No that’s not a ‘mini’ (a.k.a. small) adventure that’s an adventure in a ‘mini’ (car). We noticed an article in The Northampton Chronicle and Echo newspaper where it was reported that the Jordan family from Daventry, Northants intended to drive a 1979 Mini Clubman Estate that they bought on Ebay for £175 on the 1,200 mile Crumball Rally, based on the route taken in the 1969 Michael caine movie The Italian Job – and all in the charitable hope of raising £2,000 for the CLIC Sargent cancer charity. If you’d like to donate to the Jordan’s chosen charity you can – at http://www.justgiving.com/crumballrally
Apart from marvelling, as always, at the delightfully eccentric things that people come up with in a charitable cause – it was also the first time that I’d noted the CLIC Sargent cancer charity name. Not a name that the majority will have heard of, I guess, so I did a little bit of research to find out something about them :
CLIC Sargent is the UK’s leading children’s cancer charity, supporting children and their families through cancer and leukaemia every step of the way and is the result of a recent merger between two excellent charities who have done tremendous work with children and their families over the last 30+ years. Over that period the survival rates for childhood cancer have risen from fewer than four out of ten children with cancer surviving to more than seven out of ten surviving. But even with this success, cancer and leukaemia is still the biggest killer, apart from accidents, amongst young children.
- The first, slightly older organisation, was Sargent Cancer Care – named in honour of Sir Malcolm Sargent the brilliant British pianist, organist and internationally renowned conductor, who often directed his support and concern to children and young people. Following his death from cancer in 1967, his long time secretary and unofficial manager Sylvia Darley OBE founded the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children in his memory.
- The second organisation was Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood (CLIC) – and it was founded in 1976 By Robert N. Woodward, following the death of his young son to cancer. At set up, CLIC decided to concentrate on three specific elements to help sick children and their families: Medical Resources, Practical Help and Research.
CLIC Sargent has seven homes around the UK where families can stay for free, and urgently need more to meet the needs of those affected by cancer.
More recently, five of the UK’s top international footballers have teamed up to encourage schools and clubs across the UK to take part in Kick for CLIC Sargent 2007 – the national charity football event that supports children with cancer.
England and Chelsea Captain John Terry, Northern Ireland striker David Healy, Scotland Captain Barry Ferguson, former Wales captain Gary Speed and England Women’s forward Karen Carney have all lent their support to Kick for CLIC Sargent and are urging people to take part this May and June.
Speaking about the event John Terry says: “As England and Chelsea captain I’m right behind Kick for CLIC Sargent. It’s a fun way for kids to get involved with football while raising money to help children with cancer.”
And Chelsea Football Club manager José Mourinho is a patron of CLIC Sargent, the official charity partner of Chelsea FC. Chelsea has raised more than half a million pounds for CLIC Sargent since the partnership started in April 2005 – which is pretty fantastic.
CLIC Sargent also has a virtual gift catalogue called The Smile Shop and José and the rest of the Chelsea team, are asking friends and family to help by buying gifts. John Terry said he would buy a football from The Smile Shop because “it is good to play football”, while Michael Ballack would buy his best friend a day trip because “it’s great to get outdoors and enjoy yourself”.
The money raised from selling the gifts from The Smile Shop goes to children with cancer and their families, helping them when they need it the most and offering them some joy as they cope at a very traumatic time. A pile of bricks for £15 will go towards building valuable CLIC Sargent Homes from Home helping families stay together when their child is in hospital.
Other presents from The Smile Shop range from £8 to £1,000. A football for £8 can bring fun for children with cancer and their siblings during the long, boring time spent away from home. Or £1,000 pays for a family holiday in one of CLIC Sargent’s holiday homes for a week, giving the whole family a much needed break.
