment evening also celebrated the success of Play2Give over the past six years. The evening organised by both Andrew and fellow friend and supporter Ross Downes (founder-volunteer of PEF) was a record breaker, as the evening raised the most money ever than any other previous Play2Give night ever held over the years.
Andrew braved the cold and hilarity live on the night in a packed room at the Marlborough Club in Didcot, and now sports a very cool and well-suited skinhead. Andrew was first in the chair on the dancefloor and was followed by several other chaps who also raised money though sponsored head shaves.
Read the Oxfordshire Guardian write-up
You can help Andrew in his fundraising goal by sponsoring him at the button below
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Story updated June 19th 2014
Organisers Andrew and Ross
Play2Give Party a Resounding Success - 27 February 2014
Play2Give with support of the Didcot Rugby Club, and organised in association with the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund, held a spectacular fundraising entertainment party raising money for the Oxford Children's Hospital and the Eye Fund on February 22nd, 2014.
The event, generously sponsored by Johnsons Cars Oxford, was a cracking night full of musical entertainment, eating, drinking and hilarity, all host generously by The Marlborough Club in Didcot and included a very hairy dance-floor as brave and daring recruited volunteers from both the rugby club, Andrew himself and other guys of the local Didcot community had their heads shaved or body areas such as legs and arms waxed to rake in lots of coffers for our two charities!
The event was overseen by Andrew Baker with fellow friend and PEF founder-volunteer, Ross Downes. Both are pictured left at the end of the party feeling very triumphed.
From the main attractions of a disco thanks to our fantastic DJs, Impact Disco, our amazing band the Unusual Suspects (a 4-man rock covers group) to head shaves and mini waxes for the willing brave guys, to a large fantastic raffle of 30+ prizes, nibbles and drinks, this evening was a firing success. All proceeds will go towards making life better for the children in hospital and youngsters suffering from eye disease.
The money raised for the Oxford Children's Hospital will help fund the purchase of specialist medical equipment and sensory distraction items and equipment helping to maintain the Children's hospital to its highest standard.
Whilst money raised for the Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF), based at the John Radcliffe in Oxford, raises funds for pioneering equipment and research for children and premature babies suffering many forms of debilitating and potentially sight threatening eye disease. Hundreds of babies are born prematurely in the Oxfordshire region and this can lead to many conditions affecting eye sight specifically.
In supporting PEF we will be helping to purchase an incredible piece of diagnostic equipment that will revolutionise the way and speed these children are being diagnosed.
We are delighted to announce that this year's fundraising evening broke all previous records for any past fundraising evening and has raised over £600+. Once other donations, such as the sponsorship from shaves and waxes come in, the night looks set to have raised an amazing £1,000+ which will make a very real difference to both charities! This is a terrific achievement which has set Play2Give on its way to a successful start to the 2014 year of fundraising for the Children's Hospital! Well done everybody!
View all the pictures from the evening here
It is planned that another future fundraising party may be held next year - watch this space!!
Play2Give with support of the Didcot Rugby Club, and organised in association with the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund, held a spectacular fundraising entertainment party raising money for the Oxford Children's Hospital and the Eye Fund on February 22nd, 2014.
The event, generously sponsored by Johnsons Cars Oxford, was a cracking night full of musical entertainment, eating, drinking and hilarity, all host generously by The Marlborough Club in Didcot and included a very hairy dance-floor as brave and daring recruited volunteers from both the rugby club, Andrew himself and other guys of the local Didcot community had their heads shaved or body areas such as legs and arms waxed to rake in lots of coffers for our two charities!
The event was overseen by Andrew Baker with fellow friend and PEF founder-volunteer, Ross Downes. Both are pictured left at the end of the party feeling very triumphed.
From the main attractions of a disco thanks to our fantastic DJs, Impact Disco, our amazing band the Unusual Suspects (a 4-man rock covers group) to head shaves and mini waxes for the willing brave guys, to a large fantastic raffle of 30+ prizes, nibbles and drinks, this evening was a firing success. All proceeds will go towards making life better for the children in hospital and youngsters suffering from eye disease.
The money raised for the Oxford Children's Hospital will help fund the purchase of specialist medical equipment and sensory distraction items and equipment helping to maintain the Children's hospital to its highest standard.
Whilst money raised for the Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF), based at the John Radcliffe in Oxford, raises funds for pioneering equipment and research for children and premature babies suffering many forms of debilitating and potentially sight threatening eye disease. Hundreds of babies are born prematurely in the Oxfordshire region and this can lead to many conditions affecting eye sight specifically.
In supporting PEF we will be helping to purchase an incredible piece of diagnostic equipment that will revolutionise the way and speed these children are being diagnosed.
We are delighted to announce that this year's fundraising evening broke all previous records for any past fundraising evening and has raised over £600+. Once other donations, such as the sponsorship from shaves and waxes come in, the night looks set to have raised an amazing £1,000+ which will make a very real difference to both charities! This is a terrific achievement which has set Play2Give on its way to a successful start to the 2014 year of fundraising for the Children's Hospital! Well done everybody!
View all the pictures from the evening here
It is planned that another future fundraising party may be held next year - watch this space!!
Launch-off for 2014 fun day. Copyright Newsquest Oxfordshire
Play2Give 2014 Kicking Off Nicely - 15 February 2014
Plans for our 2014 football fundraising tournament in aid of the Oxford Children's Hospital is well and truly underway, with the hope to go bigger and better this year, in both the numbers of participants and the funds raised.
Entries for this year's 7-a-side, which last year was contested by 13 boys teams, are now officially open, with thanks to our friends at the Oxford Mail for helping in our drive by launching the event in today's paper.
Andrew, Teresa and Dale are all pictured left in a photoshoot for the paper outside Elmer Cotton sports shop in Oxford where Dale works. View more about this year's event
Oxford Mail: Play2Give kicks off latest football tournament
Plans for our 2014 football fundraising tournament in aid of the Oxford Children's Hospital is well and truly underway, with the hope to go bigger and better this year, in both the numbers of participants and the funds raised.
Entries for this year's 7-a-side, which last year was contested by 13 boys teams, are now officially open, with thanks to our friends at the Oxford Mail for helping in our drive by launching the event in today's paper.
Andrew, Teresa and Dale are all pictured left in a photoshoot for the paper outside Elmer Cotton sports shop in Oxford where Dale works. View more about this year's event
Oxford Mail: Play2Give kicks off latest football tournament
Recycle Your Inkjets 4 Play2Give - 20 January 2014
You can now support Play2Give in a very simple way by recycling your used inkjet or toner cartridges or even those old mobile phones through recycle4charity.co.uk
As from this month you can sign up to raise funds for your chosen charity, (please select 'Play2Give' when you register), and, for every inkjet recycled, Play2Give will receive at least £1.00 per recycled cartridge - how simple is that!
Please click the banner below to be taken straight to Play2Give's very own intelligent recycling link!
You can now support Play2Give in a very simple way by recycling your used inkjet or toner cartridges or even those old mobile phones through recycle4charity.co.uk
As from this month you can sign up to raise funds for your chosen charity, (please select 'Play2Give' when you register), and, for every inkjet recycled, Play2Give will receive at least £1.00 per recycled cartridge - how simple is that!
Please click the banner below to be taken straight to Play2Give's very own intelligent recycling link!
Recycle your inkjet cartridges and mobile phones to help us raise much needed funds through Recycle4Charity.co.uk
http://www.recycle4charity.co.uk/Register/C52723
Recycle 4 Charity helps thousands of members raise money for their chosen charities, groups and organisations by providing a easy, hassle free, easy to use, custom branded, recycling programme. Launched in 2002, Recycle 4 Charity is the simple way to help the environment, with no cost to the fundraiser, whilst raising money for your charity of choice - and as a fundraising organisation you can select to support Play2Give and help us in our good work to continue raising money for the Oxfordshire causes we help, such as the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Since 2002, over £804,841 has been raised for thousands of charities, groups, schools and organisations! That's 292,627kg kept out of landfill!
Recycle4charity.co.uk is a commercial fundraising initiative run by BCMY LTD.
http://www.recycle4charity.co.uk/Register/C52723
Recycle 4 Charity helps thousands of members raise money for their chosen charities, groups and organisations by providing a easy, hassle free, easy to use, custom branded, recycling programme. Launched in 2002, Recycle 4 Charity is the simple way to help the environment, with no cost to the fundraiser, whilst raising money for your charity of choice - and as a fundraising organisation you can select to support Play2Give and help us in our good work to continue raising money for the Oxfordshire causes we help, such as the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Since 2002, over £804,841 has been raised for thousands of charities, groups, schools and organisations! That's 292,627kg kept out of landfill!
Recycle4charity.co.uk is a commercial fundraising initiative run by BCMY LTD.
Calling All Young Footballers as 2014 Charity Tournament Opens - 10 January 2014
The call is out to all the budding Beckham's and Lampard's of the future as entries for this year's fundraising football tournament is now open!
The tournament returns on Sunday 13th July once again raising money for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
This hotly contested 7-a-side tournament is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and every year raises thousands of pounds for the very latest top of the range medical equipment and facilities at the children's hospital above and beyond what the NHS can afford to provide.
Entries are now open to all under 9s and under 10s boys teams from across Oxfordshire and we would love to see as many teams take part on the 3G Arena pitches at Oxford City Football Club to help raise lots of money with children helping children in hospital.
Last year 13 teams took part across the ages of under 8s and under 9s and helped Play2Give to raise over £4,810 in total for the Children's Hospital. In 2012, in our first time of running a children's format tournament, we raised over £5,000.
Play2Give has raised over £22,100 for Oxfordshire charities including over £18,000 of this for the Children's Hospital since 2007.
To enter this very special tournament for charity, email organisers Andrew Baker at play2give@hotmail.com or Dale Harris on info@elmercottonoxford.co.uk. Or click here to read further information about this year's event.
Watch the video below to get a taste of what our annual event held at Oxford City Football Club's ground is like, kindly filmed and produced by SH Creative.
The call is out to all the budding Beckham's and Lampard's of the future as entries for this year's fundraising football tournament is now open!
The tournament returns on Sunday 13th July once again raising money for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
This hotly contested 7-a-side tournament is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and every year raises thousands of pounds for the very latest top of the range medical equipment and facilities at the children's hospital above and beyond what the NHS can afford to provide.
Entries are now open to all under 9s and under 10s boys teams from across Oxfordshire and we would love to see as many teams take part on the 3G Arena pitches at Oxford City Football Club to help raise lots of money with children helping children in hospital.
Last year 13 teams took part across the ages of under 8s and under 9s and helped Play2Give to raise over £4,810 in total for the Children's Hospital. In 2012, in our first time of running a children's format tournament, we raised over £5,000.
Play2Give has raised over £22,100 for Oxfordshire charities including over £18,000 of this for the Children's Hospital since 2007.
To enter this very special tournament for charity, email organisers Andrew Baker at play2give@hotmail.com or Dale Harris on info@elmercottonoxford.co.uk. Or click here to read further information about this year's event.
Watch the video below to get a taste of what our annual event held at Oxford City Football Club's ground is like, kindly filmed and produced by SH Creative.
The day will also see on the side fun entertainment such as a coconut shy for all the families to enjoy, Jack FM Oxfordshire providing music all day long, as well as refreshments and our ever popular event raffle. Read about the 2013 event
With thanks to our sponsors Breckon & Breckon who are generously funding the entire event for the 3rd year, Newbury Building Society and Elmer Cotton.
With thanks to our sponsors Breckon & Breckon who are generously funding the entire event for the 3rd year, Newbury Building Society and Elmer Cotton.
An Evening of Play2Giving 4 Entertaining Shaping Up Nicely - 10 January 2014
Our fundraising evening next month is looking to be a great evening of entertainment thanks to one band and a big-hearted business.
'An Evening of Play2Giving 4 Entertaining' takes place on Saturday February 22nd and an event in collaboration with Didcot Rugby Club and the Oxford Paediatric Eye Fund charity.
With huge thanks to Johnsons Cars Oxford who have come forward to generously give their name, money and support as sponsors. We are incredibly indebt for their wonderful philanthropy in this way.
The evening, at The Marlborough Club in Didcot and organised by Play2Give's Andrew with PEF volunteer Ross Downes with support of the town's Rugby Club, will be an evening not to be missed with a host of entertainment for all the family and community to enjoy.
With one awesome band, local 4-piece rock covers group, Unusual Suspects, performing to our DJ for the evening providing all the tunes with a disco, to a raffle, food and drinks, we are hoping for a fun filled and packed out evening.
As well as extra hilarity with guys bravely lining up to face the cold with the loss of hairs through sponsored head shaves and waxes, we are hoping to raise hundreds of pounds for two good causes.
Both the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF) and the Oxford Children's Hospital will benefit from the evenings fun, fundraising and shenigians, in what will kick start Play2Give's year of fundraising and an aim to top the £4,812 raised for the Children's Hospital in 2013.
Money this entertaining evening raises will support the purchase of state of the art top of the range specialist medical equipment at the children's hospital that the NHS cannot provide.
The Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF) based at Oxford's Eye Hospital raises funds for pioneering equipment and research for children and premature babies suffering many forms of debilitating and potentially sight threatening eye disease. In raising money for PEF we are hoping to help purchase an incredible piece of diagnostic equipment that will revolutionise the way and speed these children are being diagnosed.
Raffle prizes are pouring in with a wide range of different prizes for all types, and if you, a company or group would like to donate a raffle or auction item, please contact us. View all the prizes that have been donated in our impressive raffle.
The evening kicks off from 7pm and will run until midnight kindly host by The Marlborough Club in Didcot.
Our fundraising evening next month is looking to be a great evening of entertainment thanks to one band and a big-hearted business.
'An Evening of Play2Giving 4 Entertaining' takes place on Saturday February 22nd and an event in collaboration with Didcot Rugby Club and the Oxford Paediatric Eye Fund charity.
With huge thanks to Johnsons Cars Oxford who have come forward to generously give their name, money and support as sponsors. We are incredibly indebt for their wonderful philanthropy in this way.
The evening, at The Marlborough Club in Didcot and organised by Play2Give's Andrew with PEF volunteer Ross Downes with support of the town's Rugby Club, will be an evening not to be missed with a host of entertainment for all the family and community to enjoy.
With one awesome band, local 4-piece rock covers group, Unusual Suspects, performing to our DJ for the evening providing all the tunes with a disco, to a raffle, food and drinks, we are hoping for a fun filled and packed out evening.
As well as extra hilarity with guys bravely lining up to face the cold with the loss of hairs through sponsored head shaves and waxes, we are hoping to raise hundreds of pounds for two good causes.
Both the John Radcliffe Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF) and the Oxford Children's Hospital will benefit from the evenings fun, fundraising and shenigians, in what will kick start Play2Give's year of fundraising and an aim to top the £4,812 raised for the Children's Hospital in 2013.
Money this entertaining evening raises will support the purchase of state of the art top of the range specialist medical equipment at the children's hospital that the NHS cannot provide.
The Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF) based at Oxford's Eye Hospital raises funds for pioneering equipment and research for children and premature babies suffering many forms of debilitating and potentially sight threatening eye disease. In raising money for PEF we are hoping to help purchase an incredible piece of diagnostic equipment that will revolutionise the way and speed these children are being diagnosed.
Raffle prizes are pouring in with a wide range of different prizes for all types, and if you, a company or group would like to donate a raffle or auction item, please contact us. View all the prizes that have been donated in our impressive raffle.
The evening kicks off from 7pm and will run until midnight kindly host by The Marlborough Club in Didcot.
Sainsbury's Wantage Joins Play2Give's Band Aid for Children's Hospital - 9 January 2014
Sainsbury's in Wantage has become the latest supermarket to join forces with Play2Give to bring some band aid to help sick children in hospital.
As of today the store on Limborough Road have become the latest to follow in their counterparts at at Didcot branch's footsteps by selling our wristbands at their customer services desk to support our 2014 appeal for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
The Play2Give fundraising organisation was set up in 2007 and since then has gone on to raise over £22,100 for local charities including over £18,000 for the Children's Hospital
The wristbands are sold for a minimum donation of £1 each and are also available from Sainsbury's in Didcot, Newbury Building Society, Zoddys Tattoos and Spirit 2 Hair Salon all of which are also based in Didcot. Hook and Eye Tattooists and Piercing specialists based on Corn Street, Witney, also stock our stylish bands, above.
As of today the store on Limborough Road have become the latest to follow in their counterparts at at Didcot branch's footsteps by selling our wristbands at their customer services desk to support our 2014 appeal for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
The Play2Give fundraising organisation was set up in 2007 and since then has gone on to raise over £22,100 for local charities including over £18,000 for the Children's Hospital
The wristbands are sold for a minimum donation of £1 each and are also available from Sainsbury's in Didcot, Newbury Building Society, Zoddys Tattoos and Spirit 2 Hair Salon all of which are also based in Didcot. Hook and Eye Tattooists and Piercing specialists based on Corn Street, Witney, also stock our stylish bands, above.
Andrew and Charlotte Spread some Christmas Cheer to Kamran's Ward - 23 December 2013
Our very own Andrew Baker teamed up with friend and fellow supporter, Charlotte Lane, to spread some early Christmas cheer to the Oxford Children's Hospital's Kamran's Ward.
Ho, ho, ho was the order of the day for Charlotte and Andrew in a special festive visit paid by the duo, on the morning of Monday, December 23rd.
Charlotte set up the amnesty to bring smiles and cheer to the children's cancer ward, proudly supported this year for the first time by Andrew.
Both appealed over the last few weeks for donations of new and unwrapped gifts from family and friends, and in the visit handed out toys, gifts, games and items such as blankets to some of the most sick children battling cancer, all of whom will be spending the festive season with their families in the hospital.
It follows a successful 'Easter' campaign that Charlotte, of Wantage, ran earlier this year, when she handed out Easter egg goodies, donated by kind-spirited wellwishers, to the hospital ward.
Charlotte's son, Dylan, has been treated by the hospital after he was born. She also took part in the Children's Hospital's annual abseil this year.
It is hoped to repeat both campaigns in 2014.
Merry Christmas to all the brave children across the hospital, and their equally brave families from all involved with Play2Give.
Ho, ho, ho was the order of the day for Charlotte and Andrew in a special festive visit paid by the duo, on the morning of Monday, December 23rd.
Charlotte set up the amnesty to bring smiles and cheer to the children's cancer ward, proudly supported this year for the first time by Andrew.
Both appealed over the last few weeks for donations of new and unwrapped gifts from family and friends, and in the visit handed out toys, gifts, games and items such as blankets to some of the most sick children battling cancer, all of whom will be spending the festive season with their families in the hospital.
It follows a successful 'Easter' campaign that Charlotte, of Wantage, ran earlier this year, when she handed out Easter egg goodies, donated by kind-spirited wellwishers, to the hospital ward.
Charlotte's son, Dylan, has been treated by the hospital after he was born. She also took part in the Children's Hospital's annual abseil this year.
It is hoped to repeat both campaigns in 2014.
Merry Christmas to all the brave children across the hospital, and their equally brave families from all involved with Play2Give.
Merry Christmas Everyone - 20 December 2013
Play2Give would like to wish all the compliments of the season to YOU, ALL our FAB supporters.
Thank you for helping make Play2Give in 2013 another successful year in our fund-raising for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Thanks to YOU, we enabled just over £4,812 to be donated out to fund some top notch medical equipment that will be brought for the hospital above and beyond what the NHS can afford.
A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone from Andrew Baker, Dale Harris, Teresa Strike and everyone involved with Play2Give this year.
We look forward to your continuing support towards our fund-raising goals for our charities in 2014!
Thank you for helping make Play2Give in 2013 another successful year in our fund-raising for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Thanks to YOU, we enabled just over £4,812 to be donated out to fund some top notch medical equipment that will be brought for the hospital above and beyond what the NHS can afford.
A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone from Andrew Baker, Dale Harris, Teresa Strike and everyone involved with Play2Give this year.
We look forward to your continuing support towards our fund-raising goals for our charities in 2014!
Andrew Baker
Andrew Set for a Hair-raising Experience at Charity Night! - 2 December 2013
'Hair today, gone tomorrow...!'
That will literally will be the case for Play2Give's very own Andrew Baker who is gearing up for a hair-raising experience!
As part of the Play2Give Evening of Fundraising Entertainment in February 2014, being held to raise money for the Oxford Children's Hospital and the Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF), Andrew will leap into the chair and brave a bald feat - he will have his head shaved and his legs waxed to raise funds for the causes.
Andrew, who is aiming to raise £250 in total (60% for Chox and 40% for PEF) and an additional £50 for Headway Oxfordshire, is celebrating achieving his 10-year of fundraising support for the Oxford Children's Hospital which he accomplished in 2013. The evening will also celebrate the success of Play2Give over the past six years. It is hoped the evening will raise many hundreds to benefit both causes.
Andrew will brave the cold and hilarity live on the night in a packed room at the Marlborough Club in Didcot, by becoming shorn and hopes others will join him in his bald brave fundraising experience.
You can help Andrew achieve his fundraising goal by sponsoring him at the button below. Andrew would greatly appreciate any support or spare change that you can afford to help him help these wonderful causes!
'Hair today, gone tomorrow...!'
That will literally will be the case for Play2Give's very own Andrew Baker who is gearing up for a hair-raising experience!
As part of the Play2Give Evening of Fundraising Entertainment in February 2014, being held to raise money for the Oxford Children's Hospital and the Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF), Andrew will leap into the chair and brave a bald feat - he will have his head shaved and his legs waxed to raise funds for the causes.
Andrew, who is aiming to raise £250 in total (60% for Chox and 40% for PEF) and an additional £50 for Headway Oxfordshire, is celebrating achieving his 10-year of fundraising support for the Oxford Children's Hospital which he accomplished in 2013. The evening will also celebrate the success of Play2Give over the past six years. It is hoped the evening will raise many hundreds to benefit both causes.
Andrew will brave the cold and hilarity live on the night in a packed room at the Marlborough Club in Didcot, by becoming shorn and hopes others will join him in his bald brave fundraising experience.
You can help Andrew achieve his fundraising goal by sponsoring him at the button below. Andrew would greatly appreciate any support or spare change that you can afford to help him help these wonderful causes!
A Night of Play2Giving 4 Entertaining Set to Be Hair-Raising! - 2 December 2013
Come join us for an evening of entertainment for charity including our very own Andrew Baker having his head shaved!
Play2Give and Didcot Rugby Club in association with the Oxford Paediatric Eye Fund are teaming up to host a collaborative fundraising evening raising money for the Oxford Children's Hospital and the Paediatric Eye Fund on February 22nd.
With huge thanks to our wonderful sponsors for the event Johnsons Cars Oxford based on Botley Road, Oxford.
The event will be an evening of fun and entertainment host generously by The Marlborough Club in Didcot and will include lots of entertaining amusement. From the main attractions of a disco from our DJ DJJB, to our band for the night, 4-piece rock group, Unusual Suspects, to sponsored head shaves and mini waxes for the willing brave guys, to a raffle and food and drinks, all proceeds will go towards making life better for the children in hospital and youngsters suffering from eye disease.
An Evening of Play2Giving 4 Entertaining Sponsored by Johnsons Cars Oxford
Date: Saturday 22nd February 2014
Venue: The Marlborough Club, 227 Broadway, Didcot. OX11 8RU
Time: From 7pm - 12am
The money raised for the Oxford Children's Hospital will help fund the purchase of specialist medical equipment and sensory distraction items and equipment helping to maintain the Children's hospital to its highest standard.
Whilst money raised for the Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF), based at the John Radcliffe in Oxford, raises funds for pioneering equipment and research for children and premature babies suffering many forms of debilitating and potentially sight threatening eye disease. Hundreds of babies are born prematurely in the Oxfordshire region and this can lead to many conditions affecting eye sight specifically. In supporting PEF we will help to purchase an incredible piece of diagnostic equipment that will revolutionise the way and speed these children are being diagnosed.
As well as raising money for charity, this evening will also celebrate Andrew Baker's amazing achievement of a decade of fundraising for the children's hospital which he achieved in 2013 notching up close to £33,000. We will also celebrate Play2Give's successful 6 years of raising over £22,180 for local charities since 2007!
Come join us for an evening of entertainment for charity including our very own Andrew Baker having his head shaved!
Play2Give and Didcot Rugby Club in association with the Oxford Paediatric Eye Fund are teaming up to host a collaborative fundraising evening raising money for the Oxford Children's Hospital and the Paediatric Eye Fund on February 22nd.
With huge thanks to our wonderful sponsors for the event Johnsons Cars Oxford based on Botley Road, Oxford.
The event will be an evening of fun and entertainment host generously by The Marlborough Club in Didcot and will include lots of entertaining amusement. From the main attractions of a disco from our DJ DJJB, to our band for the night, 4-piece rock group, Unusual Suspects, to sponsored head shaves and mini waxes for the willing brave guys, to a raffle and food and drinks, all proceeds will go towards making life better for the children in hospital and youngsters suffering from eye disease.
An Evening of Play2Giving 4 Entertaining Sponsored by Johnsons Cars Oxford
Date: Saturday 22nd February 2014
Venue: The Marlborough Club, 227 Broadway, Didcot. OX11 8RU
Time: From 7pm - 12am
The money raised for the Oxford Children's Hospital will help fund the purchase of specialist medical equipment and sensory distraction items and equipment helping to maintain the Children's hospital to its highest standard.
Whilst money raised for the Paediatric Eye Fund (PEF), based at the John Radcliffe in Oxford, raises funds for pioneering equipment and research for children and premature babies suffering many forms of debilitating and potentially sight threatening eye disease. Hundreds of babies are born prematurely in the Oxfordshire region and this can lead to many conditions affecting eye sight specifically. In supporting PEF we will help to purchase an incredible piece of diagnostic equipment that will revolutionise the way and speed these children are being diagnosed.
As well as raising money for charity, this evening will also celebrate Andrew Baker's amazing achievement of a decade of fundraising for the children's hospital which he achieved in 2013 notching up close to £33,000. We will also celebrate Play2Give's successful 6 years of raising over £22,180 for local charities since 2007!
Kindly Sponsored by Johnsons Cars Oxford
Story updated 10th January 2014
Copyright Newsquest Oxfordshire
Andrew Calls Out for Young Heroes! - 20 November 2013
Nominations are now open for the 2014 Oxfordshire Youth Awards.
The awards in their 5th year celebrates all the wonderful contributions made by inspirational young people across Oxfordshire, and the 2014 Oscars are set to be even bigger and better.
The 2014 ceremony will take place at the 1,800-seat Oxford New Theatre and organisers are now appealing for nominations to reward young heroes. Our Andrew, as a winner this year was asked with other fellow winners, left, including fellow Didcot champ, Courtney Hughes, to help to launch this year's awards supported by the Oxford Mail last Friday.
In February, the 2013 prestigious awards evening was held at the Oxford Town Hall. Andrew was one of 250 young people nominated. Andrew was nominated for the Enterprise Award, and won the title taking first place on the night. Andrew was nominated by his support worker, Jamie Stalker, at Headway Oxfordshire for all his fundraising over 10 years, and for overcoming health hurdles to set up Play2Give in 2007 as a fundraising organisation.
Organiser Paul Lawrence from Oxfordshire Association for Young People (who run the awards) says: "The awards celebrate all the wonderful contributions made by young people across the county. It is enormously inspiring to hear all the ways in which young people play a positive part."
Know an amazing young person aged 11-19? Get submitting your entries. Nominations close on February 17th.
Ex-Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes, author Philip Pullman and Oxford United's striker Jon Paul Pittman presented awards at the February 2013 ceremony.
So as a past winner, Andrew appeals to you as a supporter of the awards, to get your entries in!
"I was so pleased, chuffed and shocked to win. I never imagined I would be in the top 3 finalists let alone go home with a trophy. After raising money tirelessly for 10 years for a cause so close to my heart, it was lovely to have won even though I felt I wasn't deserving.
"2013's ceremony was a great night full of so many inspirational and many moving stories, and so I would urge anyone who knows of a truly amazing young person, like I do, to put them forward - no matter how big or small the contribution, please nominate them if they are deserving!"
Go to the awards website for full details and to nominate. The 7 categories are: Inspirational Entrepreneur, Young Einstein of the Year, Youth Project of the Year, Arts Superstar, Sporting Achievement, Pride of Oxfordshire and Community Champion.
Oxford Mail: Youth achiever awards launched
Nominations are now open for the 2014 Oxfordshire Youth Awards.
The awards in their 5th year celebrates all the wonderful contributions made by inspirational young people across Oxfordshire, and the 2014 Oscars are set to be even bigger and better.
The 2014 ceremony will take place at the 1,800-seat Oxford New Theatre and organisers are now appealing for nominations to reward young heroes. Our Andrew, as a winner this year was asked with other fellow winners, left, including fellow Didcot champ, Courtney Hughes, to help to launch this year's awards supported by the Oxford Mail last Friday.
In February, the 2013 prestigious awards evening was held at the Oxford Town Hall. Andrew was one of 250 young people nominated. Andrew was nominated for the Enterprise Award, and won the title taking first place on the night. Andrew was nominated by his support worker, Jamie Stalker, at Headway Oxfordshire for all his fundraising over 10 years, and for overcoming health hurdles to set up Play2Give in 2007 as a fundraising organisation.
Organiser Paul Lawrence from Oxfordshire Association for Young People (who run the awards) says: "The awards celebrate all the wonderful contributions made by young people across the county. It is enormously inspiring to hear all the ways in which young people play a positive part."
Know an amazing young person aged 11-19? Get submitting your entries. Nominations close on February 17th.
Ex-Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes, author Philip Pullman and Oxford United's striker Jon Paul Pittman presented awards at the February 2013 ceremony.
So as a past winner, Andrew appeals to you as a supporter of the awards, to get your entries in!
"I was so pleased, chuffed and shocked to win. I never imagined I would be in the top 3 finalists let alone go home with a trophy. After raising money tirelessly for 10 years for a cause so close to my heart, it was lovely to have won even though I felt I wasn't deserving.
"2013's ceremony was a great night full of so many inspirational and many moving stories, and so I would urge anyone who knows of a truly amazing young person, like I do, to put them forward - no matter how big or small the contribution, please nominate them if they are deserving!"
Go to the awards website for full details and to nominate. The 7 categories are: Inspirational Entrepreneur, Young Einstein of the Year, Youth Project of the Year, Arts Superstar, Sporting Achievement, Pride of Oxfordshire and Community Champion.
Oxford Mail: Youth achiever awards launched
Andrew receives the Enterprise Award sponsored by Jennings at the 2013 ceremony
Play2Give Newsletter No. 5 - 18 November 2013
The winter edition of our newsletter is now available to read.
Click the image, right, to download.
In this edition news on the latest fundraising total scored for the children's hospital, news on a fundraising party with a twist in February and news on the OCVA award we were nominated for. Plus dates of upcoming events and other updates.
*Please note this file opens as a PDF*
Click the image, right, to download.
In this edition news on the latest fundraising total scored for the children's hospital, news on a fundraising party with a twist in February and news on the OCVA award we were nominated for. Plus dates of upcoming events and other updates.
*Please note this file opens as a PDF*
DEDICATED TO THE CAUSE: From left, Andrew Baker
Latest fundraiser tots up total of £33k for children's hospital - 16 November 2013
By Ben Wilkinson
Oxford Mail
bwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk
A man battling a mystery brain condition has again raised thousands of pounds from an annual football fun day.
Read the Oxford Mail's full story
By Ben Wilkinson
Oxford Mail
bwilkinson@oxfordmail.co.uk
A man battling a mystery brain condition has again raised thousands of pounds from an annual football fun day.
Read the Oxford Mail's full story
Andrew Baker and his fundraising friends achieve close to £33,000 over a decade
Andrew Smashes £30,000 In Over a Decade! - 31 October 2013
Over the last decade Play2Give's leading light Andrew Baker has dedicated his passion, time and commitment to raising money for the Oxford Children's Hospital, a cause so close to his heart.
Earlier this year, he celebrated reaching his landmark achievement of a successful 10-years of fundraising by entering his 4th 'Play2Give Team' into the annual OX5Run held for the hospital.
On October 24th, Andrew added to his achievement of smashing over £30,000 raised for the hospital that helped him throughout childhood including major brain surgery aged 12, by visiting the Children's Hospital with his Play2Give team - fellow friends Dale Harris and Teresa Strike. The trio presented the latest instalment to the hospital's Penny Hambridge, opposite, showing the grand cheque representing many years of hard work and efforts by Andrew and a wide calibre of fundraising friends.
As Penny wrote in her thank you letter: 'This wonderful donation will go towards funding things like state of the art equipment and also sensory equipment to help distract the children during medical procedures thus avoiding them needing a possible anaesthetic or sedation'.
Andrew has been so successful over the years in engaging support from friends, family, school mates and the Play2Give community, that when he first began to repay his debt of gratitude back to the Oxford Children's Hospital building appeal in early 2003 aged just 14, he only imagined to have raised a few hundred pounds. So on October 24th, Andrew, Teresa and Dale who have been partly responsible over the last 6 years for helping him achieve his incredible achievement handed over the cheque for this magnificent decade of inspirational and wonderful fundraising endeavours, and that of Play2Give's football tournament this year.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Andrew over the past decade - many thousands of you! Here's hoping Andrew conquers another successful decade of fundraising for the Hospital to come!
A fundraising evening held with support of the Didcot Rugby Club will be held on Saturday, February 22nd, to mark the success and Andrew's decade of fundraising support, more details here.
Over the last decade Play2Give's leading light Andrew Baker has dedicated his passion, time and commitment to raising money for the Oxford Children's Hospital, a cause so close to his heart.
Earlier this year, he celebrated reaching his landmark achievement of a successful 10-years of fundraising by entering his 4th 'Play2Give Team' into the annual OX5Run held for the hospital.
On October 24th, Andrew added to his achievement of smashing over £30,000 raised for the hospital that helped him throughout childhood including major brain surgery aged 12, by visiting the Children's Hospital with his Play2Give team - fellow friends Dale Harris and Teresa Strike. The trio presented the latest instalment to the hospital's Penny Hambridge, opposite, showing the grand cheque representing many years of hard work and efforts by Andrew and a wide calibre of fundraising friends.
As Penny wrote in her thank you letter: 'This wonderful donation will go towards funding things like state of the art equipment and also sensory equipment to help distract the children during medical procedures thus avoiding them needing a possible anaesthetic or sedation'.
Andrew has been so successful over the years in engaging support from friends, family, school mates and the Play2Give community, that when he first began to repay his debt of gratitude back to the Oxford Children's Hospital building appeal in early 2003 aged just 14, he only imagined to have raised a few hundred pounds. So on October 24th, Andrew, Teresa and Dale who have been partly responsible over the last 6 years for helping him achieve his incredible achievement handed over the cheque for this magnificent decade of inspirational and wonderful fundraising endeavours, and that of Play2Give's football tournament this year.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Andrew over the past decade - many thousands of you! Here's hoping Andrew conquers another successful decade of fundraising for the Hospital to come!
A fundraising evening held with support of the Didcot Rugby Club will be held on Saturday, February 22nd, to mark the success and Andrew's decade of fundraising support, more details here.
Teresa, left, and Dale, right, are just one of thousands that have helped Andrew achieve close to £33k in a decade for the hospital that helped him!
3 Cheers! Oxford City Nomads with Teresa, Andrew and Dale
Play2Give 2013 Nets a Super Sum! - 31 October 2013
3 Cheers! Last Thursday, (October 24th), Andrew, Dale and Teresa along with the Oxford City Under 10s Nomads visited the Children's Hospital presenting the latest instalment raised.
June's football fun day netted in another healthy sum. with total proceeds raised from this year's event and the sales of our wristbands. scoring in over £4,810 raised.
The Under 10s Nomads, above, managed by Dale brought in extra cheer to proceedings, as they raised the most money in sponsorship out of all 13 teams in this year's tournament adding £545 as part of our striking sum.
With thanks to our wonderful sponsors Breckon & Breckon and Newbury Building Society and Elmer Cotton, Oxford City Football Club, Jack FM and SH Creative for their support this year and all our fantastic boys, all event supporters and helpers this year helping us raise this amazing amount.
We have now raised just over £18,000 for the Hospital through our fundraising tournaments over the last 6 years.
View all the pictures from this year's cheque presentation here
3 Cheers! Last Thursday, (October 24th), Andrew, Dale and Teresa along with the Oxford City Under 10s Nomads visited the Children's Hospital presenting the latest instalment raised.
June's football fun day netted in another healthy sum. with total proceeds raised from this year's event and the sales of our wristbands. scoring in over £4,810 raised.
The Under 10s Nomads, above, managed by Dale brought in extra cheer to proceedings, as they raised the most money in sponsorship out of all 13 teams in this year's tournament adding £545 as part of our striking sum.
With thanks to our wonderful sponsors Breckon & Breckon and Newbury Building Society and Elmer Cotton, Oxford City Football Club, Jack FM and SH Creative for their support this year and all our fantastic boys, all event supporters and helpers this year helping us raise this amazing amount.
We have now raised just over £18,000 for the Hospital through our fundraising tournaments over the last 6 years.
View all the pictures from this year's cheque presentation here
Oxford City Nomads Under 10s raised the most money this year out of any team
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£4,812.40 raised in 2013. Picture courtesy of Oxfordshire Guardian
|
Teresa Strike, Andrew Baker and Dale Harris
Scoring a winner to help sick children - 24 October 2013
By Jack Johnson
jack@taylornewspapers.co.uk
Oxford Journal
An Oxfordshire-based fundraising organisation is set to hand over a cheque for just under £5,000 to the John Radcliffe Children's Hospital this afternoon.
Read the full story
By Jack Johnson
jack@taylornewspapers.co.uk
Oxford Journal
An Oxfordshire-based fundraising organisation is set to hand over a cheque for just under £5,000 to the John Radcliffe Children's Hospital this afternoon.
Read the full story
Andrew on Malcolm - 24 October 2013
This morning, Andrew Baker spoke to Malcolm Boyden on Radio Oxford about the handing over of another huge cheque today, the latest instalment, raised by this years Play2Give football tournament.
Malcolm started by asking Andrew, whom Malcolm described as being a 'feisty lad', of how his story into raising money following on from Andrew's treatment throughout childhood, began.
Click to listen below via a 2-part piece
Part 1
Part 2
Story updated November 4 2013
This morning, Andrew Baker spoke to Malcolm Boyden on Radio Oxford about the handing over of another huge cheque today, the latest instalment, raised by this years Play2Give football tournament.
Malcolm started by asking Andrew, whom Malcolm described as being a 'feisty lad', of how his story into raising money following on from Andrew's treatment throughout childhood, began.
Click to listen below via a 2-part piece
Part 1
Part 2
Story updated November 4 2013
Celebrated at Charity Awards of Oxfordshire - 15 October 2013
Teresa, Dale, centre, and Andrew. Courtesy of Sarah Vaccari
On the evening of Monday, October 14th, Play2Give's Dale Harris, Andrew Baker and Teresa Strike, attended a glittering evening celebrating the very best of the 'charity unsungs' - (as described by award organisers) - of the charitable sector of Oxfordshire at the 2013 Oxfordshire Charity and Volunteer Awards.
The evening, organised by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (OCVA), was held in the main hall at the Oxford Town Hall with around 300 guests, filled with the best of local charities, organisations and lots of inspirational volunteers all in one room.
Play2Give was shortlisted for the Best Community Project this year. It is with sadness we did not take home the award, but we can very proud of our shortlisting and how well we did to be chosen as the top 3 in this category, from across 100 nominations. It was a wonderful evening awe-inspiring and we are very pleased to have been recognised for all the hard work and good work we put in across the year to raise money for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
We are pleased that our friend and supporter, young Joe Robinson, won his 'Volunteer Award' where he was one of 38 lucky recipients. Joe, below, has raised over £37,000 for the JR Neuro Intensive Care Unit after he was in a horrific car crash in 2009. Joe set up JR4JR, a fundraising organisation as a way of repaying the Neuro ICU. Well done Joe, you are an inspiration to us all!
The evening, organised by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (OCVA), was held in the main hall at the Oxford Town Hall with around 300 guests, filled with the best of local charities, organisations and lots of inspirational volunteers all in one room.
Play2Give was shortlisted for the Best Community Project this year. It is with sadness we did not take home the award, but we can very proud of our shortlisting and how well we did to be chosen as the top 3 in this category, from across 100 nominations. It was a wonderful evening awe-inspiring and we are very pleased to have been recognised for all the hard work and good work we put in across the year to raise money for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
We are pleased that our friend and supporter, young Joe Robinson, won his 'Volunteer Award' where he was one of 38 lucky recipients. Joe, below, has raised over £37,000 for the JR Neuro Intensive Care Unit after he was in a horrific car crash in 2009. Joe set up JR4JR, a fundraising organisation as a way of repaying the Neuro ICU. Well done Joe, you are an inspiration to us all!
Joe Robinson. Courtesy of Sarah Vaccari
We would like to congratulate all the worthy charities, groups and volunteers like us, who were all nominated and those who won on this special evening for their great work helping others across Oxfordshire!
http://www.oxnet.org.uk/awards2013/shortlist2013
http://www.oxnet.org.uk/awards2013/shortlist2013
Play2Give Supporting Charlotte's Christmas Appeal - 14 October 2013
Help Play2Give spread Christmas cheer and smiles this festive season!
Charlotte Lane, friend and a former work colleague of our Andrew Baker, has come up with a fantastic way of spreading Christmas cheer and joy to the little people with big needs this festive season, and Play2Give with Andrew are delighted to back this initiative, 'Charlotte's Christmas Appeal'!
A simple way by donating any Christmas present to put a smile on the sick children at the hospital's faces this Christmas.
This is endorsed by play specialist Christine Turner and her team at the John Radcliffe Children's Hospital and any donations of new and unused toys and games and gifts will be gratefully appreciated.
Any donated presents must be brand new as per the request of the ward.
Please help lift the children who will be spending the festive season in hospital by donating (purely voluntary) a present (if you are willing) and knowing you will have helped a child smile this Christmas by playing Santa!
Delighted to support this fantastic initiative of Charlotte (Wantage resident) and a supporter of the Children's Hospital, whose abseiled the JR and donated Easter eggs this year. Charlotte and Play2Give teaming up to spread smiles and joy for sick children this Christmas!
If you would like to give a present (as the guidelines above) please comment below or send a pm. please get in touch
Help Play2Give spread Christmas cheer and smiles this festive season!
Charlotte Lane, friend and a former work colleague of our Andrew Baker, has come up with a fantastic way of spreading Christmas cheer and joy to the little people with big needs this festive season, and Play2Give with Andrew are delighted to back this initiative, 'Charlotte's Christmas Appeal'!
A simple way by donating any Christmas present to put a smile on the sick children at the hospital's faces this Christmas.
This is endorsed by play specialist Christine Turner and her team at the John Radcliffe Children's Hospital and any donations of new and unused toys and games and gifts will be gratefully appreciated.
Any donated presents must be brand new as per the request of the ward.
Please help lift the children who will be spending the festive season in hospital by donating (purely voluntary) a present (if you are willing) and knowing you will have helped a child smile this Christmas by playing Santa!
Delighted to support this fantastic initiative of Charlotte (Wantage resident) and a supporter of the Children's Hospital, whose abseiled the JR and donated Easter eggs this year. Charlotte and Play2Give teaming up to spread smiles and joy for sick children this Christmas!
If you would like to give a present (as the guidelines above) please comment below or send a pm. please get in touch
Didcot's Sainsbury's Super Sum - 6 October 2013
Sainsbury's in Didcot have been super supporters of Play2Give over the last few weeks.
Since August, they have happily helped add to the funds we raise for the Oxford Children's Hospital, through selling our wristbands, left, at customer services. The generosity from customers and staff of the store has been overwhelmingly amazing!
Sainsbury's have raised a fantastic £107 through the collection tin in nearly two months, which are not only takings from the wristbands but also through spare and uncollected change from customers at the store, helping to make up this first instalment of money raised.
Sainsbury's look forward to now dishing up seconds through its collection tin at customer services, as sales of wristbands and donations continue.
Play2Give also hopes to work with other fundraising endeavours with the store in the near future. Andrew is full of some rather 'wacky' ideas for the store to generate extra sums towards the children's hospital!
Thank you to everyone at Sainsbury's who’s supported Play2Give - and to all our supporters - please keep digging deep to Play2Give!
Sainsbury's in Didcot have been super supporters of Play2Give over the last few weeks.
Since August, they have happily helped add to the funds we raise for the Oxford Children's Hospital, through selling our wristbands, left, at customer services. The generosity from customers and staff of the store has been overwhelmingly amazing!
Sainsbury's have raised a fantastic £107 through the collection tin in nearly two months, which are not only takings from the wristbands but also through spare and uncollected change from customers at the store, helping to make up this first instalment of money raised.
Sainsbury's look forward to now dishing up seconds through its collection tin at customer services, as sales of wristbands and donations continue.
Play2Give also hopes to work with other fundraising endeavours with the store in the near future. Andrew is full of some rather 'wacky' ideas for the store to generate extra sums towards the children's hospital!
Thank you to everyone at Sainsbury's who’s supported Play2Give - and to all our supporters - please keep digging deep to Play2Give!
Grant Supports Play2Give - 18 September 2013
Play2Give are delighted to have received funding from Jennings and the Monument Community Trust recently.
They have granted a £300 donation which will go a long way to support Play2Give financially allowing us to continue our good work.
The trustees of MCT in their email of good news said: "This sounds an impressive organisation!"
Jennings were one of the sponsors of this year's Oxfordshire Youth Awards held in February, and awarded our Andrew Baker at the ceremony as the winner of the Enterprise Award category.
Huge thank you to Jennings and their Monument Community Trust (MCT) grant-giving arm for their wonderful support in this way! We are thrilled.
Play2Give are delighted to have received funding from Jennings and the Monument Community Trust recently.
They have granted a £300 donation which will go a long way to support Play2Give financially allowing us to continue our good work.
The trustees of MCT in their email of good news said: "This sounds an impressive organisation!"
Jennings were one of the sponsors of this year's Oxfordshire Youth Awards held in February, and awarded our Andrew Baker at the ceremony as the winner of the Enterprise Award category.
Huge thank you to Jennings and their Monument Community Trust (MCT) grant-giving arm for their wonderful support in this way! We are thrilled.
Revved Up By Oxford Bus Company! - 29 July 2013
Huge thank you to the Oxford Bus Company for their great support to Play2Give this year who have revved up our fundraising by £300!
The company have donated an amazing £300 towards this years football fundraising tournament which has helped boost the amount we've raised this year for the Children's Hospital.
We can't thank Oxford Bus Company enough for their wonderful gesture in revving up the sponsorship aim of the under 9s Oxford City Nomads with this addition to their sponsorship total. Oxford Bus Company chose Play2Give as one of the causes they most wanted to support this year through donating uncollected passenger change.
Oxford City Nomads U9s have raised the most out of any of the 13 boys teams that took part this year with £545 in total! Well done all!
The grand total raised by Play2Give this year will be announced once a cheque presentation to the hospital charity has been arranged.
www.oxfordbus.co.uk
The company have donated an amazing £300 towards this years football fundraising tournament which has helped boost the amount we've raised this year for the Children's Hospital.
We can't thank Oxford Bus Company enough for their wonderful gesture in revving up the sponsorship aim of the under 9s Oxford City Nomads with this addition to their sponsorship total. Oxford Bus Company chose Play2Give as one of the causes they most wanted to support this year through donating uncollected passenger change.
Oxford City Nomads U9s have raised the most out of any of the 13 boys teams that took part this year with £545 in total! Well done all!
The grand total raised by Play2Give this year will be announced once a cheque presentation to the hospital charity has been arranged.
www.oxfordbus.co.uk
Sainsbury's Didcot Joins Our Band Aid - 24 July 2013
We are delighted that a local Didcot supermarket has joined our band aid crusade for the Children's Hospital.
Sainsbury's in Didcot have kindly agreed to stock supplies of our wristbands in the store as of today. They will be available to purchase from the customer services desk.
For each wristband sold at a minimum £1.00 donation, all the money Play2Give raises from the bands supports the Oxford Children's Hospital.
We would like to say a huge thank you to Kevin, the store manager, Veronica Dallas, PRL Ambassador, and all the staff and customers at the store for this wonderful support. Sainsbury's in Didcot we hope to work with on further fundraising endeavours in the future to raise further funds.
You can also buy Play2Give wristbands at other two other Didcot outlets: Newbury Building Society on the Broadway (next to Katie's Nails) or from Zoddy Tattoos on Wantage Road.
We hope to branch out even further with our special bands across other outlets around Oxfordshire over the coming year, and we would also like to say a wonderful thank you to our sponsors that helped to make these special wristbands possible: IC-Group Ltd in Reading and Terry Murrell.
More information on the bands can be viewed here
Sainsbury's in Didcot have kindly agreed to stock supplies of our wristbands in the store as of today. They will be available to purchase from the customer services desk.
For each wristband sold at a minimum £1.00 donation, all the money Play2Give raises from the bands supports the Oxford Children's Hospital.
We would like to say a huge thank you to Kevin, the store manager, Veronica Dallas, PRL Ambassador, and all the staff and customers at the store for this wonderful support. Sainsbury's in Didcot we hope to work with on further fundraising endeavours in the future to raise further funds.
You can also buy Play2Give wristbands at other two other Didcot outlets: Newbury Building Society on the Broadway (next to Katie's Nails) or from Zoddy Tattoos on Wantage Road.
We hope to branch out even further with our special bands across other outlets around Oxfordshire over the coming year, and we would also like to say a wonderful thank you to our sponsors that helped to make these special wristbands possible: IC-Group Ltd in Reading and Terry Murrell.
More information on the bands can be viewed here
OX5RUN in March raised £90k!
We Did It! OX5RUN 2013 A Record-Breaker! - 24 July 2013
WOOHOO....WE DID IT!!!! Congratulations everyone who took part in the OX5RUN back in March, as over £90,000 has been raised for the Children's Hospital - a record breaking total!
Well done to all the teams including the very own Andrew's Play2Givers team who raised over £3,000, to Team Mya, Team Univ, all the teams and the hundreds of other runners on a bitterly cold damp Sunday morning. This year's OX5RUN has celebrated its biggest and best ever fundraising record in its 11-year history.
We are looking forward to the 2014 OX5RUN in which Team Play2Give will be back to pound the grounds of Blenheim Palace! If anyone is up for an Abseil in September to help the children in the hospital get better, then see below and get signed up for an exhilarating challenge 100ft. More information at www.hospitalcharity.co.uk
Message from Penny Hambridge, of the JR Charitable Funds:
Dear Friend
Thank you for your support of The Oxford Children’s Hospital and Children’s Services across the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust. Whether it is funding equipment, new buildings or research your donations and support of our events helps us make a difference to thousands of patients that use the hospitals every year.
We are delighted that this year’s Oxford Mail OX5RUN has now topped £90,000! We can’t thank you enough. We hope those of you who took part enjoyed doing your bit for your hospitals and as we turn our attention to the next event we ask for your help in encouraging others to get involved.
THE Abseil on Sunday 22 September is a 100 foot abseil down the side of the Women’s Centre at the John Radcliffe. With just 40 places left we would be very grateful if you would help us spread the word and encourage others to sign up and take part. Simply forward this email to your contacts or think about a specific group such as a company or club that might enter a team. Please sign up early and in advance for this popular event to avoid disappointment.
It’s just £10 to enter and we ask participants to aim to raise £100 or more and be aged over 18. Further info and entry form for THE Abseil is on our website here .
Please help us spread the word, and thank you for your continued support.
The Fundraising team
Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds (reg charity 1057295), supports Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, including the Oxford Children’s Hospital and Children’s Services across the Trust. To make a donation to the Oxford Children’s Hospital click here or call 01865 743444
WOOHOO....WE DID IT!!!! Congratulations everyone who took part in the OX5RUN back in March, as over £90,000 has been raised for the Children's Hospital - a record breaking total!
Well done to all the teams including the very own Andrew's Play2Givers team who raised over £3,000, to Team Mya, Team Univ, all the teams and the hundreds of other runners on a bitterly cold damp Sunday morning. This year's OX5RUN has celebrated its biggest and best ever fundraising record in its 11-year history.
We are looking forward to the 2014 OX5RUN in which Team Play2Give will be back to pound the grounds of Blenheim Palace! If anyone is up for an Abseil in September to help the children in the hospital get better, then see below and get signed up for an exhilarating challenge 100ft. More information at www.hospitalcharity.co.uk
Message from Penny Hambridge, of the JR Charitable Funds:
Dear Friend
Thank you for your support of The Oxford Children’s Hospital and Children’s Services across the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust. Whether it is funding equipment, new buildings or research your donations and support of our events helps us make a difference to thousands of patients that use the hospitals every year.
We are delighted that this year’s Oxford Mail OX5RUN has now topped £90,000! We can’t thank you enough. We hope those of you who took part enjoyed doing your bit for your hospitals and as we turn our attention to the next event we ask for your help in encouraging others to get involved.
THE Abseil on Sunday 22 September is a 100 foot abseil down the side of the Women’s Centre at the John Radcliffe. With just 40 places left we would be very grateful if you would help us spread the word and encourage others to sign up and take part. Simply forward this email to your contacts or think about a specific group such as a company or club that might enter a team. Please sign up early and in advance for this popular event to avoid disappointment.
It’s just £10 to enter and we ask participants to aim to raise £100 or more and be aged over 18. Further info and entry form for THE Abseil is on our website here .
Please help us spread the word, and thank you for your continued support.
The Fundraising team
Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds (reg charity 1057295), supports Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, including the Oxford Children’s Hospital and Children’s Services across the Trust. To make a donation to the Oxford Children’s Hospital click here or call 01865 743444
Short-listed in Oxfordshire Charity Awards 2013! - 8 July 2013
We are pleased to now be able to announce some amazing news that Play2Give has been nominated and shortlisted in the 2013 Oxfordshire Charity & Volunteer Awards.
We are up for the 'Best Community Project' category. Find out more here
To be put up for this award against two other deserving finalists in this category is just a fine nod of recognition and after another successful year of fundraising for the Oxford Children's Hospital we are thrilled.
This is a huge pat on the back for the whole team who makes Play2Give such a success, particularly Dale Harris and Teresa Strike who work so hard alongside Andrew Baker, in organising the annual fundraising football events every year. The last on June 16th we ran was another huge success and proceeds raised for the Children's Hospital still coming in.
We are hugely pleased to be recognised in this way.
Since Play2Give was created nearly 6 years ago, and what started out as just a men's football 6 a side tournament, Play2Give has just grown and grown and become hugely popular and successful, with having raised over £17,100 to date for local causes. With over £13,000 of proceeds raised for the Children's Hospital. 2012 saw Play2Give raise the most amount of money ever for charities, with over £5,600 raised. £5,273 of that donated to the Children's Hospital.
We get to attend the awards evening at Oxford Town Hall on October 14th when the winners and runners-up will be announced.
Kanika Lang, awards organiser, says: "The judges were very impressed with the high calibre and huge variety of projects happening across Oxfordshire. Thanks to the generous help of sponsors from Oxfordshire's business community, we are able to host a special celebration event in October to thank the charities, voluntary organisations and individual volunteers for making a difference to the lives of people across the county."
We also want to say a huge congratulations to Headway Oxfordshire who is up for two awards for 'Charity of the Year' and the 'Lifetime Achievement' Award which is a great achievement for Headway as they celebrate this year being their 25th Anniversary.
And huge congratulations to Joe Robinson - a friend and supporter of Play2Give - who has won a volunteer award and will be honoured at this awards evening for his JR 4 JR fundraising project. Joe has raised over £37, 000 for the JR neurosciences intensive care unit after having his life saved by the remarkable team in the neurosciences 4 years ago. Well done Joe, you are an inspirational young man!
Looking forward to attending the evening on October 14th at Oxford Town Hall - should be a good night!
We are pleased to now be able to announce some amazing news that Play2Give has been nominated and shortlisted in the 2013 Oxfordshire Charity & Volunteer Awards.
We are up for the 'Best Community Project' category. Find out more here
To be put up for this award against two other deserving finalists in this category is just a fine nod of recognition and after another successful year of fundraising for the Oxford Children's Hospital we are thrilled.
This is a huge pat on the back for the whole team who makes Play2Give such a success, particularly Dale Harris and Teresa Strike who work so hard alongside Andrew Baker, in organising the annual fundraising football events every year. The last on June 16th we ran was another huge success and proceeds raised for the Children's Hospital still coming in.
We are hugely pleased to be recognised in this way.
Since Play2Give was created nearly 6 years ago, and what started out as just a men's football 6 a side tournament, Play2Give has just grown and grown and become hugely popular and successful, with having raised over £17,100 to date for local causes. With over £13,000 of proceeds raised for the Children's Hospital. 2012 saw Play2Give raise the most amount of money ever for charities, with over £5,600 raised. £5,273 of that donated to the Children's Hospital.
We get to attend the awards evening at Oxford Town Hall on October 14th when the winners and runners-up will be announced.
Kanika Lang, awards organiser, says: "The judges were very impressed with the high calibre and huge variety of projects happening across Oxfordshire. Thanks to the generous help of sponsors from Oxfordshire's business community, we are able to host a special celebration event in October to thank the charities, voluntary organisations and individual volunteers for making a difference to the lives of people across the county."
We also want to say a huge congratulations to Headway Oxfordshire who is up for two awards for 'Charity of the Year' and the 'Lifetime Achievement' Award which is a great achievement for Headway as they celebrate this year being their 25th Anniversary.
And huge congratulations to Joe Robinson - a friend and supporter of Play2Give - who has won a volunteer award and will be honoured at this awards evening for his JR 4 JR fundraising project. Joe has raised over £37, 000 for the JR neurosciences intensive care unit after having his life saved by the remarkable team in the neurosciences 4 years ago. Well done Joe, you are an inspirational young man!
Looking forward to attending the evening on October 14th at Oxford Town Hall - should be a good night!
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Play2Give Newsletter - No. 4 July 2013
The summer edition of the Play2Give newsletter is now available to read.
Click the picture to download. In this edition news on the recent football tournament, with a picture special, news about an award recognition coming up in October, as well as news on the wristbands which were launched last month.
*Please note this file opens as a PDF*
The summer edition of the Play2Give newsletter is now available to read.
Click the picture to download. In this edition news on the recent football tournament, with a picture special, news about an award recognition coming up in October, as well as news on the wristbands which were launched last month.
*Please note this file opens as a PDF*
Football event is a huge success - 27 June 2013
Teresa Strike, Andrew Baker and Dale Harris
More than 130 local children took part in a charity football tournament in Oxford last weekend, to raise money for the city's Children's Hospital.
Read the full story from The Oxfordshire Guardian
Read the full story from The Oxfordshire Guardian
Play2Give 2013 Is Another Knockout Success - 21 June 2013
Under 9s in action
The annual football fun day returned to Oxford City Football Club's Community Arena on 16th June - and what a knockout success it again was!
13 boys teams from across Oxfordshire lined up to take part on the fantastic 3G pitches of Court Place Farm, where City is based, to help raise lots of money for children like them, but in hospital. Yet again, Play2Give's football tournament has been another huge success and the atmosphere was buzzing all day long!
With around 130 children, and with their families, they have already helped to boost the lives of poorly children across the Oxford Children's Hospital, and so far over £3,700 has been netted in! There is still more money to come.
With huge thanks to our wonderful main sponsors, Breckon and Breckon, who funded the entire event, and to Newbury Building Society, who sponsored the Play2Give cup and medals for the fifth year running, and to Elmer Cotton, all of which have helped ensure that Play2Give 2013 gave 100% of all proceeds to the Oxford Children's Hospital charity.
Teams that took part across the under-8s and under-9s age groups included four Oxford City teams, Berinsfield, Bicester Colts, and Bure Park to Summertown Stars, Crowmarsh Orange and Marston Saints.
The raffle was yet again another popular part of the event - and this year saw the raffle break all records, with the most amount raised through ticket sales. The raffle raised £660.50 in total, and this was thanks to over 30 amazing prizes that was donated by many Oxfordshire companies making this the most successful raffle in the history of Play2Give football tournaments.
With prizes from £50 M&S vouchers, to a Sunday carvery for four people at any Four Pillars Hotel, to a Miele vacuum, to a microwave donated by Tesco, and chocolate from Mars, we are immensely chuffed. Thank you to all those who donated such fantastic prizes.
13 boys teams from across Oxfordshire lined up to take part on the fantastic 3G pitches of Court Place Farm, where City is based, to help raise lots of money for children like them, but in hospital. Yet again, Play2Give's football tournament has been another huge success and the atmosphere was buzzing all day long!
With around 130 children, and with their families, they have already helped to boost the lives of poorly children across the Oxford Children's Hospital, and so far over £3,700 has been netted in! There is still more money to come.
With huge thanks to our wonderful main sponsors, Breckon and Breckon, who funded the entire event, and to Newbury Building Society, who sponsored the Play2Give cup and medals for the fifth year running, and to Elmer Cotton, all of which have helped ensure that Play2Give 2013 gave 100% of all proceeds to the Oxford Children's Hospital charity.
Teams that took part across the under-8s and under-9s age groups included four Oxford City teams, Berinsfield, Bicester Colts, and Bure Park to Summertown Stars, Crowmarsh Orange and Marston Saints.
The raffle was yet again another popular part of the event - and this year saw the raffle break all records, with the most amount raised through ticket sales. The raffle raised £660.50 in total, and this was thanks to over 30 amazing prizes that was donated by many Oxfordshire companies making this the most successful raffle in the history of Play2Give football tournaments.
With prizes from £50 M&S vouchers, to a Sunday carvery for four people at any Four Pillars Hotel, to a Miele vacuum, to a microwave donated by Tesco, and chocolate from Mars, we are immensely chuffed. Thank you to all those who donated such fantastic prizes.
A triumphant on the day team, made up of helpers and organisers.
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Andrew, centre, Dale and Teresa did it again! The tremendous trio organised another successful Play2Give.
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The auction of a signed Arsenal team photo framed added an extra £185 into the fundraising pot, and this was won by a lady who was ecstatic with her win. We also had face-painting which raised £21, to doughnuts, slush puppies and candy floss, to a coconut shy run by Breckon & Breckon which added extra pounds, and refreshments and burgers cooked up by Oxford City Football Club and added an extra £230 to proceeds..
Chief organiser, Andrew Baker said: "With lots of fantastic footballing and plenty of fun, Play2Give 2013 has been another knockout success. It went so well and we are all thrilled as we've helped to raise thousands for poorly children in hospital so all our hard work and effort has paid off."
Fellow chief organiser Dale Harris said: "After many months of planning Play2Give, it ran like clockwork with all players and parents having a great day and big smiles all round. Most importantly it has raised thousands for the Oxford Children's Hospital which looks after thousands of local children, like my own Mya, so very well."
Co-organiser Teresa Strike, said: "The day was really successful with some great football from the children. Every child went home with a medal and a chocolate bar for their amazing efforts. Thanks to all the helpers along the way and on the day. We hope to have raised thousands of pounds for the children's hospital which is close to all our hearts."
Hear lots of chats and a flavour of the event by listening to the Oxford Radio Cherwell Hospital News podcast (with thanks to Radio Cherwell Hospital Radio in Oxford for this audio file)
You are still able to make a donation to support our efforts this year, by clicking here. All donations are gratefully received.
All the fun of Play2Give football will return in June 2014, in which we hope for another successful fundraiser. Keep posted to this website for further news on next year's event!
Chief organiser, Andrew Baker said: "With lots of fantastic footballing and plenty of fun, Play2Give 2013 has been another knockout success. It went so well and we are all thrilled as we've helped to raise thousands for poorly children in hospital so all our hard work and effort has paid off."
Fellow chief organiser Dale Harris said: "After many months of planning Play2Give, it ran like clockwork with all players and parents having a great day and big smiles all round. Most importantly it has raised thousands for the Oxford Children's Hospital which looks after thousands of local children, like my own Mya, so very well."
Co-organiser Teresa Strike, said: "The day was really successful with some great football from the children. Every child went home with a medal and a chocolate bar for their amazing efforts. Thanks to all the helpers along the way and on the day. We hope to have raised thousands of pounds for the children's hospital which is close to all our hearts."
Hear lots of chats and a flavour of the event by listening to the Oxford Radio Cherwell Hospital News podcast (with thanks to Radio Cherwell Hospital Radio in Oxford for this audio file)
You are still able to make a donation to support our efforts this year, by clicking here. All donations are gratefully received.
All the fun of Play2Give football will return in June 2014, in which we hope for another successful fundraiser. Keep posted to this website for further news on next year's event!
Football tournament is big winner - 18 June 2013
One of the organisers, Andrew Baker with under-nine winners Bure Park. Copyright Newsquest Oxfordshire.
More than 130 young footballers put their best foot forward to help raise £3,700 for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Read the full Oxford Mail story
Hospital Radio Cherwell Podcast - 17 June 2013
All the interviews from Hospital Radio Cherwell Oxford podcast from the 2013 football fundraising day for the Children's Hospital. Listen
With thanks to Hospital Radio Cherwell Oxford for kind permission of these interviews.
With thanks to Hospital Radio Cherwell Oxford for kind permission of these interviews.
Show Your Band Aid by Sporting a Play2Give Wristband - 15 June 2013
Play2Give wristbands now available
Play2Give wristbands are now hot off the shelves and have sprung Oxfordshire and are now available to buy!
These great bands priced at £1.00 each in both adult and children's sizes are now available to buy. With every £1 sale of these wristbands going to the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Play2Give are very lucky to have secured the support of IC-Group Ltd in Reading who have made these bands possible by sponsoring this great initiative, enabling Play2Give to raise more throughout the year.
These bands emblazoned with the Children's Hospital and Play2Give logos will be debuted at tomorrow's football fundraising fun day at Oxford City Football Club.
Would you like to buy a band or two? Want more information? Click here
Bands are available to purchase from the customer services desk at Sainsbury's in Didcot, or from Newbury Building Society on the Broadway, or from Zoddy Tattoos, on Wantage Road, both in Didcot.
These great bands priced at £1.00 each in both adult and children's sizes are now available to buy. With every £1 sale of these wristbands going to the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Play2Give are very lucky to have secured the support of IC-Group Ltd in Reading who have made these bands possible by sponsoring this great initiative, enabling Play2Give to raise more throughout the year.
These bands emblazoned with the Children's Hospital and Play2Give logos will be debuted at tomorrow's football fundraising fun day at Oxford City Football Club.
Would you like to buy a band or two? Want more information? Click here
Bands are available to purchase from the customer services desk at Sainsbury's in Didcot, or from Newbury Building Society on the Broadway, or from Zoddy Tattoos, on Wantage Road, both in Didcot.
Story updated August 7 2013
Andrew and Dale Talks to Radio Oxford's Drivetime - 15 June 2013
Our very own leading men Andrew Baker and Dale Harris, left, were on Radio Oxford's airwaves, on 14th June. They chatted to David Prever on the Drive-time show about the upcoming football fun day and their support for the Children's Hospital, telling the listeners of both their own stories.
Andrew and Dale organise the annual football fundraising fun days, and both have been raising money for the hospital so close to their hearts for 10 years.
Sunday's event, come rain or shine, will kick off from 9.30am at Oxford City Football Club's ground, and is all raising money for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
You can hear Andrew and Dale talking to David's drive-time show by clicking the audio links below.
Andrew Baker
Dale Harris
If you were unable to come along but would like to support such a good cause, please donate here. All donations are very gratefully received.
Story updated June 22 2013
Andrew and Dale organise the annual football fundraising fun days, and both have been raising money for the hospital so close to their hearts for 10 years.
Sunday's event, come rain or shine, will kick off from 9.30am at Oxford City Football Club's ground, and is all raising money for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
You can hear Andrew and Dale talking to David's drive-time show by clicking the audio links below.
Andrew Baker
Dale Harris
If you were unable to come along but would like to support such a good cause, please donate here. All donations are very gratefully received.
Story updated June 22 2013
Are You an Arsenal Fan? Get Bidding and Help a Good Cause! - 23 May 2013
Do you eat, breathe and live Arsenal? Are you a diehard fan? Perhaps you know of an Arsenal-mad person? Then there was perfect chance to win a perfect present for the ultimate 'gunners' supporter...
Arsenal very generously donated a signed squad photograph autographed by the current season first-team players, and it has now been framed. To make this year's event extra special and better, we offered the chance for one lucky person to bag this unique prize by way of auction.
All bids were taken right up until the evening of June 15th, the eve of the football fundraising fun day.
After a starting bid of £10, the closing bid on the eve of June 15th came to an amazing £185 won by Karen Russell, an avid Arsenal fan who was ecstatic to say the least with her win! This fantastic contribution has helped boost the football fundraising total this year for the money Oxford Children's Hospital charity. We are hugely grateful to Karen and to everyone who put in a bid and helped boost our fundraising goal this year.
Story Updated June 22 2013
Arsenal very generously donated a signed squad photograph autographed by the current season first-team players, and it has now been framed. To make this year's event extra special and better, we offered the chance for one lucky person to bag this unique prize by way of auction.
All bids were taken right up until the evening of June 15th, the eve of the football fundraising fun day.
After a starting bid of £10, the closing bid on the eve of June 15th came to an amazing £185 won by Karen Russell, an avid Arsenal fan who was ecstatic to say the least with her win! This fantastic contribution has helped boost the football fundraising total this year for the money Oxford Children's Hospital charity. We are hugely grateful to Karen and to everyone who put in a bid and helped boost our fundraising goal this year.
Story Updated June 22 2013
Roll Up, Roll Up... Get Your Raffle Tickets Now! - 18 May 2013
Raffle tickets are now available for this year's fundraising raffle at the 2013 Play2Give football fun day.
Prizes have been pouring in over the last few weeks. And tickets are now available to purchase, to stand with a chance to winning over 30 fantastic prizes that have been donated by local companies and kind-hearted individuals. Help Play2Give in its fundraising goal, with next month's football fun day, by supporting the purchase of raffle tickets.
As always, the raffle is a star attraction of this annual event for the Oxford Children's Hospital. This year is no exception and we are expecting tickets to sell out, with last year's event seeing all raffle books of 400 sell out by the lunchtime of the event itself.
Raffle tickets are just 50p each, or £2.50 a book, and all proceeds raised from the raffle along with the event itself on June 16th, all goes to the Children's Hospital Charity. All helping fund top notch medical specialist equipment and facilities above and beyond NHS standard treating tens of thousands of young patients.
There are lots of superb prizes up for grabs ranging from: a Sunday carvery for four at any Four Pillars Hotel, to a Miele hoover worth around £150, to crates of beer, bottles of champagne and wine, to a microwave donated from Tesco Didcot, to Oxford United match tickets to much, much more.
We look forward to a fantastic day on Sunday June 16th. And hope that the raffle will help this year's footballing fun day raise just as much if not more than last year, in which we aim for the biggest and best event yet.
With huge thanks to all our wonderful raffle contributors and get your raffle tickets now while they last!
Prizes have been pouring in over the last few weeks. And tickets are now available to purchase, to stand with a chance to winning over 30 fantastic prizes that have been donated by local companies and kind-hearted individuals. Help Play2Give in its fundraising goal, with next month's football fun day, by supporting the purchase of raffle tickets.
As always, the raffle is a star attraction of this annual event for the Oxford Children's Hospital. This year is no exception and we are expecting tickets to sell out, with last year's event seeing all raffle books of 400 sell out by the lunchtime of the event itself.
Raffle tickets are just 50p each, or £2.50 a book, and all proceeds raised from the raffle along with the event itself on June 16th, all goes to the Children's Hospital Charity. All helping fund top notch medical specialist equipment and facilities above and beyond NHS standard treating tens of thousands of young patients.
There are lots of superb prizes up for grabs ranging from: a Sunday carvery for four at any Four Pillars Hotel, to a Miele hoover worth around £150, to crates of beer, bottles of champagne and wine, to a microwave donated from Tesco Didcot, to Oxford United match tickets to much, much more.
We look forward to a fantastic day on Sunday June 16th. And hope that the raffle will help this year's footballing fun day raise just as much if not more than last year, in which we aim for the biggest and best event yet.
With huge thanks to all our wonderful raffle contributors and get your raffle tickets now while they last!
Pals' Goal Is Best Children's Soccer Event Yet - 17 May 2013
Goal: Organisers Dale Harris, left, and Andrew Baker. Copyright. Newsquest Oxfordshire
Organisers are hoping their children's charity football tournament will be bigger and better than ever this year.
Read the full story from the Oxford Mail
Entries Still Open! Get Your Teams In Fast! - 11 May 2013
Entries for this year's football tournament are still open!
The annual event on Sunday June 16th is in aid of the Oxford Children's Hospital, and sees children helping other children in need by taking to the 3G Community arena pitches at Oxford City Football club's ground.
Entries for under-8 and under-9 squads close on Friday, 31st May. There are limited spaces in this special tournament with a difference, so don't delay and sign up today for this fantastic fun fundraising day! Download the forms below
Registration Form Teams Information Letter Sponsorship Forms
Entries cost £35 per team, and we ask each boy or team taking part to each raise as much as sponsorship as possible. All money of which goes 100% to the Oxford Children's Hospital. The money raised will help fund the purchase of additional top of the range medical equipment and facilities at the hospital above and beyond NHS standard for the tens of thousands of sick children, babies and teens this wonderful hospital looks after each year.
As well as the traditional sponsorship forms, team managers can also set up an online fundraising page allowing your team to raise even more. Go to www.justgiving.com/oxfordradcliffe to create your page, and select Play2Give from the organised events section. For queries, please contact us
For more information on this year's football fun day, or any queries, click here or contact us above
Thank you for your wonderful support to Play2Give 2013!
The annual event on Sunday June 16th is in aid of the Oxford Children's Hospital, and sees children helping other children in need by taking to the 3G Community arena pitches at Oxford City Football club's ground.
Entries for under-8 and under-9 squads close on Friday, 31st May. There are limited spaces in this special tournament with a difference, so don't delay and sign up today for this fantastic fun fundraising day! Download the forms below
Registration Form Teams Information Letter Sponsorship Forms
Entries cost £35 per team, and we ask each boy or team taking part to each raise as much as sponsorship as possible. All money of which goes 100% to the Oxford Children's Hospital. The money raised will help fund the purchase of additional top of the range medical equipment and facilities at the hospital above and beyond NHS standard for the tens of thousands of sick children, babies and teens this wonderful hospital looks after each year.
As well as the traditional sponsorship forms, team managers can also set up an online fundraising page allowing your team to raise even more. Go to www.justgiving.com/oxfordradcliffe to create your page, and select Play2Give from the organised events section. For queries, please contact us
For more information on this year's football fun day, or any queries, click here or contact us above
Thank you for your wonderful support to Play2Give 2013!
OX5RUN Makes Children's Hospital Richer by £74K. . . With a Helping Hand from Team Play2Give! - 3 May 2013
We Did It! Team Mya at the OX5!
March's Oxford Mail OX5RUN at Blenheim Palace, the biggest annual fundraiser for the Oxford Children's Hospital, celebrated its success last month, in both the number of participants and money raised, with a presentation evening.
This year's OX5RUN was the biggest and most successful ever in its 11-year history, and more than £74,000 has now rolled in for the young patients treated at the hospital. The money raised isn't over yet though! There is more still more sponsorship money from its fun runners to pour in, and, it is hoped the final figure may make £80,000 - making 2013's event the greatest on record.
It was the most coldest March and the most coldest of OX5's in history, but despite near arctic conditions on March 10th, this didn't deter 1,100 people from signing up to take part in this 5-mile run which will benefit tens of thousands of youngsters the hospital looks after each year. All this means that the hospital will be able to provide even more top notch medical equipment and improved facilities for the patients and their families.
And, helping to make the total of £74,000 the OX5RUN currently stands at this year, was Andrew's 'Play2Givers' team. Between them they have now raced in over £2,300 as a combined team effort, all seven runners raised the most money that Team Andrew has ever raised in four years of participation. This makes Andrew's team one of the strongest money raising teams in the run this year. Amazing achievement!
Oxford Mail OX5RUN 2013
This year's OX5RUN was the biggest and most successful ever in its 11-year history, and more than £74,000 has now rolled in for the young patients treated at the hospital. The money raised isn't over yet though! There is more still more sponsorship money from its fun runners to pour in, and, it is hoped the final figure may make £80,000 - making 2013's event the greatest on record.
It was the most coldest March and the most coldest of OX5's in history, but despite near arctic conditions on March 10th, this didn't deter 1,100 people from signing up to take part in this 5-mile run which will benefit tens of thousands of youngsters the hospital looks after each year. All this means that the hospital will be able to provide even more top notch medical equipment and improved facilities for the patients and their families.
And, helping to make the total of £74,000 the OX5RUN currently stands at this year, was Andrew's 'Play2Givers' team. Between them they have now raced in over £2,300 as a combined team effort, all seven runners raised the most money that Team Andrew has ever raised in four years of participation. This makes Andrew's team one of the strongest money raising teams in the run this year. Amazing achievement!
Oxford Mail OX5RUN 2013
Play2Give Newsletter 3 - 23 April 2013
The latest Play2Give Newsletter is now available to download. As always, it is packed with 2 pages of the the latest news and fundraising successes.
*Please note this file opens as a PDF*
*Please note this file opens as a PDF*
Kids urged to join charity football tournament - 18 April 2013
By James Booker
Oxford Journal
Kids are being urged to attend a charity football tournament in aid of the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Read the full story from the Oxford Journal
Oxford Journal
Kids are being urged to attend a charity football tournament in aid of the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Read the full story from the Oxford Journal
Andrew's Play2Givers Run and Walk the OX5 in Force - 25 March 2013
Andrew with Raymond Blanc at this year's OX5RUN
The OX5RUN 2013 took place earlier this month achieving its highest numbers ever in the number of participants, of over 1,000 - and hopefully the hugest amount of money raised in its 11-year history.
Read more here
And, once again Andrew limbered up a team of friends and his big brother to take part in this year's 5-mile fun run at Blenheim Palace, the annual event organised by the Oxford Mail, raising money for the Children's Hospital and Fund for Children.
Andrew's Play2Givers, ranging in age from 16 to over 30, was one of 60 teams and hundreds of other runners who took Blenheim Palace by storm quite literally in the amount of cash raised. With a combined effort over £2,240 has already been raised for the hospital by Team Andrew, with Andrew himself cheering on his super seven on the finish line.
Overall, it is hoped that with 1,100 registrants of this year's run that all records will be broken in the amount of sponsorship raised. Last year's OX5 Run raised £60,000 for ground-breaking medical equipment treating children and sick babies at the hospital.
Top chef Raymond Blanc, who runs Le Manoir aux'Quat Saisons, officially started the race for the third year running, along with Oxford Olympian Hannah England and star of BBC's 'Brain Doctors', Jay Jayamohan, brain surgeon at the Children's Hospital.
A team from University College, Oxford, 'Team Univ', below, all walked or ran the course and have raised around £2k as a group. They were inspired to take part by Andrew, who is friends with the college's very own Teresa Strike who aptly lead the team, and who helps organise Play2Give events with Andrew.
Team Mya were again out in force as ever with a 13-strong team of friends and family running with Dale Harris, fellow Play2Give co-runner, who was taking part in his 11th consecutive run in inspiration of his daughter, Mya, who has been treated at the Oxford Children's Hospital for Spina Bifida since she was born 10 years ago, and who continues to be an inspiration to Play2Give.
Thank you to all of Andrew's Play2Givers who ran or walked the course this year: Simon Smith, Charles Jamieson, Charlie Thompson, Adam Greenough, Simon Lewis, Hollie Smith-Nelson and Natasha Webb.
If you would like to sponsor Andrew's Play2Givers, and any donations will be gratefully received, please click here. Thank you to everyone who has sponsored the team, or supported this year's OX5RUN which Andrew supports every year.
See you in 2014 when the OX5RUN returns for another runaway success for the Children's Hospital!
Read more here
And, once again Andrew limbered up a team of friends and his big brother to take part in this year's 5-mile fun run at Blenheim Palace, the annual event organised by the Oxford Mail, raising money for the Children's Hospital and Fund for Children.
Andrew's Play2Givers, ranging in age from 16 to over 30, was one of 60 teams and hundreds of other runners who took Blenheim Palace by storm quite literally in the amount of cash raised. With a combined effort over £2,240 has already been raised for the hospital by Team Andrew, with Andrew himself cheering on his super seven on the finish line.
Overall, it is hoped that with 1,100 registrants of this year's run that all records will be broken in the amount of sponsorship raised. Last year's OX5 Run raised £60,000 for ground-breaking medical equipment treating children and sick babies at the hospital.
Top chef Raymond Blanc, who runs Le Manoir aux'Quat Saisons, officially started the race for the third year running, along with Oxford Olympian Hannah England and star of BBC's 'Brain Doctors', Jay Jayamohan, brain surgeon at the Children's Hospital.
A team from University College, Oxford, 'Team Univ', below, all walked or ran the course and have raised around £2k as a group. They were inspired to take part by Andrew, who is friends with the college's very own Teresa Strike who aptly lead the team, and who helps organise Play2Give events with Andrew.
Team Mya were again out in force as ever with a 13-strong team of friends and family running with Dale Harris, fellow Play2Give co-runner, who was taking part in his 11th consecutive run in inspiration of his daughter, Mya, who has been treated at the Oxford Children's Hospital for Spina Bifida since she was born 10 years ago, and who continues to be an inspiration to Play2Give.
Thank you to all of Andrew's Play2Givers who ran or walked the course this year: Simon Smith, Charles Jamieson, Charlie Thompson, Adam Greenough, Simon Lewis, Hollie Smith-Nelson and Natasha Webb.
If you would like to sponsor Andrew's Play2Givers, and any donations will be gratefully received, please click here. Thank you to everyone who has sponsored the team, or supported this year's OX5RUN which Andrew supports every year.
See you in 2014 when the OX5RUN returns for another runaway success for the Children's Hospital!
Team Univ were inspired by Andrew to run the OX5 2013
Links:
Pictures from Charitable Funds
Video capturing all the atmosphere
ITV Meridian interviews Raymond Blanc
Pictures from Charitable Funds
Video capturing all the atmosphere
ITV Meridian interviews Raymond Blanc
Mark Baldly Does It for Oxfordshire's Sick Kids - 7 March 2013
Mark Lygo after his shave
Oxford City Councillor and Play2Give supporter, Mark Lygo, recently took a big plunge for charity - by having all of his hair and beard shaved off in the aim of raising lots of money for Oxfordshire's sick children.
Mark had been growing a mammoth fluff of facial hair - a beard - he unusually sported, but decided to forego being clean shaved for around two months, in the aim of raising money for Oxford Children's Hospital. Mark was doing it, in inspiration of Andrew, Dale and his daughter Mya, who has been treated at the hospital since she was born over 10 years ago, with Spina Bifida.
Mark aims up to raise up to £1,000 from his very bald feat - and through running in the 11th OX5 RUN for the Hospital on Sunday, at Blenheim Palace (March 10th). Mark underwent his brave feat in his office at the Oxford Town Hall, where he works a an executive member for sports and parks in the city.
Mark is pictured, above left, after his descent was carried out, and below with his hairdresser, Amy Russell, who volunteered to shave him just two days before - and with Andrew - in a 'live' shave in front of the Oxford Mail.
Mark has a website set up for donations. If you fancy him sponsoring him, please visit www.justgiving.com/mark-lygo1. All proceeds go to make a very real difference to the thousands of young lives the Oxford Children's Hospital treat and care for each year.
You can also check out a report written by Oxford People (sponsors of the Literary Award at the recent Oxfordshire Youth Awards), by clicking here.
Well Done Mark - you are a true sport and a truly great guy for giving up all your hair for such a worthy reason - you are amazing!
Read the Oxford Mail's write-up here
Mark had been growing a mammoth fluff of facial hair - a beard - he unusually sported, but decided to forego being clean shaved for around two months, in the aim of raising money for Oxford Children's Hospital. Mark was doing it, in inspiration of Andrew, Dale and his daughter Mya, who has been treated at the hospital since she was born over 10 years ago, with Spina Bifida.
Mark aims up to raise up to £1,000 from his very bald feat - and through running in the 11th OX5 RUN for the Hospital on Sunday, at Blenheim Palace (March 10th). Mark underwent his brave feat in his office at the Oxford Town Hall, where he works a an executive member for sports and parks in the city.
Mark is pictured, above left, after his descent was carried out, and below with his hairdresser, Amy Russell, who volunteered to shave him just two days before - and with Andrew - in a 'live' shave in front of the Oxford Mail.
Mark has a website set up for donations. If you fancy him sponsoring him, please visit www.justgiving.com/mark-lygo1. All proceeds go to make a very real difference to the thousands of young lives the Oxford Children's Hospital treat and care for each year.
You can also check out a report written by Oxford People (sponsors of the Literary Award at the recent Oxfordshire Youth Awards), by clicking here.
Well Done Mark - you are a true sport and a truly great guy for giving up all your hair for such a worthy reason - you are amazing!
Read the Oxford Mail's write-up here
Mark Lygo, centre, with his hairdresser Amy Russell, right, and Andrew, in a photoshoot for the Oxford Mail before Mark's baldness was spurred into action
Andrew Wins Big in Youth Awards - 24 February 2013
Andrew receives his award from Jennings and Tom Claridge. Picture courtesy of Oxfordshire Association for Young People.
Andrew Baker won big in a special awards ceremony celebrating inspirational young people and their achievements on February 21st.
Report from Oxford People: Play2Give founder Andrew Baker wins Oxford youth award
The Oxfordshire Youth Awards 2013 took centre stage at Oxford Town Hall on this prestigious evening celebrating the inspirational and incredible achievements of young people across Oxfordshire who had overcome bravery, to excelling in the arts or sports, helping those in the community volunteering passionately, to being enterprising, to be inspiring and standing out!
300 young people - aged 11 to 25 - were nominated in the annual awards initiative, organised by the Oxfordshire Association for Young People. The awards featured performances from some of the most exciting young talent in Oxfordshire from dance group, Body Politic to singer Jordan O'Shea, Sands Theatre and Aspire, to rapper Jack Bushrod.
In front of an audience of 600 people, from guests to nominees to top VIPs including author Philip Pullman, former Supergrass front-man Gaz Coombes and Oxford United CEO Ian Lenagan and player John-Paul Pittman, gongs were handed out across 7 categories.
Play2Give are delighted to say that Andrew, nominated in the Enterprise Award category by Headway Oxfordshire, triumphed and came out top, being named as the first place in this award celebrating those youngsters who have shown a great passion for enterprise with a commitment shown in an entrepreneurial spirit and a proactive attitude.
Andrew is pictured above being presenting with his award by the sponsors Jennings, together with Mr Tom Claridge, the winner of the Haines Watts Young Entrepreneur of the Year for his business keyagent.
Andrew, who didn't expect to win the award, and faced tough competition out of 17 contenders for the category, says: "I'm so pleased and chuffed. I never imagined I would be in the top 3 finalists let alone win the trophy. After raising money tirelessly for 10 years for a cause so close to my heart, I am so pleased to have won. It's a great way to cap off 10 incredible years of fundraising, and I just can't quite believe I won, with so many deserving and truly remarkable budding entrepreneurs in line to take the title.
"It was a great night full of so many inspirational and many moving stories, and to win this award is the icing on the cake. I have worked so hard and its nice to be recognised for so much. It's a great team effort though - and this award is in tribute to all those whose helped me raise so much and worked hard on fundraising efforts with me, including my Play2Give team for whom I couldn't do Play2Give without!"
Andrew met Gaz from Supergrass after the awards. Both are pictured below.
Photographs from the evening can be found on Facebook!
Report from Oxford People: Play2Give founder Andrew Baker wins Oxford youth award
The Oxfordshire Youth Awards 2013 took centre stage at Oxford Town Hall on this prestigious evening celebrating the inspirational and incredible achievements of young people across Oxfordshire who had overcome bravery, to excelling in the arts or sports, helping those in the community volunteering passionately, to being enterprising, to be inspiring and standing out!
300 young people - aged 11 to 25 - were nominated in the annual awards initiative, organised by the Oxfordshire Association for Young People. The awards featured performances from some of the most exciting young talent in Oxfordshire from dance group, Body Politic to singer Jordan O'Shea, Sands Theatre and Aspire, to rapper Jack Bushrod.
In front of an audience of 600 people, from guests to nominees to top VIPs including author Philip Pullman, former Supergrass front-man Gaz Coombes and Oxford United CEO Ian Lenagan and player John-Paul Pittman, gongs were handed out across 7 categories.
Play2Give are delighted to say that Andrew, nominated in the Enterprise Award category by Headway Oxfordshire, triumphed and came out top, being named as the first place in this award celebrating those youngsters who have shown a great passion for enterprise with a commitment shown in an entrepreneurial spirit and a proactive attitude.
Andrew is pictured above being presenting with his award by the sponsors Jennings, together with Mr Tom Claridge, the winner of the Haines Watts Young Entrepreneur of the Year for his business keyagent.
Andrew, who didn't expect to win the award, and faced tough competition out of 17 contenders for the category, says: "I'm so pleased and chuffed. I never imagined I would be in the top 3 finalists let alone win the trophy. After raising money tirelessly for 10 years for a cause so close to my heart, I am so pleased to have won. It's a great way to cap off 10 incredible years of fundraising, and I just can't quite believe I won, with so many deserving and truly remarkable budding entrepreneurs in line to take the title.
"It was a great night full of so many inspirational and many moving stories, and to win this award is the icing on the cake. I have worked so hard and its nice to be recognised for so much. It's a great team effort though - and this award is in tribute to all those whose helped me raise so much and worked hard on fundraising efforts with me, including my Play2Give team for whom I couldn't do Play2Give without!"
Andrew met Gaz from Supergrass after the awards. Both are pictured below.
Photographs from the evening can be found on Facebook!
Andrew with Supergrass front-man Gaz Coombes. Courtesy of Mark Lygo.
Oxford Councillor To Baldly Raise Money! - 24 February 2013
Mark Lygo pictured with Andrew. Courtesy of Mark Lygo.
Many thanks to Oxford City Councillor Mark Lygo, who will be undertaking a very bold feat to raise money for the Children's Hospital, inspired by Andrew and Play2Give.
Mark will be going under the clippers in early March to raise lots of money for the hospital youngsters after hearing about and being inspired by Andrew, who won in the Oxfordshire Youth Awards recently. Mark has also been inspired by Dale Harris's daughter Mya, to whom Mark is a family friend to Dale and the family, with Mya receiving treatment at the hospital for spina bifida as another motivation. Andrew and Mark are both pictured above, after Andrew received the Enterprise Award at the Oxford Town Hall ceremony on February 21st.
Mark has been growing a mammoth beard since January - and together with his head of hair - will be having both 'head and facial hair' shaved off in the hope of raising a great amount of money in sponsorship.
Keep posted for further news on this very awe-itching awe-inspiring fundraiser, and post-event pictures to come.
Mark will be going under the clippers in early March to raise lots of money for the hospital youngsters after hearing about and being inspired by Andrew, who won in the Oxfordshire Youth Awards recently. Mark has also been inspired by Dale Harris's daughter Mya, to whom Mark is a family friend to Dale and the family, with Mya receiving treatment at the hospital for spina bifida as another motivation. Andrew and Mark are both pictured above, after Andrew received the Enterprise Award at the Oxford Town Hall ceremony on February 21st.
Mark has been growing a mammoth beard since January - and together with his head of hair - will be having both 'head and facial hair' shaved off in the hope of raising a great amount of money in sponsorship.
Keep posted for further news on this very awe-itching awe-inspiring fundraiser, and post-event pictures to come.
Mark, before beard
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Mark with growing beard
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Calling All Football Teams! - 13 February 2013
Entries are now open for this year's children's football tournament in aid of the Oxford Children's Hospital. This year's event is open to all under 8s and 9s boys teams across Oxfordshire. If you manage a boys football club team, or you know a football team in these age groups who may be interested, get in touch now!
Email play2give@hotmail.com or click contact us above. Be quick, last year 16 boys teams took part - and we have limited spaces available! If you don't want to miss out, get your interest in quick for a fantastic reason, in raising lots of money for our very own children's hospital in Oxford.
Fundraising Tournament 2012
Email play2give@hotmail.com or click contact us above. Be quick, last year 16 boys teams took part - and we have limited spaces available! If you don't want to miss out, get your interest in quick for a fantastic reason, in raising lots of money for our very own children's hospital in Oxford.
Fundraising Tournament 2012
Play2Give Returns for 2013 Football Fever - 11 February 2013
Football is once again coming home to Oxford City Football Club's 3G Community Arena this summer with the return of the annual Play2Give fundraiser on June 16th.
Once again, the event is sponsored by Oxford estate agents Breckon & Breckon, generously funding the entire event so all money raised from this very unique event can go to our wonderful charity, the Oxford Children's Hospital.
With the hope of another successful year, it is hoped that a few thousand will again be netted into the funds in the 2013 football appeal. Last year's event broke all previous football tournament records by raising an incredible £5,103.65 for state-of-the-art medical equipment at the hospital.
2012 Tournament
Breckon & Breckon will once again be entertaining the children and families on the day by running a coconut shy, with all profits added into the fundraising pot. Last year the estate agents contributed £107 towards the pot on the day when all coconuts ran out in just a few hours. www.breckon.co.uk
Our staunch supporters, Newbury Building Society, who have supported every single Play2Give football tournament since its inception in 2007, will also once again be lending its hand as sponsor of the Play2Give Cup they proudly sponsor, as well as funding the medals which will be awarded to all boys in every team who take part. www.newbury.co.uk
This year's day will be much more than just football focused. There will also again be something for the children and families to enjoy on side, with bouncy castle, the coconut shy, face painting, raffle and refreshments, as well as music from Jack FM keeping the event well entertained.
The support from both our sponsors - Breckon & Breckon and Newbury Building Society - is amazing. We would like to hugely thank both for their unstinting support.
Entries for this year's tournament - open to Under 8's and Under 9's teams across Oxfordshire - only to football clubs - are now open. If you would like to take part, and receive registration, entry and sponsorship information, please contact us, or download the links below.
Registration Form Entry Letter of Information Sponsorship Forms
Keep an eye out for further details which emerge about this very exciting and fantastic event over the coming weeks.
Once again, the event is sponsored by Oxford estate agents Breckon & Breckon, generously funding the entire event so all money raised from this very unique event can go to our wonderful charity, the Oxford Children's Hospital.
With the hope of another successful year, it is hoped that a few thousand will again be netted into the funds in the 2013 football appeal. Last year's event broke all previous football tournament records by raising an incredible £5,103.65 for state-of-the-art medical equipment at the hospital.
2012 Tournament
Breckon & Breckon will once again be entertaining the children and families on the day by running a coconut shy, with all profits added into the fundraising pot. Last year the estate agents contributed £107 towards the pot on the day when all coconuts ran out in just a few hours. www.breckon.co.uk
Our staunch supporters, Newbury Building Society, who have supported every single Play2Give football tournament since its inception in 2007, will also once again be lending its hand as sponsor of the Play2Give Cup they proudly sponsor, as well as funding the medals which will be awarded to all boys in every team who take part. www.newbury.co.uk
This year's day will be much more than just football focused. There will also again be something for the children and families to enjoy on side, with bouncy castle, the coconut shy, face painting, raffle and refreshments, as well as music from Jack FM keeping the event well entertained.
The support from both our sponsors - Breckon & Breckon and Newbury Building Society - is amazing. We would like to hugely thank both for their unstinting support.
Entries for this year's tournament - open to Under 8's and Under 9's teams across Oxfordshire - only to football clubs - are now open. If you would like to take part, and receive registration, entry and sponsorship information, please contact us, or download the links below.
Registration Form Entry Letter of Information Sponsorship Forms
Keep an eye out for further details which emerge about this very exciting and fantastic event over the coming weeks.
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Didcot MP Ed Vaizey Lends His Backing - 4 February 2013
Ed Vaizey, the Wantage and Didcot MP, has shown his support to Play2Give, by recently writing to Andrew showing his congratulations on all the work Andrew has done for Oxford Children's Hospital.
In a letter to Andrew dated 28 January 2013, direct from the House of Commons, Ed Vaizey, says: 'Dear Andrew, I thought I must write and congratulate you on your huge achievement of raising, over the last ten years, £28,000 for Oxford Children's Hospital. Keep up your good health and all best wishes for future fund raising with Play2Give. Excellent news"
Andrew hopes to get Ed Vaizey on board in the OX5 Run for the Children's Hospital in the future, as well as hoping to get his patronage with support for this year's football fundraiser on June 16th.
PM and Witney MP David Cameron has also recently given his backing to this year's OX5 Run - which Andrew is again supporting with his own team 'Andrews Play2Givers' into this 5-mile fun. The PM is encouraging Oxfordshire residents and business community to get together and sign up to help the hospital raise many thousands for vital medical equipment. Last year's OX5 raised £60,000 for a variety of ground breaking medical equipment for the hospital above and beyond NHS standard.
OX5 Run
In a letter to Andrew dated 28 January 2013, direct from the House of Commons, Ed Vaizey, says: 'Dear Andrew, I thought I must write and congratulate you on your huge achievement of raising, over the last ten years, £28,000 for Oxford Children's Hospital. Keep up your good health and all best wishes for future fund raising with Play2Give. Excellent news"
Andrew hopes to get Ed Vaizey on board in the OX5 Run for the Children's Hospital in the future, as well as hoping to get his patronage with support for this year's football fundraiser on June 16th.
PM and Witney MP David Cameron has also recently given his backing to this year's OX5 Run - which Andrew is again supporting with his own team 'Andrews Play2Givers' into this 5-mile fun. The PM is encouraging Oxfordshire residents and business community to get together and sign up to help the hospital raise many thousands for vital medical equipment. Last year's OX5 raised £60,000 for a variety of ground breaking medical equipment for the hospital above and beyond NHS standard.
OX5 Run
Andrew Notches Up 10 Years of Fundraising - 18 January 2013
Andrew outside the hospital. Photo courtesy of Oxford Mail
This month sees a landmark achievement for Play2Give's Andrew Baker. It is 10 years ago this very month that saw Andrew set out on a fundraising mission, aged only 14 at the time, back in January 2003. Now, 10 years on, and aged 24, he is still fundraising strong, nearing in on £30,000 for the Oxford Children's Hospital.
Andrew started raising money at Didcot's St Birinus School, to say thank you to the medics who had saved his life two years earlier through major brain surgery. Thanks to the support of fellow school friends and teachers, in which they raised £1,000 in a record-breaking non uniform day, his fundraising endeavours grew stronger and stronger. With many activities and ways of raising money through the school over 5 years, St Birinus was the only school in Oxfordshire to have raised the most amount of money for the Children's Hospital out of any other school in the county. St Birinus mustered up over £11,094 in total to the hospital through supporting the efforts inspired and co-ordinated by Andrew.
Since school, and sixth form and a year's worth of fundraising with the Didcot Girls School students, Andrew created Play2Give, his very own fundraising organisation in September 2007. And through football tournaments and other events adding to his list of many fun, imaginative and wacky ways of raising money years earlier as a school pupil, Andrew had surpassed his initial goal of raising £20,000 in total as a debt of repayment back for the doctors saving his life years earlier, by achieving this by late 2009. To date, he has now raised over £28,100 for the hospital, following his treatment over many years from aged 12 until he made a complete recovery at the age of 18.
Fellow P2G committee member and friend, Dale Harris, from Cowley, like Andrew, has also done so much to support the Oxford Children's Hospital over 10 years. For Dale's daughter Mya, 10, was born with spina bifida. And, as a result, Dale has ran every single OX5 Run in aid of the hospital, abseiled down the JR building, helps organise the Play2Give tournaments and done other fundraising exploits, to support the hospital which has done so much to help his daughter.
To celebrate his mammoth 10th year achievement, Andrew put his support to the hospital's biggest annual fundraiser, the Oxford Mail OX5RUN, to inspire more people to put on their running and walking shoes to take part in this inspirational and fun 5-miler run around Blenheim Palace on March 10th.
Read more from the Oxford Mail: Years of fundraising and still going strong
Andrew started raising money at Didcot's St Birinus School, to say thank you to the medics who had saved his life two years earlier through major brain surgery. Thanks to the support of fellow school friends and teachers, in which they raised £1,000 in a record-breaking non uniform day, his fundraising endeavours grew stronger and stronger. With many activities and ways of raising money through the school over 5 years, St Birinus was the only school in Oxfordshire to have raised the most amount of money for the Children's Hospital out of any other school in the county. St Birinus mustered up over £11,094 in total to the hospital through supporting the efforts inspired and co-ordinated by Andrew.
Since school, and sixth form and a year's worth of fundraising with the Didcot Girls School students, Andrew created Play2Give, his very own fundraising organisation in September 2007. And through football tournaments and other events adding to his list of many fun, imaginative and wacky ways of raising money years earlier as a school pupil, Andrew had surpassed his initial goal of raising £20,000 in total as a debt of repayment back for the doctors saving his life years earlier, by achieving this by late 2009. To date, he has now raised over £28,100 for the hospital, following his treatment over many years from aged 12 until he made a complete recovery at the age of 18.
Fellow P2G committee member and friend, Dale Harris, from Cowley, like Andrew, has also done so much to support the Oxford Children's Hospital over 10 years. For Dale's daughter Mya, 10, was born with spina bifida. And, as a result, Dale has ran every single OX5 Run in aid of the hospital, abseiled down the JR building, helps organise the Play2Give tournaments and done other fundraising exploits, to support the hospital which has done so much to help his daughter.
To celebrate his mammoth 10th year achievement, Andrew put his support to the hospital's biggest annual fundraiser, the Oxford Mail OX5RUN, to inspire more people to put on their running and walking shoes to take part in this inspirational and fun 5-miler run around Blenheim Palace on March 10th.
Read more from the Oxford Mail: Years of fundraising and still going strong
Andrew Up for Youth Award - 12 January 2013
Play2Give's very own Andrew recently found out he is up for a gong in a special awards ceremony for young people next month.
Andrew, who has been nominated in the 2013 Oxfordshire Youth Awards, will attend the gala evening on February 21st, at Oxford Town Hall when he will find out if he is a winner of the Enterprise Award category.
The Oxfordshire Youth Awards 2013 is a prestigious annual event produced by Oxfordshire Association for Young People celebrating young people across Oxfordshire, raising awareness and celebration of the inspirational contributions made by 300 11-25 year olds in this year's awards.
Andrew has been nominated by Jamie Stalker, his Community Support Worker at Headway Oxfordshire. In nominating Andrew, Jamie described him in three key words to the award panel, 'Giving, Determined, and Inspirational', really summing up why he deserves to win.
Andrew has starred in a short film produced by Oxford Brookes students showing the work Headway Oxfordshire does in supporting 400 adults like Andrew who live with brain injuries, and the vital fundraising Headway relies on. The video can be viewed at www.headwayoxford.org.uk.
This nomination is yet another great celebration for Andrew to add onto the 10 years of fundraising achievements he has notched up this month. The evening with 600 attendees, will include distinguished special guests, including Oxford United's CEO Ian Lenagan, author Philip Pullman and Supergrass Front-man Gaz Coombes, all presenting honours on the night, with musical and dance performances from some of the most home-grown young talent in Oxford.
www.oxfordshireyouthawards.org
Andrew, who has been nominated in the 2013 Oxfordshire Youth Awards, will attend the gala evening on February 21st, at Oxford Town Hall when he will find out if he is a winner of the Enterprise Award category.
The Oxfordshire Youth Awards 2013 is a prestigious annual event produced by Oxfordshire Association for Young People celebrating young people across Oxfordshire, raising awareness and celebration of the inspirational contributions made by 300 11-25 year olds in this year's awards.
Andrew has been nominated by Jamie Stalker, his Community Support Worker at Headway Oxfordshire. In nominating Andrew, Jamie described him in three key words to the award panel, 'Giving, Determined, and Inspirational', really summing up why he deserves to win.
Andrew has starred in a short film produced by Oxford Brookes students showing the work Headway Oxfordshire does in supporting 400 adults like Andrew who live with brain injuries, and the vital fundraising Headway relies on. The video can be viewed at www.headwayoxford.org.uk.
This nomination is yet another great celebration for Andrew to add onto the 10 years of fundraising achievements he has notched up this month. The evening with 600 attendees, will include distinguished special guests, including Oxford United's CEO Ian Lenagan, author Philip Pullman and Supergrass Front-man Gaz Coombes, all presenting honours on the night, with musical and dance performances from some of the most home-grown young talent in Oxford.
www.oxfordshireyouthawards.org
Get Set for a Hair-Raising Venture - 21 December 2012
Play2Give are calling on willing candidates to sign up for a hair-raising feat next year, with thanks to the support of a Didcot hairdressers.
Reflections Hairdressing on Abbott Road have agreed to host a special 'head-shave-a-thon' fundraiser supported and inspired by Play2Give, and all proceeds from this unique fundraiser will aid the Children's Hospital.
The idea? People undertaking this brave bold venture pay a donation to have their mops chopped off, whilst raising additional sponsorship from family and friends and colleagues, to raise as much as possible to benefit this good cause.
Owner of Reflections in Didcot, Steve Roberts, says: "We're delighted we'll be hosting this day in support of the children's hospital inspired by Andrew and supported by Play2Give. When Andrew asked me if we would like to host a fundraiser at the salon, the decision was an easy one.
Andrew works so hard and does such great work with all he does for his cause. Reflections is looking forward to playing host next year to such a fantastic fundraiser by providing a hair-raising experience to come whilst providing fun and we hope to raise a fantastic sum for an inspirational reason by without doubt the best hairdressing team in Didcot!"
Do you fancy being shorn and losing your hair for a good cause? Want more information? Please email Andrew at play2give@hotmail.com or use the contact page above
Look out for further details and the date of this hair-raising fundraiser when further announcements are released in the new year!
Reflections Hairdressing on Abbott Road have agreed to host a special 'head-shave-a-thon' fundraiser supported and inspired by Play2Give, and all proceeds from this unique fundraiser will aid the Children's Hospital.
The idea? People undertaking this brave bold venture pay a donation to have their mops chopped off, whilst raising additional sponsorship from family and friends and colleagues, to raise as much as possible to benefit this good cause.
Owner of Reflections in Didcot, Steve Roberts, says: "We're delighted we'll be hosting this day in support of the children's hospital inspired by Andrew and supported by Play2Give. When Andrew asked me if we would like to host a fundraiser at the salon, the decision was an easy one.
Andrew works so hard and does such great work with all he does for his cause. Reflections is looking forward to playing host next year to such a fantastic fundraiser by providing a hair-raising experience to come whilst providing fun and we hope to raise a fantastic sum for an inspirational reason by without doubt the best hairdressing team in Didcot!"
Do you fancy being shorn and losing your hair for a good cause? Want more information? Please email Andrew at play2give@hotmail.com or use the contact page above
Look out for further details and the date of this hair-raising fundraiser when further announcements are released in the new year!
Play2Give Newsletter 2 - 20 December 2012
Download the latest Play2Give newsletter, with all the latest news and fundraising successes.
From everyone involved with Play2Give, We would like to wish you all - our wonderful supporters - a very happy Christmas and season's greetings for a wonderful 2013!
*Please note this file opens in a PDF*
From everyone involved with Play2Give, We would like to wish you all - our wonderful supporters - a very happy Christmas and season's greetings for a wonderful 2013!
*Please note this file opens in a PDF*
Goal! Over £5,000 Netted for the Oxford Children's Hospital! - 19 October 2012
Play2Give brought cheer to the poorly kids in hospital when Andrew and fellow organisers, Dale Harris and Teresa Strike, brought in a giant cheque totalling over £5,200 to the Children’s Hospital.
Also present was the Under 10s AFC Brightwell Youth team, who raised the most amount of money out of any other team in July’s football contest. They raised £535 in sponsorship to swell the hospital funds and received a special cup for their support, received by a couple of the boys and the team’s manager, Daniel Mason, pictured further below. Daniel’s youngest son was treated in the Children’s Hospital when he was younger so Daniel wished to repay back to the medics who had helped him, resulting in their participation into the tournament.
Andrew and Dale is pictured below presenting Penny Hambridge, from the Oxford Children’s Hospital Charity, with the proceeds raised from Play2Give 2012.
Also present was the Under 10s AFC Brightwell Youth team, who raised the most amount of money out of any other team in July’s football contest. They raised £535 in sponsorship to swell the hospital funds and received a special cup for their support, received by a couple of the boys and the team’s manager, Daniel Mason, pictured further below. Daniel’s youngest son was treated in the Children’s Hospital when he was younger so Daniel wished to repay back to the medics who had helped him, resulting in their participation into the tournament.
Andrew and Dale is pictured below presenting Penny Hambridge, from the Oxford Children’s Hospital Charity, with the proceeds raised from Play2Give 2012.
Andrew, centre, and Dale present Penny Hambridge from the Children's Hospital Charity with the record-breaking cheque
Play2Give’s Andrew and Dale with the big cheque, with AFC Brightwell U9s who won a cup for raising the most sponsorship, with Paul Holt from Newbury Building Society, second left
July’s football tournament and fun day was such a knock-out success that the football fun day itself raised £5,103.65 in total, and with proceeds combined of Play2Give’s celebratory night in September of £170, Play2Give was able to raise a fantastic £5,273.65 in total – making 2012 a record-breaking year for Play2Give’s support for the Oxford Children’s Hospital! The money will help further facilitate its state of the art facilities and hi-tech equipment beyond NHS standard. Equipment such as a cooling machine and two special machines that monitor brain activity, for newborns suffered a lack of oxygen during birth, as well as a mobile intensive care unit and a sitting room and outdoor terrace for teenagers with cancer are just some of the things that money like Play2Give’s contributions all help make to the thousands of patients the hospital look after.
It is hoped to repeat the success of this year’s event when the football tournament and fun day returns in summer 2013, possibly with a June date, and the hope to score yet more money in for the Oxford Children’s Hospital. Keep posted to this page for further details early in 2013.
It is hoped to repeat the success of this year’s event when the football tournament and fun day returns in summer 2013, possibly with a June date, and the hope to score yet more money in for the Oxford Children’s Hospital. Keep posted to this page for further details early in 2013.
Play2Give Parties Away 5 Years - and Hundreds Raised! - 25 September 2012
Andrew presented with birthday cake for Play2Give
Play2Give celebrated a very special birthday this month when it partied the evening away with a celebratory charity night.
Organisers of the evening, and fellow Play2Give supporters and friends, Alison Stone and Alison Russell, presented Andrew with a surprise birthday cake marking the 5th birthday of Play2Give, after it was set up in September 2007. Andrew is pictured with the two Alison’s receiving the football-shaped birthday cake.
The night was a fantastic success, and with musical entertainment coming from Oxford-based singer-songwriters, Adam Barnes and Simon Batten, who both provided acoustic sets on guitars, disco and karaoke and a finger buffet, the crowd came out in force to support Play2Give to add to an amazing year of fund raising.
Over £510 was raised in proceedings on the night through entry and raffle tickets alone, which saw around 30 prizes donated in total for the grand raffle draw. The celebratory party helped aid three local charities: the Oxford Children’s Hospital, Footsteps helping further the fund raising fund for Sienna Steptoe from Abingdon, whose parents need to raise money to enable Sienna to receive intensive innovative physiotherapy at the centre, and Bone Cancer Research funds in memory and inspiration of the late Alex Lewis from Brightwell-cum-Sotwell. Like Andrew, Alex, a former St Birinus School student, sadly died from the illness in 2011, aged 22.
All three charities received £170 each. This makes Play2Give’s fund raising total over 5 years to £17,190 for these and many other charities – including £13,000 of that for the Oxford children's hospital. Andrew began fund raising at 14 whilst at school and enlisted the aid of then fellow school-friends and teachers to raise money, since then he has gone onto raise over £28,100 for the Children's Hospital over nearly 10 years .
Organisers of the evening, and fellow Play2Give supporters and friends, Alison Stone and Alison Russell, presented Andrew with a surprise birthday cake marking the 5th birthday of Play2Give, after it was set up in September 2007. Andrew is pictured with the two Alison’s receiving the football-shaped birthday cake.
The night was a fantastic success, and with musical entertainment coming from Oxford-based singer-songwriters, Adam Barnes and Simon Batten, who both provided acoustic sets on guitars, disco and karaoke and a finger buffet, the crowd came out in force to support Play2Give to add to an amazing year of fund raising.
Over £510 was raised in proceedings on the night through entry and raffle tickets alone, which saw around 30 prizes donated in total for the grand raffle draw. The celebratory party helped aid three local charities: the Oxford Children’s Hospital, Footsteps helping further the fund raising fund for Sienna Steptoe from Abingdon, whose parents need to raise money to enable Sienna to receive intensive innovative physiotherapy at the centre, and Bone Cancer Research funds in memory and inspiration of the late Alex Lewis from Brightwell-cum-Sotwell. Like Andrew, Alex, a former St Birinus School student, sadly died from the illness in 2011, aged 22.
All three charities received £170 each. This makes Play2Give’s fund raising total over 5 years to £17,190 for these and many other charities – including £13,000 of that for the Oxford children's hospital. Andrew began fund raising at 14 whilst at school and enlisted the aid of then fellow school-friends and teachers to raise money, since then he has gone onto raise over £28,100 for the Children's Hospital over nearly 10 years .
Play2Give Newsletter - August 2012
Click here to read the very first Play2Give newsletter, issue 1. Summer 2012.
*Please note this file opens in a PDF*
*Please note this file opens in a PDF*
Tournament raised thousands - 26 July 2012
A Didcot man held the fourth Play2Give charity football tournament on July 15 to raise funds for Oxford Children's Hospital.
Read more from the Oxfordshire Guardian South edition
A Didcot man held the fourth Play2Give charity football tournament on July 15 to raise funds for Oxford Children's Hospital.
Read more from the Oxfordshire Guardian South edition
Children's hospital funds boosted - 19 July 2012
Oxford City Football Club hosted the fourth Play2Give charity football tournament on July 15, raising funds for Oxford Children's Hospital.
Read the full story from the Oxfordshire Guardian City edition
Oxford City Football Club hosted the fourth Play2Give charity football tournament on July 15, raising funds for Oxford Children's Hospital.
Read the full story from the Oxfordshire Guardian City edition
Copyright Newsquest Oxfordshire
Young footballers team up to help hospital - 18 July 2012
Football teams from across Oxfordshire came together for a tournament to raise money for Oxford Children's Hospital.
Oxford Mail full story
Football teams from across Oxfordshire came together for a tournament to raise money for Oxford Children's Hospital.
Oxford Mail full story
The U's Pitch In for Play2Give 2012! - 18 July 2012
Organisers Dale, Andrew and Teresa with Max Crocombe
Oxford United got fully behind this July's football tournament - organised for the fourth year in aid of the Oxford Children's Hospital.
2012 saw the return of Andrew Baker's hugely popular football tournament, after the last successful one in 2009, and saw Oxford United, with the added backing of Oxfordshire's JACK FM, help make 2012's event a huge success and the best and biggest Play2Give day yet.
This year saw 16 kids teams take to the pitches, with lots of fun entertainment and attractions, and as a result, broke all fund raising goals all round.
The U's sent along goal-keepers Ryan Clarke and Max Crocombe along during the day to present medals to all the boys who took part, including a photo-shoot with Mr Ryan Clarke and the under 8 boys for the Oxford Mail. Club coaches also headed a penalty shoot out and mini skills sessions. More about the day and its success here, and below is Play2Give's Andrew Baker with Ryan Clarke.
Read the Oxford Mail report
2012 saw the return of Andrew Baker's hugely popular football tournament, after the last successful one in 2009, and saw Oxford United, with the added backing of Oxfordshire's JACK FM, help make 2012's event a huge success and the best and biggest Play2Give day yet.
This year saw 16 kids teams take to the pitches, with lots of fun entertainment and attractions, and as a result, broke all fund raising goals all round.
The U's sent along goal-keepers Ryan Clarke and Max Crocombe along during the day to present medals to all the boys who took part, including a photo-shoot with Mr Ryan Clarke and the under 8 boys for the Oxford Mail. Club coaches also headed a penalty shoot out and mini skills sessions. More about the day and its success here, and below is Play2Give's Andrew Baker with Ryan Clarke.
Read the Oxford Mail report
Andrew with Oxford United goalkeeper Ryan Clarke
Kennington F.C. are the victorious under 9s team!
Play2Give will return in June 2013, after the phenomenal success this year, which has already raised over £4,000 and money is still pouring in.
You can still aid the fund raising goal. by making a donation via the event's Justgiving page, www.justgiving.com/play2give2012. Or you can send in a cheque payable to Play2Give. For further details please contact us.
You can still aid the fund raising goal. by making a donation via the event's Justgiving page, www.justgiving.com/play2give2012. Or you can send in a cheque payable to Play2Give. For further details please contact us.
Get Your Bids In If Your a Blues Fan, Get Raffling If Your a Red Devil! - 24 June 2012
You can have your chance to win two signed footballs, donated by top premiership clubs in July's fundraising football day, at Oxford City Football Club.
Both Manchester United and Chelsea have shown their support to Play2Give this year, by both donating signed footballs autographed by some of the first-team players.
The Chelsea football will be put into a silent auction on the day, with all bids raising money for the Children's Hospital. Get bidding though, as only the person who writes the highest bid will walk away with this once in a lifetime opportunity of a prize. Man United have donated a signed football too, from the first-team squad. So if your a big football fan of either these clubs, and you want to help raise money for such a fantastic cause in helping poorly children in the hospital and money raised funding new specialist medical equipment, then get your wallets or purses out and dig deep by placing your bids or raffle tickets out on the day.
Raffle tickets are currently being sold at £1 a book, with lots of other fantastic prizes up for grabs. From a high quality Miele vacuum cleaner, to two tickets to an Oxford United home game in August, tea for two at the Randolph Hotel, and Sunday dinner for four at the Four Pillars Hotel, and lots of other wonderful prizes donated by local businesses.
A signed aston villa football from the 1991/92 season, donated by Ash Phillips - Play2Give website designer - and a signed crystal glass vase box set, donated by Berkshire-based celebrity, Uri Gellar, will also be available for bids in the silent auction on the day of Sunday, July 15th.
If you would like to buy raffle tickets, or donate a prize for the raffle, to aid the Children's Hospital, please get in touch.
More information on the auction donation Uri Gellar has given can be read below.
Both Manchester United and Chelsea have shown their support to Play2Give this year, by both donating signed footballs autographed by some of the first-team players.
The Chelsea football will be put into a silent auction on the day, with all bids raising money for the Children's Hospital. Get bidding though, as only the person who writes the highest bid will walk away with this once in a lifetime opportunity of a prize. Man United have donated a signed football too, from the first-team squad. So if your a big football fan of either these clubs, and you want to help raise money for such a fantastic cause in helping poorly children in the hospital and money raised funding new specialist medical equipment, then get your wallets or purses out and dig deep by placing your bids or raffle tickets out on the day.
Raffle tickets are currently being sold at £1 a book, with lots of other fantastic prizes up for grabs. From a high quality Miele vacuum cleaner, to two tickets to an Oxford United home game in August, tea for two at the Randolph Hotel, and Sunday dinner for four at the Four Pillars Hotel, and lots of other wonderful prizes donated by local businesses.
A signed aston villa football from the 1991/92 season, donated by Ash Phillips - Play2Give website designer - and a signed crystal glass vase box set, donated by Berkshire-based celebrity, Uri Gellar, will also be available for bids in the silent auction on the day of Sunday, July 15th.
If you would like to buy raffle tickets, or donate a prize for the raffle, to aid the Children's Hospital, please get in touch.
More information on the auction donation Uri Gellar has given can be read below.
Signed Man U football in the raffle
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Signed Chelsea ball will be auctioned
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Team players are needed - 11 June 2012
A former children's hospital patient hopes to raise thousands with his fourth charity football tournament.
Read full story from the Oxford Mail
Read full story from the Oxford Mail
Uri Gellar Supports Play2Give - 22 May 2012
Andrew with Uri Gellar
Celebrity physic, and famous for his renowned spoon-bending, Uri Gellar (also well known for his stint in the Australian outback in TV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here), has shown his support for Play2Give.
Play2Give's Andrew, was invited by the star to his Berkshire-based pad on a Sunday in May, along with Andrew's friend and fellow event helper, Claire Hughes, who linked up the connection of support, to meet Uri himself and to pick up a donation for July's charity football tournament.
Uri, who was best friends to the late Michael Jackson, donated his very last in existence limited edition glass crystal boxed set from his very own 'Uri Gellar collection', of which the donation included a golden bent spoon, and, of which the star wished for the prize to be auctioned, as part of the event for Oxford Children's Hospital.
Uri even grabbed an ordinary everyday kitchen tea spoon upon Andrew and Claire's fleeting appearance, bent it in full view (and its proven, Mr Gellar really can bend spoons!!) and signed it especially for Andrew, wishing him all the very best for his future fund raising, and health in general. Uri was unfortunately unable to make the event due to other commitments, but has invited Andrew and Claire back for a chat and tea in the very near future.
Andrew is pictured above with Uri and the donated auction-lot, which in the end went for £50 in the silent auction on July 15th's big football fundraiser.
You can visit Uri's website here.
Play2Give's Andrew, was invited by the star to his Berkshire-based pad on a Sunday in May, along with Andrew's friend and fellow event helper, Claire Hughes, who linked up the connection of support, to meet Uri himself and to pick up a donation for July's charity football tournament.
Uri, who was best friends to the late Michael Jackson, donated his very last in existence limited edition glass crystal boxed set from his very own 'Uri Gellar collection', of which the donation included a golden bent spoon, and, of which the star wished for the prize to be auctioned, as part of the event for Oxford Children's Hospital.
Uri even grabbed an ordinary everyday kitchen tea spoon upon Andrew and Claire's fleeting appearance, bent it in full view (and its proven, Mr Gellar really can bend spoons!!) and signed it especially for Andrew, wishing him all the very best for his future fund raising, and health in general. Uri was unfortunately unable to make the event due to other commitments, but has invited Andrew and Claire back for a chat and tea in the very near future.
Andrew is pictured above with Uri and the donated auction-lot, which in the end went for £50 in the silent auction on July 15th's big football fundraiser.
You can visit Uri's website here.
Andrew Meets Raymond Blanc - 27 March 2012
Andrew meets top chef Raymond Blanc
Top celebrity chef Raymond Blanc set nearly 1,000 runners on their way in this year's Oxford Mail OX5 RUN on Sunday March 25.
The run, held for its tenth year, and raising money for the Children's Hospital, on a very unseasonably hot day on Sunday, was started by a very enthusiastic Mr Blanc, owner of Le Manoir aux'Quat Saisons restaurant, and Oxford United's chairman, Kelvin Thomas, who had rallied a team of United fans and staff to run, including TV's Jim Rosenthal and manager, Chris Wilder along with the club's mascot, Olly the Ox.
Andrew, who once again had runners taking part in this year's five-mile run, organised by the Oxford Mail, was introduced to Raymond, above, as he prepared to sound off the starting horn, at the beautiful surroundings of Blenheim Palace's park gardens. Raymond has pledged to run next year's charity run, which last year raised £60,000 for paying for a range of top notch medical equipment at the hospital, including a chill-out room for teenage cancer patients, and a mobile intensive care unit.
Andrew hopes to gain the support of Mr Blanc by attracting a raffle prize for July's charity football tournament fundraising day for the Children's Hospital.
Watch videos of this year's OX5 Run 2012:
The run, held for its tenth year, and raising money for the Children's Hospital, on a very unseasonably hot day on Sunday, was started by a very enthusiastic Mr Blanc, owner of Le Manoir aux'Quat Saisons restaurant, and Oxford United's chairman, Kelvin Thomas, who had rallied a team of United fans and staff to run, including TV's Jim Rosenthal and manager, Chris Wilder along with the club's mascot, Olly the Ox.
Andrew, who once again had runners taking part in this year's five-mile run, organised by the Oxford Mail, was introduced to Raymond, above, as he prepared to sound off the starting horn, at the beautiful surroundings of Blenheim Palace's park gardens. Raymond has pledged to run next year's charity run, which last year raised £60,000 for paying for a range of top notch medical equipment at the hospital, including a chill-out room for teenage cancer patients, and a mobile intensive care unit.
Andrew hopes to gain the support of Mr Blanc by attracting a raffle prize for July's charity football tournament fundraising day for the Children's Hospital.
Watch videos of this year's OX5 Run 2012:
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Play2Give Brings Cheer to Footsteps - 11 December 2010
I got a nice message from Andrew Baker who has been fund raising for Oxford Children's Hospital since they gave him treatment for a very serious illness some years ago.
Read more from the Abingdon Blog
I got a nice message from Andrew Baker who has been fund raising for Oxford Children's Hospital since they gave him treatment for a very serious illness some years ago.
Read more from the Abingdon Blog
Copyright Newsquest Oxfordshire
Andrew gearing up for latest fun-filled fundraiser - 2 October 2010
Friends of Andrew are helping to organise another charity fundraising evening later this month to help sick and disabled children, whilst Andrew is out of bounds. Read the full story as reported by the Oxford Mail below
Oxford Mail: Andrew hosts latest Play2Give fundraiser
Friends of Andrew are helping to organise another charity fundraising evening later this month to help sick and disabled children, whilst Andrew is out of bounds. Read the full story as reported by the Oxford Mail below
Oxford Mail: Andrew hosts latest Play2Give fundraiser
Copyright Newsquest Oxfordshire
Andrew laid low by illness - 9 June 2010
Founder of Play2Give, Andrew Baker, is currently battling an undiagnosed brain condition has vowed to resume his charity work as soon as he is fit again. Recently, the Oxford Mail spoke to Andrew, about his current fight against health. Read the full story by clicking on the link below.
Oxford Mail: Charity champion laid low by illness
Founder of Play2Give, Andrew Baker, is currently battling an undiagnosed brain condition has vowed to resume his charity work as soon as he is fit again. Recently, the Oxford Mail spoke to Andrew, about his current fight against health. Read the full story by clicking on the link below.
Oxford Mail: Charity champion laid low by illness
Andrew Baker with a grand cheque for over £22,600 raised over 6 years with Penny Hambridge from the Children's Hospital.
Cheques presented to two charities
Fundraising Football Pays Off - 20 November 2008
Play2Give has this week given a boost to two charities totalling more than £3,000 scored from another successful and hot football tournament in the summer. Read more below...
Oxford Mail: Fundraising football pays off
Play2Give has this week given a boost to two charities totalling more than £3,000 scored from another successful and hot football tournament in the summer. Read more below...
Oxford Mail: Fundraising football pays off
Andrew Baker, Maxine Ford and Alison Stone
Abingdon Blog: 'Champion Fund Raiser' - 18 November 2008
Andrew, on the left, is a young fund raiser who stages the annual Play2Give football tournament. He is ably assisted by Maxine in the center.
Read more from the Abingdon Blogger
Andrew, on the left, is a young fund raiser who stages the annual Play2Give football tournament. He is ably assisted by Maxine in the center.
Read more from the Abingdon Blogger
Dale Harris and Josh Haynes
Goal in sight for children's hospital - 8 July 2008
The father of a patient at the Oxford Children's Hospital will be putting on his football boots for a charity tournament with special personal significance. Read more at the link below.
Oxford Mail: Goal in sight for children's hospital
The father of a patient at the Oxford Children's Hospital will be putting on his football boots for a charity tournament with special personal significance. Read more at the link below.
Oxford Mail: Goal in sight for children's hospital
Barry Willsher from Heads Up receives £900
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