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Hi Visitor,
2015 is fast coming to an end so it is time for the Andi Bull Cancer Trust Christmas newsletter!
When Andi founded the trust he was determined the application process needed to be as quick and as simple as possible whilst remaining within the charity commission guidelines. We agreed we should do everything possible to turn around any application and deliver the requested gift to the young individual as quickly as possible as a differentiator between us and the larger charities and organisations which have more complicated and time consuming processes. During 2015, we have had many requests for gifts from young individuals and have done our very best to get these to them as soon as we possibly could. We aim for a maximum 2 week turn-around from receipt of application to delivery of the gift. The majority of the time however, we deliver within the first week, which is no mean feat for a team of 100% non-salaried volunteers. The feedback we get from the recipients and their families makes the hard work worthwhile. Below are some of the of the recent comments we received on our feedback forms:
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The time between application and delivery was immensely quick, which I am sure was down to your excellent volunteers
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Process was quick and a decision was made very quick and relayed
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My daughter was absolutely thrilled with her gift! The biggest I have seen her smile throughout her treatment! This charity is absolutely amazing!
Whilst the Trustees and Support Team at the Andi Bull Cancer Trust process and source the gifts for the eligible applicants, without your kind donations and purchases from the trust we simply would not be able to provide the gifts for the young individuals, so thank you for your continued support.
2016 Calendar Available
Since our trust calendar launched, it has been very popular and we have a loyal following of people who wouldn't be without a copy hanging on their wall, A lot of people also buy them as Christmas gifts.
We are pleased to confirm the 2016 edition is now available and ready for shipping or collection. This year we returned to the traditional format, where only Andi's own photos are included in the calendar. As always the pictures within are reflective of the specific month and were taken in and around the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside. To buy or reserve your copy, please visit our online store.
Recent Fundraising Events
 In May we arranged a sponsored Abseil at the National Lift Tower in Northampton. During previous years we had arranged walks over the O2 Arena in London, however this year we wanted to push the boundaries (and height!) a little further. The National Lift Tower was built in Northampton in the 1980's and is an iconic part of the skyline scaling over 418 feet tall. Laura who took part in the sponsored abseil said "When the opportunity came up to Abseil the National Lift tower, i put my name down straight away! Standing at the bottom and looking up was kind of daunting but we went in and were briefed on what would happen, we harnessed up and we were ready to go. It was a little scary at the top and looking out, once over the edge though there was no turning back! I think this was a once in a lifetime experience and raising money for this great charity made it extra special for me. A great big thank you to all who sponsored me and I'd urge anyone else who lives locally and who is up for the challenge to consider also taking on the tower for the Andi Bull Cancer Trust next summer". Details on booking your abseil can be found here, but also don't forget to contact us to obtain your sponsor form pack.
 Saturday the 16th of July saw a new venture for the Andi Bull Cancer Trust being realised. A very nervous group of Trustees and Support Team members had been planning the Andi Bull Cancer Trust Family Funday for many months and were all praying for good weather and a well-supported day - we were certainly not disappointed! Offering a slightly different twist on a classic 'Fun Day' with activities such as archery, rifle shooting, go karts, tunnelling and climbing alongside the old favourites of hook-a-duck, bouncy castles, raffle and stalls, the day proved to be a great success.
 With help from Scout Association volunteers aiding in running some of the activities and tasks along with family members of the Support Team and Trustees, the day ran smoothly and without a hitch. Many visitors to the event were able to enjoy all of the activities provided, along with refreshments arranged and served by our team. We would like to say a big thank you to all those who helped out or attended the event including all the local businesses and individuals who donated raffle prizes or their services and equipment. A special thanks is also extended to the Sir John Lowther Centre for allowing us the use of their facilities on the day. The feedback from this event has been overwhelmingly positive, so much so, we are pleased to confirm the next Fun Day is already booked so please put the 9th July 2016 in your diaries. We plan to build upon the success of this year's event to make our 2016 funday even better!
 On August 2nd the trust manned a stall at the Higham Ferrers Classic Car Show which is put on annually by the Rotary Club of Rushden Chichele. This was their second such event after putting on a great day last year which the trust also attended. Visitors to the show were able to look around over 130 classic cars which varied from a humble 1930's Bakers van to a 1960's GT40 (pictured left). The Mayor of Higham Ferrers, Councillor George Whiting was also in attendance presenting the prize for the best exhibit which was won this year by a superbly equipped VW Camper Van. Visitors to the show were also able to browse the many additional stalls that had been set up for their entertainment and perusal. This year The Andi Bull Cancer Trust stall included a luxury raffle with prizes kindly donated by Broadgreen Peugeot, Santa Pod Raceway and Silverstone Motorsport. We sold ABC Trust merchandise (also available from our Online Store!) along with refreshments and also gave out information and leaflets regarding the trust. Lin who helped man the trust stall said "It was an amazing day, very hot and sunny, which gave us the opportunity to talk to lots of people who attended about the trust and its work. Thank you to everyone, whether they were part of the organisation or attendees at the event for being so welcoming".
For more information on these and many other events that have taken place during the past year, please visit the Events Archive pages on our website.
Other News
Hospital Donations Feedback
 Alongside providing gifts for young people dealing with the effects of cancer treatment directly, we also work with local hospitals to discover what would be of benefit to individuals who are being treated within their wards. We continue to work towards putting Wi-Fi into the relevant parts of Northampton General Hospital and we are getting closer to the desired outcome. We have previously supplied a plethora of TVs, DVD players, games consoles and other recreational devices for the benefit of young cancer patients in our local hospitals. Recently, following feedback we received, we trialled supplying adult colouring packs which is a new craze that is taking the world by storm! Whilst colouring has historically been something for younger children, some publishers have started tailoring books with elaborate patterns and images specifically for adults. The feedback from the patients has been positive as we are told it is a great way to pass the day without too much effort or energy. As a result, we have rolled out supplying the packs to all the hospitals we support.
Join Us?
As the trust continues to grow, we are always on the look out for new volunteers to help us at some of the events we attend. if you can spare a few hours every now and then or have fundraising ideas please get in touch with us by using our contact form or by telephone if you prefered. Details can be found on our Contact Us page.
Finally, all the team at the Andi Bull Cancer Trust would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a New Year filled with peace and prosperity.
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