February's CHICKS Champion: Christmas Camp Volunteers

We couldn't possibly choose just one CHICKS Champion this month. Instead, we've chosen the sixteen volunteers who generously gave up their time to spend Christmas with CHICKS. The volunteers, who came from across the UK,  joined us from 22nd - 27th December on our Rudolph and Frosty Camps. The camps were a huge success and the children had a wonderful time. From start to finish, the volunteers were enthusiastic, energetic and worked hard to create a fun, 'family style' Christmas for the children.

Child Co-ordinator Gemma says, 'Christmas camps would not have happened without our fantastic volunteers.  They were on hand to ensure the children had the best week, full of Christmas cheer which made a massive impact on everyone involved. Their commitment and support to both camps was amazing and everyone at CHICKS is extremely grateful.'

September's CHICKS Champion: Hannah Baker

This month’s CHICKS Champion is Hannah Baker. Hannah has volunteered on camp four times over the last year and is also part of the CHICKS Exeter Supporters Group which raises awareness and funds for the charity in the local area. She also recently took part in a sponsored skydive on her 23^rd birthday in aid of CHICKS!

 
 
Hannah says: ‘From the moment I started on my first camp in August 2011, I knew CHICKS was something special. The opportunities and experiences the kids had, the infectious high spirits of the supervisors and the activities and facilities at the retreat all piece together to make CHICKS as wonderful as it is.  My favourite moment from my first camp will always stay with me. We were all sat around a camp fire on the beach at the end of the week. Everybody was recalling their best bit of their week; all of the children were young carers and were so grateful for the opportunities they'd been given. I found it really emotional seeing what a good time they'd had but knowing that they'd be thrown back into their usual routine as soon as they got home. I hoped that the happy memories of CHICKS would stay with them and keep their spirits high. I truly believe this is the case as many of the CHICKS children write letters to staff and volunteers after the camp are over; all of my penpal kids have said they always think about their time on camp.

As a former young carer myself, I know how hard life can be for many of the CHICKS kids. Their time at CHICKS gives them the opportunity to be kids. CHICKS has changed my life, now it's my turn to go that extra mile to help change the lives of CHICKS kids'

June's CHICKS Champion: Keith Fordham

This month’s CHICKS champion is Keith Fordham. As well as volunteering on camp six times (and counting), Keith also helps at local fundraising events and acts as a CHICKS ambassador to help raise awareness and support for the charity.

Keith says : ‘The more publicity we can get then the more the chance that more people will look at the range of ways they can help our great charity. I am sure many of you out there reading this could do what I am doing so why don't you give it a go – I can promise you that you will find it interesting and rewarding, and be safe in the knowledge that you will be helping to change the lives of some wonderful children......’

April's CHICKS Champion: Ryan Coombs

This month's CHICKS Champion is 12 year old, Ryan Coombs who was inspired to run a half marathon for CHICKS after learning about a child from his area that had benifitted from a CHICKS break.

Ryan trained for 16 weeks over the winter period in preparation for the half marathon on the 3rd February 2012. Despite icy temperatures, Ryan completed the full 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 7 minutes and raised over £650 for CHICKS.

Ryan said: 'I have decided to undertake the run on behalf of CHICKS because I am aware of a child my age who lives in Stroud who through CHICKS has recently had his first holiday away from his home. Previously, he had not left the Stroud area for his whole life, not even on a day trip. I feel very privileged to be able to attend Wycliffe Preparatory School and I am lucky enough to have annual national and international holidays. With a little effort on my part, I hope to raise a few hundred pounds to try and contribute to, and support CHICKS and try and give a little back to local children who do not have the same opportunities as I have.”   

February's CHICKS Champion: Gail Tuffee

This month our CHICKS champion is Gail Tuffee. Gail and her friends formed a committee and organised a hugely successful  'Butterfly Ball'. Around £3000 was raised in total and was split between CHICKS and another local charity. The Ball was held in the lovely surroundings of the Grange Hotel near Bristol and the butterfly was chosen as the symbol of hope as they hoped for great things on the night, and for the children who would benefit afterwards. 

120 guests attended, dressed in their finest and were treated to a glass of bubbly on arrival, a splendid four-course dinner and music by a local band. As well as this, there were also some fundraising activities such as a balloon raffle, table quiz and a chocolate coin money exchange into CHICKS memory bags.

It was a fantastic night and there are already plans to organise another ball later this year!

Gail and her friends (Gail is second from the left)

Gails says: ''The work that CHICKS does struck a real chord with the members of our group. Most of us are fortunate enough to live in the countryside, we have the opportunity to go on holiday, and know what a positive impact that has on our families. When we heard about the effect a CHICKS holiday has on those young people, having a break from their home environment, experiencing something new, and building strong, supportive, friendships, we knew we wanted to help support that work.''  

December's CHICKS Champion: Jeremy Buckman

As a bicycle enthusiast, Jeremy managed to combine his hobby and passion with an innovative way of fundraising.Jeremy collects disrepaired and unwanted bikes which he refurbishes and repairs for a fee that he kindly donates to CHICKS.

What a brilliant idea!

Jeremy says: My first cycling memory was of my father teaching me to ride a ‘two wheeler’ when we were stationed at RAF Cranwell. I was about four years old then and it firmly linked my life with bicycles. Over the years I must have had a lot of bikes and they all had one thing in common: they were always second hand!

So I learned to take them apart and understand how they work. In the eight years since I retired, I‘ve sourced and fixed dozens of bikes – I didn’t keep a record until this year and I’ve surprised myself that I’ve processed 100 bikes since February!

On my regular weekly trips to the tip, I saw that there were lots of kids bikes that were in good condition but out of the range needed for the schools programmes, so I took a few to the local annual ‘BikeFest’ and created a lot of interest. The word got around and hardly a week goes by now without someone offering their unwanted bikes or ringing to ask if I have a bike suitable for their child.

Ann (my wife) and I have supported CHICKS for a long time and think it’s so fulfilling to be part of giving kids a break and to help introduce them to a world of sea and sunshine and love and fellowship, so different to the environment in which they’ve grown up.

The money that people give me for refurbishing bikes or servicing their bikes, goes to help CHICKS to open up kids horizons and, I hope, give them a better future.

Thanks to everyone at CHICKS for being such an inspiration.

Find out more about organising your own event for CHICKS