65 Roses Day 2012- the run down!

It’s been a long while since I wrote anything of interest, and I thought y’all might be interested in hearing how the fundraiser went.

As you can see by the picture I decided to insert, I reached my goal of somewhere between $2000-2500!!

It was a really long road, and not without getting down in  the dumps for a little while. Our day looked like it should have been going really well! But we were left a little jaded for a while.

We managed to score around $1300 worth of products to use for prizes in our raffle. They looked fantastic and first prize was worth somewhere around $450! We had a bit of a hiccup a few days before the sausage sizzle. Tickets were already on sale in the days leading up, when I got a phone call from the Cystic Fibrosis Association of WA. They had noticed all my advertising online and rang to say that I was holding an illegal fundraiser as the total prize pool was over $1000, and I didn’t have a permit! (I thought you had to have a permit if first prize was over $1000) So after a bit of talking with them, we figured out the best way was to pull out a few prizes to bring the total down and hold a different raffle. We ended up holding a “Guess the lucky number” raffle as well. Luckily we hadnt sold any tickets yet!

So with our little “hiccup” sorted, the raffle was back underway.

Saturday (the day after 65 Roses Day) rolled around and we set up just inside the entrance of the Woolworths store by 10:30am. The smell of sausages wafted around the whole shopping complex. In five hours, we managed to sell just over 100 sausages, which is so much better than last year where we sold on about 30-40! We didn’t sell much CF merchandise, only a couple of wrist bands.

Last year, our raffle was our saviour. We made nearly $1200 last year, most of that was from ticket sales.

My mum (who helped out cooking sausages) and I went back home, made coffee, and started counting money. We were very disappointed to find that we had only raised just under $700. I mean, seven hundred bucks is awesome, but it was disappointing to see that we didn’t sell anywhere near as many tickets as last year, considering we had twice the amount of prizes donated. I felt really disappointed in myself that I didn’t even come close to what we had raised last year! The CF Association, when I called them about the fundraiser later on, told me that I was being way too hard on myself.

But it didn’t end there.

My neighbour won second prize, which was a massive body pamper pack worth around $250. After I gave them their prize, they sifted through it all and donated most of it back, stating that what was left was only going to sit around in their cupboards, unused, so I should re-raffle it. Luckily, the day after our raffle, $200 worth of Bunnings vouchers were donated, with the donator not realising the main fundraiser was over. So this, combined with the body pack…plus a few more rustled up donations, created another great prize pack.

The bosses of one of my major cleaning clients came to our fundraiser with some awesome news. Their site was donating a whopping $1500!!! PLUS, a sizable donation from their head office (I still don’t know how much that donation is)
So to say thank you, I used this new prize pack as a raffle exclusive on their work site (about 200+ people work there) so a few more dollars were raised.

The online donations are still slowly rolling in ( http://www.everydayhero.com.au/belinda_giovanazzi ) and is still available to do so until the end of the month. You can print off a tax deductible receipt after (magic words at this time of year!) The tally there currently stands at $410.

So all combined (the main fundraiser, the large donation from my client, online donations and the extra raffle at the end) the tally stands at around $2600! 

So my feelings of misery are now gone.

Now I am just trying to figure out how to approach things next year and do even better again. Right now though, I’m glad the whole thing is over! Three months of organisation (especially in the last week) still have me drained….hence why I have been a bit quiet lately.

Dont forget to donate online! 😉

Bella

65 Roses Day, 2012

It’s been a busy day around Australia today. Being that it is the last Friday of May, it means that it is 65 Roses Day.

While May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, 65 Roses Day is the biggest day of the year to raise money and awareness for the most common recessive genetic condition in Australia, probably the world.

From things I have seen online, it looks like 2012 is going to be the most successful year for raising money, ever!

My eldest son in his “Red Dress” day for school.

While my own fundraiser doesn’t start until tomorrow, it has still be a busy day for me. I organised my children’s school to have a Red Dress day with a  gold coin donation. I don’t know how much they raised, but there was a massive sea of red when we arrived at the school gates this morning!

My eldest son and daughter certainly got into the spirit of things, with spray-dyed hair, red pants and a white shirt that I had painted red lungs on to (my daughter also wore a 1920’s style headband with a red feather) My son was pulled out of class to have a photo taken at the office. At this point, I am unsure if it was for the school newsletter or for the local paper. Either way, I am glad that they made such an effort to raise awareness (with pamphlets and an educational video making the rounds of the classes)

We are all organised for our sausage sizzle tomorrow, with my mum making all the effort tonight to cut the onions. At least she has a nifty little device to slice them to prevent tears!
Our raffle has already been underway for a week. We havent sold many tickets yet, but we are sure to get plenty of sales tomorrow. We also have a “Guess the lucky number” raffle going, along with merchandise sent to us from the CF Association.
The local support has been amazing, as we have had nearly $1,300 worth of products donated for our raffles! A lot of local businesses have organised sizeable donations as well.

While it’s great that money and awareness is being raised towards cystic fibrosis, it can also be an emotional day for those living with CF on a day-to-day basis. Another CF mum mentioned this morning that the day makes her feel a little sad. I didn’t agree at first, but by this evening, I am now inclined to agree.

I love the fact that money and awareness is being raised about something that has such a major impact in our lives. But with all the information that gets advertised on a day like today, it really brings reality of the situation home to us.

CF treatments and health effects are just daily life for us. You forget what the impact is. To watch videos, or read articles, it reminds you how bleak it could be. While the feelings aren’t as strong as at the time of diagnosis, you are reminded that this is something that shortens life expectancy, causes major drama, even pain. So many can’t wait for the bubble of ignorance to return.

Under the microscope for all to scrutinize

CF families are put under the microscope for everyone to see. It can be intimidating, even intrusive. I know I shouldnt complain, because in order to raise awareness, you have to raise your hand and say “Look at us! We are dealing with it!” , but when you want money for an organisation that does so much to help you, or even want a cure, you have to do these things.

I am very proud to be doing what I am doing. God knows I have probably bored (even pissed people off!) with my vocalisation, but you know what? This is who I am. I am not one to sit quietly in the corner and allow things to go unnoticed.

But in saying that, I will be glad when this weekend is over. I have been busting my little (ok, large!) backside for the last three months to get this fundraiser off the ground. I am over talking about cystic fibrosis for a while (is that sighs of relief I can hear out there!?!?!) I want to have time and energy to write on my blog again! So you will probably end up hearing about Global Development Delay (the other drama in our lives) or some other mindless dribble for a while.

I need rest. It’s going to be a loooooong day tomorrow!

Wish us luck (or better yet…donate online at http://www.everydayhero.com.au/belinda_giovanazzi !)

Bella 🙂

CF Folklore Story

 The term “65 Roses” came about when a young boy couldn’t pronounce cystic fibrosis. You can find the full story behind it here.

This exact scenario happened to me today.

I was driving along in the car, with my eldest son (almost 7yrs) and my daughter (5.5yrs) who both have Global Development Delay in the backseat.

We passed an ambulance racing off to an emergency, sirens blasting and lights blazing. The kids were very excited. My son turned around and said “My mummy has been in an ambulance!”

“That’s right, buddy! When your little brother was a baby and he was very sick.”

“The ambulance took you to the airport.”

“That’s right. We went on a special doctor’s aeroplane to hospital in Perth. He is still a little bit sick. Can you remember what he has that makes him sick?” (I am slowly trying to get them to understand that my youngest son has cystic fibrosis, and that is why he has medicine daily and has special exercises)

“Sixty-five roses!” he replied.

I just about cried! The folklore story of 65 Roses Day came to my mind instantly. It makes our upcoming 65 Roses Day all the more special now. (25th May…just thought I would remind you all! lol) He said it without hesitation and without prompting. I was so proud of him!

Dont forget that you can donate online to our 65 Roses Day fundraiser at the link below:

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/belinda_giovanazzi

I just had share this little story. It was one of those moments that melted my heart!

Bella 🙂

 

65 Roses Day, 2012

25th May, 2012

It’s approaching that time of year again.

65 Roses Day will be on the 25th May, 2012. This year, we are aiming for bigger and better!’

Last year’s efforts raised around $1,100. This year I am aiming for around $2,000-$2,500.

We are going to hold a barbecue at Woolworths (ok, once I actually book it, that is!) which hopefully go better than our previous effort of a sausage sizzle. Thank goodness we had the raffle running as well, as that is where 95% of our donations came in! Woolworths have said that they will set everything up for us at no cost (including gloves and hairnets) then sell all the produce to us at cost price.

We are going to hold the raffle again, with many donations already lined up. I am hoping to have given businesses a lot more notice this year, hopefully more local businesses will be able to donate. So we should be able to make that bigger and better as well.

I will keep you updated with our organising process. But for now, you can already help out. I have started a webpage where you can donate online. Every penny will help a CF family living with the disease. Follow this link to donate:

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/belinda_giovanazzi

 

Please dig deep!

Bella xx 🙂

Fundraising and awareness

One aspect of being a CF parent that I have noticed is very common, and I can completely agree with, is that for the first twelve months or so, you aren’t interested in anyone else but your own little family.

Being members of CFWA, they give you the opportunity to get in contact with other CF families. As it turned out, we actually knew someone whose son has cystic fibrosis, and is only about a year or two older than our son. We always knew that he was sick, but we didn’t know until after our own diagnosis that it was because of CF. So having someone there who understood has been great.

But in those first twelve months, I think the shock (and I guess, trauma) is still raw, and you honestly don’t feel like meeting anyone else. You are so tied up in your own little world.

Once that period is over, you have routines in place, you are confident with what you have to do and deal with. Now, I am one of those people who want to raise awareness of life with cystic fibrosis.

27th May is 65 Roses Day, named after the story where a child couldn’t pronounce the name of the disease.It is the day where we raise money for CFA and awareness of cystic fibrosis. There is a song called “65 Roses” by the Wolverines (I hadn’t heard of it until my son’s diagnosis…actually, I still havent listened to it, but all the older members of the family knew of it.) I will put the lyrics to the song at the end of this post.

This is the first year that my family and I are going to get involved. I have always wanted to do something, but never really knew what to do.

As my parents own a retail store, they are throwing a big barbeque out the front on the day. I am approaching local businesses to see if they can donate produce or services that can be used in a raffle, and I am going to approach some florists to see if they will donate some roses for us to sell. The paper is going to run a story about our son, and advertise the fundraising we are trying to do.

So, if you are in Albany on the 27th May, 2011, head down to Western Workwear and Safety, on Chesterpass Road, join in on the fun, grab a bargain, and help us to raise money toward families dealing with cystic fibrosis

“65 Roses” by the Wolverines

When I was just a small child, my mum and daddy came to me,
They sat me down and told me of the flowers my sister received.
Sixty-five roses with yellow and red,
Made her so tired she had to stay in bed.
I just couldn’t believe the flowers my sister received,
Made it so hard for her to breathe.
Why did she have sixty-five roses?
Must be her birthday today.
She must have been good to get sixty-five roses,
What can’t she come out play?

Sixty-five roses, with yellow and red,
Made her so tired she had to stay in bed.
I looked all around, but I couldn’t find,
The sixty-five roses were all in my mind.
I’ve thrown up and I see that,
The only one thinking of roses was me.
And the reason that the sixty-five roses came,
Was because I was too young to understand the name.

Sixty-five roses, cystic fibrosis,
Made her so tired, she had to stay in bed.
Sixty-five roses, cystic fibrosis,
I wish she had roses instead.
Sixty-five roses, cystic fibrosis,
I wish that she could come out to play.
Life, one supposes, is no bed of roses,
I wish she had roses instead.

Wish she had roses instead,
(Sixty-five roses, sixty-five roses,
Sixty-five roses, sixty-five roses).
Wish she had roses instead,
(Sixty-five roses, sixty-five roses,
Sixty-five roses, sixty-five roses).
Wish she had roses instead,
(Sixty-five roses, sixty-five roses,
Sixty-five roses, sixty-five roses).