THE months of rehearsals that go into a Gang Show are tiring and more than enough work for most but the Gang at Thurrock Gang Show had more work to do after their successful 2013 show came to an end.They decided to put together an entry for the Bright Sparks Project, a competition by The Scout Association which is looking for the hidden talent within Scouting. The grand prize is the opportunity to work with leading songwriters, artists, producers and more to produce a music album, single and music video which will be released on sale.
THE draw raised £1,700 for the hospice which cares for children from across Essex who have a life-limiting condition and was organised by Project Administrator Sharon Palmer, aged 52, from Jacobs Ltd who said, “The raffle was a great success and I want to say thank you to all our employees for buying a ticket. I realise that we raised a small amount in comparison how much Little Havens needs to keep running but if everybody locally did there bit then the hospice could do even more to support local families. In today’s busy and hectic lifestyle it’s easy to forget how important it is to look after others and however much or little we give, we can all help.”
AN exciting new book which celebrates Thurrock Food will go on sale at a public launch at the Thameside Theatre, Orsett Rd, Grays on Saturday 15th June, 2-4 pm. Thurrock Food Now And Then combines local food history with local mouth-watering recipes. The book, written by Ann Hart Billingham and Jonathan Catton has been produced in support of Thurrock foodbank and all proceeds from book sales will go towards supporting this invaluable local charity.
STAFF at Boots Lakeside raised close to £2000 following a sponsored cycle from theirs store in Lakeside to Southend.
They stopped at several Boots stores on the way including: Grays, Corringham, Pitsea, Hadleigh, Leigh, Westcliff, Southend Victoria and Southend Royals
FEELING inspired by the likes of Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendeish? If so, the Rotary Club of Mardyke Valley is hosting the annual Thurrock Cycle Marathon with the aim of raising money for local charities.
STAFF at DHL in West Thurrock have been packing their days full of fundraising for Little Havens Hospice delivering over £1,800 in donations. The team based at the Tunnel Estate in Weston Avenue has been busy fundraising since Christmas last year and recently presented a cheque to the children’s hospice for over £900 which will be match funded by the company. Fundraising has included staff members Glenn Swanson, and Maxine Lockwood, baking cakes for their colleagues, a balloon release in memory and celebration of loved ones and the chefs prepared specially themed meals in the staff restaurant for donations to the hospice which cares for children from across Essex who have a life-limiting illness.
THE CHAFFORD HUNDRED branch of Sainsburys has been praised after the looked back on the help they have given to their chosen charity, Batias.
Their PA ambassador Liz Stevens reflects upon the year.
ST Luke’s Hospice has been supporting people in the local community for many years who have experienced a bereavement through their Macmillan Dove Community Counselling Service,reaching out to people within the locality of Basildon/Thurrock/Billericay & Wickford, offering emotional support, counselling and groups.
A FUND raising afternoon was held at Piggs Corner sheltered housing and extra care complex in Grays on 21 March in aid of The MacMillan Nurses.
A big joint effort from residents and staff enabled them to raise £510 from a table top sale at the complex with refreshments and a raffle. The sale was attended by members of the public as well as some relatives of the residents.
Peter Revell, head of fundraising at the NKF, said he was very happy to hear Mr Philp’s good news and he hoped it would encourage more people to sign up to the lottery, which has been helping contribute to the charity’s work for the last four years. People can find out more about how the Unity charity lottery can help them fundraise by going to join.unitylottery.co.uk
St.Luke’s Community Services and Development Manager, Sharon Quinn said; “The Dying Matters campaign this year aims to encourage the nation to take five crucial actions to be ready for end of life. It focuses on five things you can do now that will make life easier for your family and loved ones when you die.
ON Sunday 5th May, the two youngest members of Thurrock Gateway Rotary Club achieved their first ever abseil and after a nerve racking 35 minute delay the youngest Rotarian’s Claire Pavitt and Jade Abrahams took on the Church Langley Water Tower in a 110 foot abseil for Rotary charities.
A FORMER soldier walking all around Britain’s coastline to raise money for the Help For Heroes charity has trekked through Grays and Tilbury, ending up in Fobbing where he spent the night ‘roughing it.’ Christian Nock started the mammoth task on 8 August 2012 and is walking the whole distance non-stop. The total journey will be around 6,500 miles and is likely to take between 18 months and two years to complete, finishing up where he started in Blackpool. He aims to raise £100,000 and is more than halfway to that target.
THE MAYOR of Thurrock, cllr Yash Gupta cut the ribbon at the opening of the new St Luke’s hospice electrical store in Derwent Parade, South Ockendon. The mayor was joined by chief executive, Eileen Marshall; head of retail, David Emery; chair of hospice trustees, Gerry Peaty and patron of St Luke’s hospice, Trudy Westmore-Cox.
A BARN dance held at the Horndon on the Hill Village Hall has raised £880 for Breast Cancer Campaign.
Organisers Andrea Nunnery and Nancy Smith, from Horndon on the Hill, were thrilled with how the night went. Andrea said: “The event was fully sold out and 80 people turned up to support it, we had some marvelous raffle prizes donated from M&S, St Clere’s Golf Club, Hotel Chocolat, Vue Cinemas, Nando’s and Budz Off Licence in Stanford le Hope.
THE STAFF AT the Thurrock foodbank were once again out and about in the borough collecting food and other goods. The staff took up position at the front of Sainsburys in Chafford Hundred last Saturday. The collection was the culmination of a week of activities by the dedicated and hardworking Foodbank team.
THE GOOD people of Reem Tanning in Aveley are always keen to support charities. So it was no surprise when Linda Cooper and the team contacted YT to let us know they were supporting MacMillan cancer support. Of course, we did not expect Elvis to be singing out on the high street in Aveley.
TESCO customers and staff in South East Essex will be helping to find some of the estimated 4,321 people in the area who have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes, as part of a major new charity partnership with Diabetes UK that aims to create a healthier future for people affected by diabetes or at risk of developing it.
TILBURY legend, Charlie Lawrence is gearing up for his first ever marathon, just a few day short of this seventieth birthday. The final long runs are in the locker and now Charlie is set to take on all 26 miles and 285 yards of the London Marathon course.
THERE ARE a host of joggers and runners from around the borough who are now making their final preparations for the London Marathon on Sunday April 21st. YT will be catching up with a number of the runners over the next two weeks as they face the mighty challenge of 26 miles and 385 yards.
THURROCK foodbank is holding its first “Foodbank Week “ between 15th and 21st April and they would like you to be part of it. There are various ways to participate with different events and an opportunity to take part in a food collection at Sainsburys, Chafford Hundred.
ST.Luke’s Hospice has opened their first domestic electrical retail shop. The Hospice had previously been tenants of shop in Derwent Parade, South Ockendon for some 15 years, having vacated the property over a year ago to open a larger store across the road.
THE DREAM of a community centre in the middle of Corringham that would stand as a monument to Karis May Darling moved a little closer as a planning application has been submitted. The application is for a building and two storage containers to be used as a community centre in Corringham Town Park, Gordon Road.
DESPITE the cold weather and snowy forecast, lots of supporters came to a Table Top Sale in Horndon on the Hill and raised £350 for Breast Cancer Campaign. The tables sold out in record time and supporters came from all over the community and thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon.
