ello, ello, ello - what have we 'ere then?

Well, we had all agreed that it was about time I should introduce myself and start contributing to the blog - having taken up the very kind offer of becoming the 4th Pollicott Belle during the summer months! My name is Amber, I'm 19 and although strictly speaking I'm not a 'Pollicott Belle' (as I live 5 minutes down the road in Westcott) I'm a cousin of Vicky's other half, so have known Vic, Sian and Alex for years now.

My involvement with the Belle's started back in April/May time when I had taken up a bit of running in preparation for a fitness test to join the Police as a Special Constable. After successfully getting through the bleep test and weights, I decided that, (contrary to my previous belief) I quite enjoyed this exercise lark, and so Sian took lead role of Mrs Motivator by inviting me to join the Belles on various cycles over the summer months. I jumped at the chance, dusted my bike off and since then I've been joining in with training as often as I can. Having heard the stories and seen the pictures from their first challenge for Macmillan Cancer Support in June, I realised that all of the hard work the Belles had put in had paid off and they really had all enjoyed it. As well as being very proud to call them all friends, I was now convinced that I would love to be involved in doing something so challenging for a great cause.

When Sian, Alex and Vicky told me that the chosen charity for the 2011 challenge was going to be Helen and Douglas House, I have to admit that although I'd heard of them, I wasn't entirely sure of what it was that they did. So, I jumped straight onto the Internet and did some research. After reading several stories and browsing over their website I was so excited that we'd be doing something to contribute to the truly amazing work that the hospice does to help terminally ill children. It's given me more motivation and since then I've continued with cycling and running, am half a stone lighter (and will hopefully be more so by the time we start off for the challenge) and honestly cannot wait until the weather picks back up and we can go full steam ahead into preparation and more fundraisers.

Lastly, just a big thanks to all of the 3 Belles for inviting me in, waiting for me at the tops of more than a few killer hills and being so supportive! I hope everyone has a great Christmas, and no doubt the blog will be hearing more from me in the near future :-)

Amber.

Ho Ho Ho - Belle on the Run

Yesterday morning it was minus 4o C and the sun was glinting on the icy pavements so, dressed only in a skimpy Santa suit (described on the box as sexy Santa baby doll), one crazy Belle went for a run around Oxford. (Err I'm the one on the right!).

Actually it was one Belle together with Andy, Joe, Isalda (in her stunningly festive earrings and matching brooch), Tim and 1200 other Santas who took to the streets for the annual Helen & Douglas House Santa Run. It's always a great event and this year the weather made it even better still.

I have done this run for the last, I don't know how many, years. It is fun, spirited and a great way to start the Christmas season. And, this year (perhaps because I understand more about this fantastic charity and I knew some of the elves) I felt connected and ran with increased purpose. We jogged along with other supporters, each with their own sense of purpose, taking time to enjoy the creativity of the marshalls who always add some festive spirit to the occasion. I loved the Christmas pudding topper on the roof of a 4x4 and the life size soft toy dear strapped to the front of another.

It was, of course, all for charity and we ran for a total of £55 sponsorship and donated £50 ourselves so our efforts were worth it. I said I would wear my own outfit (vs. the baggy trouser suit supplied) if I raised over £100 so my baby doll just scraped in.  

I wasn't 'arrested' this year so I added to the 'fair cop' album by accosting the best looking PC I could find (he said he was the only one!) to get this sunbeam enhanced pose.

Speaking of such our next blog should be from our very own SC Belle, Amber, as it's high time she said hello (hello, hello) in order to officially launch her Belle career.

One last thing - thank you to my fellow Pollicott Belles for supporting me on my run - sponsorship, dress advice, motivational text messages and champagne drinking were all very much appreciated.

All's Fair with the Belles...

It was a busy weekend for us Belles with two fundraising events on top of one another. This time my dining room turned into an Alladin's Den to host the wonderful Gill Smith with her Fair Trade Designs jewellery and accessories.

It was a cold and icy weekend so the first hurdle was to get Gill here from snowy Sutton Coldfield. That done we sat back and hoped enough people would brave the elements to make her journey worthwhile. We had fewer visitors than we hoped for BUT those who came spent well and we raised another £80 for Helen and Douglas House. Kerching!

Belle no. 4 - Amber Ewers - excelled herself by baking a cake which was enjoyed by our 30 happy shoppers and by the kids afterwards. It certainly got us into the Christmas shopping spirit.

Fair Trade is fast becoming an important part of many peoples' lives and Gill is a fantastic ambassador for this wonderful way to shop. My favourite story from Gill this time round was of the factory in Vietnam paying 4 x minimum wage and only employing women over 18 years old. It's basic really isn't it? and yet they have a long waiting list of people wanting to work there.

Fair Trade principles include:

• Paying fair prices to the producers which reflect the true cost of production - world market prices often do not cover even the raw materials!
• Supporting producer organisations in their social development projects- many provide health and education facilities.
• Promoting the empowerment of women. 
• Advising on product development to increase access to markets. 
• Encouraging environmental responsibility. 
• Committing to long term relationships to provide stability and security. 
• Campaigning to highlight the unequal system of world trade.

Just because you missed our event doesn't mean you need miss out on the opportunity to shop Fair Trade because you can at: http://www.fairtradedesign.co.uk/ - tell Gill the Belles sent you!

 

Next week it will be me back again to rave about the Santa Run. I have my new outfit and will be sporting it on the streets of Oxford next Sunday though I don't think they are truly ready for it yet. Andy and Joe are trying to decide whether to go for a significantly faster or slower time than me in an attempt to disown me! Watch this space.

Eyes Down for the Fund Raising Belles

There were 'Quack Quacks', 'Wobble Wobbles' and 'Choo Choo's' resounding around Ashendon Gatehangers last night as we Belles shook our 'Legs Eleven' to host a night of shameless gambling and got our Helen & Douglas House fundraising well and truly kick started.

What a team we were - we expect the Gala headhunters to be in touch soon. Andy (our energetic and enthusiastic landlord at Gatehangers) called the numbers like a pro. Vicky sold books, Alex, Amber (who should have been on the Brighton Line but came to bingo instead) and Sian checked numbers and Annalise (Young and Keen - nearly Sweet Sixteen) made super sales with raffle tickets - £1 a Sunset Strip!

Man Alive the crowd loved it and as the final game was played there were cries from the floor for more - so we'll do it again in New Year. Next time we'll have reputation behind us - perhaps with ads in Bernwode News we might even get punters from as far away as Tony's Den!

Was she worth it? it was well over £200 quid worth it! Snakes Alive and Jump and Jive! there's nothing Droopy Drawers about that result. A few more nights like that and we will be Nearly There with the target.

Thanks to everyone who came along and joined the fun and we hope to see you next time - as they say in the 'halls' - Hurry Back.