Hi everyone please come along and show your support at our Christmas Coffee morning at Gawcott Village Hall. Bring friends and family along there is something to do for everyone 11am start on Saturday 8th December until 3pm the more the merrier, there are Refreshments,Cake stall, Raffle, Christmas crafts and Tombola. Don’t forget to put it in your diary.

It has been a pleasure to be able to make use of Alec’s Smile Fund for our children and their families this year, and we are very grateful for the creative ways it has allowed us to support those in need of a smile whilst enduring the trials of gruelling cancer treatment.

In April it was extremely exciting to see a group of our teenagers aged 12-14 years head off for a weeks skiing in France with other young people from around the south east.  Through Alec’s Smile Fund we were able to contribute some money to each teenager towards the costs of their travel insurance and individual goggles and gloves., whilst another charity organised board, lodgings and tuition.  The week was a massive success and a chance for our youngsters to regain some independence and confidence in the wake of their diagnosis and treatment.  In fact one young lady who had not been able to talk about her treatment or her future came home from the trip and the following day completed a piece of homework in which she was able to describe her cancer journey and look forward positively to the future.  What price can you possibly put on enabling a child to believe in their future again?

Alec’s Angels also came to the rescue both financially and in person to help one of our young adults facing terminal cancer, marry her partner.  Not only did Alecs’ dad Brian chauffeur the groom and best man to the church and deliver  the bridesmaids safely back to the reception after the service, but Alec’s Angel’s also ensured the bride and groom had a wedding cake on their special day.  The wedding was described by the bride as ‘the best day of my life’ and the pictures now adorning their walls simply say it all.

The fund has ensured that we have been able to provide family days out for those whose children have been too poorly to enjoy a holiday this year.  And for those children on the ward, we were able to host a lovely Jubilee party on Kamran’s Ward that involved cake decorating, non alcoholic jubilee cocktails and a sing song of the National Anthem!

Special thanks must go to the supporters of Alec’s Angels and The Smile Fund for the gift of a specialist Apple Ipad for the children on Robin’s ward at The Children’s Hospital, Oxford.

Alec himself benefitted from, and enjoyed, this kind of technology as he recovered in from his surgery and treatment and so it seems a fitting tribute that other children facing similar challenges to him are able to benefit for such an important communication and entertainment tool after invasive neurosurgery.

Finally, whilst the fund was always designed to bring a smile to the face of children, at the most challenging times this is sometimes done by relieving huge financial burdens on parents.  Three families in particular, who by pure coincidence all have children with brain tumours, have benefitted from the Fund in recent months to address significant hardship because of a change in their child’s condition.  For each of these cases, income had reduced as parents spent precious time with their children and in doing so lost out on paid income.  To be able to offer this without delay and to see the relief on parent’s faces is something we are incredibly grateful for and something that we know we are very lucky to have.

And so once again, thank you Alec, for having a heart and soul big enough to see the needs of others, and to those who loved and cared for him enough to  make his desire a reality.

Gemma Downes
CLIC Sargent Social Worker, Oxford

You can now officially run in support of Alec’s Angels at the MK Marathon next year. There is plenty of time to dust off those running shoes and get training in time for the race which will be held on Monday 6 May 2013. Click here to find out more information about the race. We look forward to seeing you there.

Alecs Angels next event

Bingo night on the 15th September at the buckingham community centre. Doors open at 6.30pm eyes down at 8pm.

Come and play bingo, cash prizes, bonus number, and raffle.

Do you want to take a trip in the Helicopter at the Alecs Angels family fun day ? we have a special offer for passengers who pre pay. Price on the day will be £25 per passenger and for those who pre pay you will get a £5.00 discount so you only pay £20 per passenger.
To book/pay either telephone 01869 365780 and quote Alecs Angles offer. or e mail info@freshair-uk.com quoting Alecs Angles pre book offer and they will reply with details of payment.

Come and join us at The Winslow Centre Park Rd, Winslow, Bucks, MK18 3RB

Our main event is planned and ready,So join us on Sunday 24th June from 11.00 for the start of the Its a knockout competition. We look forward to all the teams getting together to compete for the Alecs Angels Trophy. For any of the visitors watching and supporting the teams you will need a camera ready for some unforgettable action shots.

We also have a 5 a side football tournament going on where the teams all have to play with a smile on their faces with presentations at the end for all teams.

Entry  is a  £1 donation for which you will receive one of our special orange wristbands.

We also have an amazing raffle where we have prizes ranging from a special Manchester United Experience, Silverstone Porche experience, A Red Letter day, iPod Touch, MK Dons Tickets, Weekend at Greens at Woburn Sands, Plus many many more. You will also see a wheelbarrow full of either soft drinks or Not so soft drinks, just one ticket will win each  including the wheelbarrow.

Entertainment from several local bands, The Winslow concert band, Bustin Loose, Oliver Coates, Repeat Offenders, special appearance from “Paul French” with more bands to keep you entertained.

Would you like to fly over Winslow in a Helicopter ? We have flights running all day taking 4 passengers so bring your camera. cost £25 per person or a special offer of £20.00 per person for advance purchases ,details to follow.

Plenty of other entertainment from Crazy Golf, Bouncy Castles and Zorbing, Loads of food and drink with a licensed bar , Tea room and Hog Roast ad not forgetting a chocolate fountain. Many other Trade, craft and charity stalls.

We look forward to seeing you.

The Alec’s Smile Fund was set up in 2011 to brighten the lives of children on Kamran Ward at the Children’s Hospital, Oxford. The Fund is held at the hospital and allows staff to respond to the needs of children who are receiving treatment for cancer, and their families.

The criteria for expenditure is simple – to bring a smile to the face of a patient and their parents. The cancer journey is often long and it is always grueling. The financial costs of repeated journey’s to hospital and the restraints of treatment can leave little time for light relief.

Alec loved to laugh and he loved to have fun. Having known him briefly it has allowed us to understand what this fund is for and how he would like us to make use of it.

To date, in its infancy, we have been able to do some lovely things – some small, others big, but all bringing a smile to those who need it most.

We have been able to part fund a trip for a very poorly little boy to meet his hero, Bob the Builder, with his family, on their very first weekend break all together, ever. This was in the autumn and was a magical experience, evidenced by the host of photograph’s he brought in to show us all and which decorated his room during treatment to help him remember what he was fighting for…

We have also been able to buy special Christmas presents for the patients and siblings who have had the most challenging year, or who had been least likely to be able to celebrate Christmas without some financial support.

A unique and very humbling experience led to us initiating and granting the wish of a terminally ill little boy who wanted his Mum and Dad (long standing sweethearts of almost 20 years) to be married. This will always be one to remember! And with the support of Alec’s Smiles, in 6 sleeps and five days the most amazing day came together that would reaffirm anyone’s faith in the power of the human spirit. What price can you put on that?

And most recently, for those patients and their families who were in hospital for the New Year, we were able to host a fish and chip supper to celebrate all that we hope 2012 will provide. This was attended by the on call consultant and members of the multi disciplinary team and was a lovely occasion for all involved. It demonstrated to the children and young people that doctors and nurses are all part of a big team committed to making their treatment successful .

With the continuation of support from Alec’s Angel’s we can make the smiles keep coming. The old adage is true…sometimes laughter ( and love) really is the best medicine! I think we can all subscribe to that…

Thank you Alec.

Gemma Downes
CLIC Sargent Social Worker

In this article Lauren Jarvis in Year 11 explains why we will be supporting the charity Alec’s Angels:

“This charity is close to my heart because it’s named in honour of my cousin Alec who passed away earlier this year because of a brain tumour.

Alec’s Angels is organised by my Uncle and works to raise money for three charities

Helen and Douglas House which is a children’s hospice and was where my cousin lived for a while.

CLIC Sergeant who cares for children and young people with cancer and

Lennox who help children suffering from cancer and leukemia throughout the UK by offering practical, financial and emotional support to the whole family.

Alec’s Angels want to give back to the people that helped them and I think this would be a nice and different charity for our school to get involved with.

By supporting this charity we would be helping three different organisations that aim to help people not only with brain tumours but other cancers and terminal diseases. Alec’s Angels has only recently been set up and therefore would appreciate any support it can receive. At the moment I think a charity like this that concerns a student in particular at school could really help bind our school community together and therefore encourage everyone to do their best to raise money.

Alec’s Angels is a great charity and is already arranging other event throughout the year such as ‘It’s a Knockout’ to help fundraise but I know if we help as well they’d be very grateful and happy that we chose them out of other well known charities. If we can support this local charity that will encourage support throughout not just the school but the local community we would be making a difference. I know personally for me, I would be so happy knowing that I helped raise money and support this cause that is so personal as well as raising awareness about brain tumours, I hope John Colet can help make a difference and can really help Alec’s Angels help others.

Lauren Jarvis – 11D