1 minute read
Raising the roof
from Connect Magazine
Our fundraisers help us to support those in need, campaign for better services and fund vital research into treatments
Giving back to the charity
Anne Swanston, from Hertfordshire, has been raising funds for Crohn’s & Colitis UK for the last 20 years
My husband, Ian, died in 2002. Part of his illness, which was diagnosed quite late, was Ulcerative Colitis. After losing him I wanted to do something to keep his memory alive and raise awareness of the condition as in those days, it wasn’t very well recognised at all.
The first event I hosted was a charity golf day, because Ian was always on a golf course. We’ve had about 25 events in total over 20 years, raising more than £250,000. For me, it’s a way of giving back to the charity. One of my main drivers is raising awareness – Crohn’s and Colitis are such
Pennies from Heaven
debilitating conditions.
Being a member of the charity keeps me in the loop about what’s happening on a daily basis to improve the lives of people living with these conditions. The fact that there is greater awareness now is so important.
Sarah Sleet, our CEO, says: “Anne is an incredible inspiration to us, to raise over £250,000 is an outstanding achievement. Anne’s wonderful dedication to Crohn’s & Colitis UK shines through in each of her fundraising events and we are truly lucky to have support like hers.”
When four friends got together in 1978 to start raising money for charity, they never imagined their efforts would span more than four decades…
From supper quizzes, a car rally, a Caribbean pool evening and even a record-breaking attempt to visit all London Underground stations in one day, fundraising group Pennies from Heaven has donated more than £50,000 to us over the 45 years they’ve been running.
“We would email friends and invite them to the quiz suppers or mention the charity to people we met on holiday,” says founder Peter Altman.
Alan Franks, a key member of the committee and chair of
Pennies from Heaven 11 times, died last summer, aged 78.
Linda, Alan’s wife of 52 years, says: “He helped lots of local charities and hospices, but supporting Crohn’s & Colitis UK was really important to him because our daughter, Justine, was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in her early 20s.”
“I’ve never seen a group like it,” says Sarah Sleet, our CEO. “It’s so rare to find a group of people who are so dedicated to fundraising year after year.”
Dedicated Fundraisers
Pennies from Heaven have supported us and each other
