varietyJuly 2014 todayup Our fantastic work in the Regions continues to grow. I hope that the recent structures put in place to increase communication and provide support for our volunteers will aid this crucial work. You will read, within this newsletter, stories of tribute nights, rock concerts, sports tournaments, quizzes, marathons and treks – all organised and enthusiastically entered into by our dedicated regional fundraisers, their supporters and volunteers. The appointment of David Jones (Chairman of the Blackpool Committee) as Chairman of our MarComms PR Committee will ensure that all the good work being done out there is being promoted Message from the Chief Barker and celebrated. Trevor Green, Chief Barker Given my professional background, I can’t quite believe how fast the impressive set of statistics to my personal dream has been to put first six months of my year as Chief celebrate but, on an emotional one, a little of the ‘razzle dazzle’ back Barker have gone by, but I am how can it ever be measured? into Variety and I think that our absolutely delighted and amazed Giving freedom and dignity to a exciting film previews and by what we have achieved so far. young person is priceless. Let’s screenings, reinvigorated ensure that we hit the ambitious partnerships with Cineworld and When I took on the role of Chief targets set by this year’s quartet of Odeon and our forthcoming events Barker I was greatly honoured and, Wheelchair appeals, mirroring the are putting us firmly back on this although appreciating the time and four main areas which Variety’s road. commitment that would be Wheelchair Programme needed, I have been blown away champions and which you can read But the real stars of our show are by the sheer determination and more about in this newsletter. always the children and young energy that has been people whom we help. demonstrated by every single The King’s College Hospital capital person who is involved in this campaign, under the direction of So thank you once again for all that charity with me. This is what has our revitalised Fundraising you do, every day, to make that truly amazed – and humbled – me. Committee, continues to progress happen. I am always at the end of So a sincere thank you to - as do our corporate partnerships. the phone or e-mail, so please do everyone: volunteers, staff, donors We welcome to “Team Variety” the get in touch, I’d love to hear your and trustees alike. Stonegate Pub Company (which is news: 020 7428 8100 undertaking the ‘Britain’s Biggest [email protected] We could not do it without you. Pub Tour’ in over 600 pubs around the UK and involving over 12,000 This year sees the 25th employees and many more Anniversary of the Variety customers); the Hilton Deansgate Wheelchair Programme. In this Hotel, Manchester; and the British time, we have provided over 4,000 Bingo Association. We look forward wheelchairs to young people in to successful partnerships with need. On a practical level, that’s an them all. LONDON Corporate sponsors Miss United Kingdom achieve Variety completes Virgin Money International Award London Marathon In recognition of the high level of Running for us this year in the 34th. support given to Variety by Crest London Marathon was reigning Miss Nicholson and Odeon Cinemas, both England and Miss United Kingdom, companies were awarded the Variety Kirsty Heselwood. Completing the International Corporate Award at the course in 5:42:19, Kirsty raised £2,732! Awards Luncheon at the 2014 Variety World Conference in Barbados in May. Kirsty said: ‘I had been training since January, in the cold, wind and rain! Chief Barker, Trevor Green, could not However, after meeting some of the thank them enough: ‘Both Crest children whom Variety helps, it really Nicholson and Odeon Cinemas have pushed me to get up, out and run. The been absolute Variety stalwarts, amount of support everyone has shown Our thanks go to Miss England and energising both their staff and Miss United Kingdom, Kirsty me has been overwhelming. It’s not Heselwood, who ran for Team Variety customers to give to our cause. Thank easy and takes a tremendous amount in this year’s London Marathon. you from all of us at Variety and from all of time and effort, but seeing where the young people whom we help. the money goes really does make it all If you would like to give it a go and take Giving freedom, confidence and dignity worthwhile.’ part in next year’s London Marathon, to a young person and seeing him or please contact Yolanda on her smile, is why we do it.’ 0207 428 8122 or e-mail [email protected] Take part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon Take part in one of the UK’s most popular half and ultra marathons and help raise money for children across the UK. Join Team Variety on this 13.1 mile or 50km scenic route which winds through Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, St. James’s Park and Green Park on Sunday 12th. October 2014. For more information, please visit www. variety.org.uk/events/royal-parks- foundation-half-marathon-2014 or Laurent Caillot taking part in the Royal Parks contact Richa on 020 7428 8149 or Foundation Half Marathon 2013. e-mail [email protected] Britain’s Biggest Pub Tour another, using quirky and ingenious takes off transportation methods. From roller-skating and barrel rolling to Every journey starts with one step and, helicopter riding, the challenge is on on Sunday 18th. May, Stonegate Pub to complete the tour in just 131 days, Company launched Britain’s Biggest finishing with a party like no other at Pub Tour (BBPT). It got under way at the Slug and Lettuce, Tower Bridge, Yates’ in Hastings with a family fun day, London on Friday 26th. September. before giving the ‘pledge passport’ ‘This will be our biggest charity a warm send off to start its journey fundraising initiative to date and we’re that will span hundreds of miles. Soap looking forward to raising thousands of stars, pirates and Disney characters, as pounds to make the lives of many well as a Variety Sunshine Coach, were children and their families that little bit amongst the large crowd waving the easier. We also hope that our 12,000 passport off from Yates’s Hastings for strong team of fundraisers and our “Britain’s Biggest Pub Tour” is the first leg that will take in towns along fantastic customers have a great time launched at Yates’s, Hastings. the south coast including Brighton, along the way!’ said Toby Smith, Chief Hove, Portsmouth, Bournemouth and Executive, Stonegate Pub Company. Southampton. ‘Britain’s Biggest Pub To find out more about Britain’s Tour’ runs between 18th. May and As part of the fundraising, 50p from the Biggest Pub Tour and how it is 26th. September 2014 and aims to sale of special charity tipples, ‘Sweet supporting Variety, please e-mail raise £100k for Variety. Armed with Summer Pimm’s’ and the specially [email protected] a giant ‘Pledge Passport’, the teams brewed real ale, ‘The Crawler’ (Golden Track the tour and follow the passport from each one of Stonegate’s 621 pubs Blonde ale 4.1 ABV) will be donated to at www.britainsbiggestpubtour.co.uk will pass the passport from one pub to Variety. 2 LONDON Michael Slade of Hellical Bar receiving “the PROPS” Lifetime Achievement Award from Neil Sinclair, Martin Bayfield, who compared Co-Chairman of “the PROPS” Committee, the proceedings, wowing the together with Megan Young (Miss World), Nick audience with English Rugby Shattock Co-Chairman of “the PROPS” Committee, tales. and Bim Sandhu, CEO of the Santon Group. page 5 Pamela Sinclair, Chair of Variety’s Wheelchair Programme, and Bim Sandhu, CEO of the Santon Group, Megan Woods and Freya Levy, Variety receiving his Silver Heart for his Young Ambassadors and future Team GB outstanding support of Variety, the Paralympians. Children’s Charity. 25 Years of Variety’s and Megan Wood at “the PROPS” schools - either sport, manual or Wheelchair Programme Awards in May. Freya and Megan both powered wheelchairs - which can be play wheelchair basketball and are used individually or by groups. If you A new and ambitious campaign was aiming for the Rio Paralympics 2016. know of any schools which we can launched at this year’s “the PROPS” Variety has recently sponsored their help, please encourage applications. Awards to celebrate and build upon second wheelchairs. We’re working Variety’s Wheelchair Programme, now with the Paralympic Association to And, finally, the INDIVIDUAL in its 25th. year. Since its inception, identify other children, nationwide, who CHILDREN Appeal will ensure that our more than 4,000 wheelchairs have need wheelchairs; so, if you know of core work does not get forgotten, and been provided by Variety throughout any children in your area, please do get covers the applications from individual the UK. “the PROPS”, in particular, involved. children – applications that we all work has been a stalwart supporter of the so hard to process and make a reality. programme. The HOSPITAL Wheelchair Appeal has started and an e-mail request has been To promote these exciting appeals, Inspired by four main areas which sent asking Regions to contact their we’re creating special commemorative Variety’s Wheelchair Programme local hospitals to ascertain the need for spoke guards in two designs - a funky, champions, four campaigns have been manual wheelchairs to transport child graffiti-inspired look for sports and a launched, each aiming to provide at patients in and around the wards and traditional Variety red for hospitals.