Over the last 2 years we have been fundraising in Weymouth. Initially it started when we opened a shop and put a CRY tin on the counter together with a leaflet and badge (which was made by CRY on a design which Laura’s Art teacher had drawn of a star rising from the water).
£55.00 was raised by Kate (Laura`s sister) and her friend Grace using their charm and enthusiasm to get people to buy raffle tickets for a Teddy Bear.
All of Laura`s class at The Wey Valley School arranged a mad hair day at school to raise money for CRY. Teachers and children were encouraged to come to school with the most outrageous hair colour styles and accessories and pay 50p or a donation for doing so. Along with individual donations after Laura’s death and money raised on the day £900 was raised.
Kate our daughter dressed up in Victorian dress with her friend Claudia on Show Night and organised a raffle for a teddy bear. They raised £50.00 using their charm and great selling power to the Gran’s and Granddads!
Danielle Watts a very good friend of Laura’s had wanted to do something for CRY and discussed with the Team Leader Tom, of her local youth club Steps in Chickerell Road, Weymouth, how she could find a novel way to gain sponsorship. In association with Asda Supermarket Weymouth and with the support of Tom, she sat in a Bath of Gravy for 4 hours inside the shop and at the end of the checkouts. She raised a wonderful sum of £512.41p. She kept smiling even though she was sat on fat congealing at the bottom of the bath. The Staff at Asda were tremendously supportive and continued to top up with hot water so that she did not dehydrate.
Several months after Laura’s death Ben Daniels one of the older swimmers at Laura’s Swimming Club Thornlow Tornadoes came and asked if he could arrange a 5 A-Side Football Tournament among the other members of the club. The first time Laura swam at the club Ben was 18 and Laura was 12. We watched as they ended their first lap and to my horror Laura squirted drink from her water bottle onto Ben! I watched expecting Ben to go potty but Ben turned around and smiled. Laura always got away with mischief. Ben said it was her smile and ability to get on with all ages. It was this lasting impression which had touched him. The tournament was a great success and extremely competitive especially amongst the Dad’s! Ben however could not take part since had had sprained his ankle the day before playing football. The total amount raised was staggering £1,100.
Councillor Tina Roebuck was Mayor for a year and chose CRY as one of her Charities for the year – her son and granddaughter were friends of Laura at the Swimming Club Thornlow. What an inspiration she was. Selling apples for £1 to all at the Weymouth Council Offices. She was air lifted out of the sea by a helicopter, which I know she was very nervous about. We arranged a Laura Moss Fun Day with rides, stalls and absailing that was not as much of a success as we would have liked mainly because it was the hottest day of the year and many went to the beach instead! We did however raise £900 which did cover our costs.
We received many donations of prizes from local Companies for the “Mayors Bash”. Tina decided instead of having a Mayors Ball to have a meal and Bran Tub organised instead at the Pavilion. Each person was asked to buy a £5 ticket for a huge bran tub, 100’s of prizes and raised over £1,000. Weymouth Operatic Workshop entertained with a wonderful performance of sings from the shows. They have been fund raising on several occasions.
At the end of her term of office she gave us a cheque for £6,200.06p – what a tremendous raising of awareness locally of CRY’s aims. (See Family of tragic young swimmer helping hospital)
Two inmates at the Portland Young Offenders institute raised £500 for CRY in Laura’s memory. James Delee saw a CRY update, which a friend of ours, a Prison Officer in charge of his wing had taken in and was so moved, wanted to do something to help. He intends to carry on and do some more fund raising and says it will give him something to work for. (See Raising Awareness) since then another £267.64 was raised on top of the money James Delee from Portland Prison has already raised by organising a sponsored run.
The Dorset Echo made a kind donation of £120 and Lynne Mullins and her daughter have raised £82 over the last two years, Carol singing for CRY.
Gloria Moss.
