Charity
This year Rainbow Trust celebrates its 25th anniversary. Founded in 1986, we have now supported thousands of families who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness. With the help of the families who share their inspirational stories about the difference Rainbow has made to their lives, we have been able to raise our profile and tell more people about the valuable work that we do. From the humble beginnings of two staff and a kitchen table to work from, Rainbow is now a national charity and supports approximately 1000 families across England. Thanks to the dedication and hard-work of staff and volunteers, Rainbow continues to grow year on year and makes progress towards achieving its vision that one day all terminally ill children and their families will have access to a Rainbow carer. To mark this anniversary, Rainbow will be holding special profile raising fundraising activities to make this year our most successful yet.
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Heather Wood's fundraising page
3.30 19 June 2011 Time and date will forever be etched in my memory because my plan was clear – arrive early, chat with friends and family and then take to the skies. It almost didn’t happen: a combination of daughter not being ready for set off time, accident on the M25 and getting lost all conspired to dent my swan like approach. I downed loads of Rescue Remedy in the car and then the Wing Walking Company Office turned out to be a domestic caravan with a couple of picnic tables outside with some very cold friends who wanted to take my place having seen another WW take flight…….
I braced myself for the rigorous training that I had been seeking sponsorship for and minutes later I was climbing into the cockpit and then onto the wings. Once strapped in I did have a momentary thought about my sanity and then it was chocks away as we bumped along the grass runway. This was particularly uncomfortable because I was strapped onto a metal bar with something like a bicycle saddle to perch on. Then we were airborne and the noise from the wind and the pummelling were incredible. The plane quickly climbed and took a couple of sweeping turns past the windswept spectators huddled together waving to me as I struggled to lift my arms against the wind. Then it was flight time – across trees, hills and with the M4 snaking into the distance while I tried to look all round me. I wore goggles but my eyes were streaming from the wind and I feared my hair would be stripped away! The long climb for the steep dive was exciting and the descent was literally breathtaking whilst the ground hurtled ever closer. As we climbed again the pilot took the chance to do a couple of wing waggles and I wondered why I was slipping to one side and then the other.
All too soon it was over and we were once again bumping along the runway past a busy car park with spectators lined along the fence and I couldn’t even ask for a donation! I was exhilarated – I wanted to go up again and all the weeks of worry were behind me. It was truly amazing.
Donating through Virgin Money is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also a tax efficient way to donate as every £1 given provides an extra 25p to the charity. Your details are safe with Virgin Money as they will never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they will send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate and we raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
Thank you for your donations which are helping families who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness.
Heather
Recent donors
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Gordon T-H £200.00 (+ £50.00 giftaid) 22.08.11 |
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Anonymous £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 09.08.11 |
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Anonymous £100.00 22.07.11 |
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Eva and John £25.00 (+ £6.25 giftaid) 12.07.11 What a daredevil! Well done Heather. |
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Martin and Carol £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 08.07.11 Well done - I bet you were bricking it!! Seriously brave!!! |
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Sybil Speed £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 08.07.11 Amazing and don't expect me to follow you!!! |
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Su Sayer £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 04.07.11 well done Heather ...a very brave achievement |
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Liz Wall £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 03.07.11 well done crazy lady. see you very soon. liz x |
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Geraldine Hoban £15.00 (+ £3.75 giftaid) 30.06.11 Well done Heather - as someone whose is petrified by heights - I am in awe of what you achieved - and slightly faint by just the thought of it! Whats the next challenge?? Hope to see you soon. |
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Tanya Pepin £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 29.06.11 Well done Heather |
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Mary Foster £50.00 29.06.11 Fantastic Heather! You never cease to amaze me with your guts & determination, but especially your passionate hard work for Rainbows. What next?! |
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Linda Partridge £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 28.06.11 Well done Heather, what a fantastic achievement! |
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Anna Powis £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 28.06.11 Well Done Heather! |
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Annabel Buchan £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 28.06.11 Well done, Heather |
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Mary Wynne Finch £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 28.06.11 It doesn't get much madder than this! Mxox |
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Richard Hill £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 28.06.11 What a way to use your gift of time! Well done. |
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John Richards £15.00 (+ £3.75 giftaid) 26.06.11 Well done, Heather! |
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Anne Harris £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 25.06.11 Wow Heather! I'm so impressed - I hope that it was fab and I 'm sorry that I wasn't there to watch you. Anne |
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Anonymous £100.00 (+ £25.00 giftaid) 25.06.11 so sorry I wasn't there.Well done but why not try a more tranquil adventure next? love lana |
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Jane Whram £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 24.06.11 Well done, Heather, fantastic way to celebrate Rainbow's 25th anniversary! |
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Lisa Martin £25.00 (+ £6.25 giftaid) 24.06.11 Hope it all went well. Well done you for taking the leap for such a good cause. |
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Lucy Sangster £100.00 (+ £25.00 giftaid) 23.06.11 Best of luck. |
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Simon £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 22.06.11 Glad to hear that you survived to fly again another day, you mad thing! |
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kath from the cumbria & lancashire team £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 21.06.11 Well Done Heather |
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Hayley & Andy £25.00 (+ £6.25 giftaid) 21.06.11 Congratulations Heather... an amazing feat |
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Paul E £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 20.06.11 Fantastic! Well done |
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Mark Richardson £100.00 (+ £25.00 giftaid) 20.06.11 Well Done! Rather you than me. |
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Cat £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 20.06.11 HUGEST Congratulations Heather on completing such a challenge! X |
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Carol & Simon £75.00 (+ £18.75 giftaid) 19.06.11 So glad it happened and that the photos we have prove you not only did it but had a smile on your face too! |
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Jane Thurnell-Read £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 19.06.11 Go for it, Heather. Hope the weather holds and you get time to enjoy the sky. Jane xx |
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Steve Fisher £10.00 (+ £2.50 giftaid) 18.06.11 Thank God Bernie didn't sign us up for this - good luck |
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Oonagh £25.00 (+ £6.25 giftaid) 17.06.11 Chocks Away! Good Luck. |
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Celia Woollett £100.00 (+ £25.00 giftaid) 17.06.11 Hoping the weather improves, I am in awe as ever. Good luck and much love Celia |
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Mo McKeague £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 17.06.11 Heather you will not only do this you crazy woman - but, as ever, you'll do it with style! |
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Annabel Ridley £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 16.06.11 Good Luck for Saturday. Hold on tight! |
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Ian Hunt Fibre Technologies Limited £100.00 16.06.11 I wish I could be there to see you do this, looking forward to seeing the pictures. |
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Paul Kwatia £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 16.06.11 I wish I could be there to see it! Good luck Heather and enjoy!! |
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Katie Lukas £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 16.06.11 so brave Heather! good luck love Katie |
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Bernie Watson £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 16.06.11 Best of luck |
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Deborah Mechaneck £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 16.06.11 What courage Heather! I wish you all the best and hope you achieve your target. |
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Nicky Forsyth £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 16.06.11 Good one Heather - I like it. Hope it goes well. Concentrate on the champagne afterwards! |
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Eurotechies £100.00 16.06.11 Good luck Heather Wingwalker |
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Jon Scott-Maxwell £20.00 (+ £5.00 giftaid) 16.06.11 Still flying high! Good luck! |
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Dalton Leong £25.00 (+ £6.25 giftaid) 16.06.11 Heather - you are amazing and completely mad! Well done you, as ever, raising your head above the parapet for such a worthy cause. Brilliant! xx |
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Pete £30.00 16.06.11 Good luck Muvva! I will be thinking of you from far away! XXXX |
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James & Diana £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 15.06.11 Well done , Heather - what a feat! |
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Pat £50.00 (+ £12.50 giftaid) 15.06.11 Good luck Heather - and yes you are mad!! |
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Joanna £100.00 (+ £25.00 giftaid) 14.06.11 Good luck Mumma! You'll be amazing as usual and I'll be there to cheer you on!! xxx |
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Jill Stewart and all at Perrett Laver £250.00 14.06.11 Good luck! |
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Mike Wainwright £200.00 (+ £50.00 giftaid) 14.06.11 Best of luck! |
