Balloon race to fight leukaemia

A TEACHER from Primrose Hill has launched a charity balloon race from Trafalgar Square’s empty fourth plinth to raise money for leukaemia sufferers.
Liz Mendes is one of thousands of people taking part in Antony Gormley’s fourth plinth art project this summer, and yesterday (August 19) she decided to use the opportunity to garner support for North London charity the Karen Morris Memorial Trust.
She hopes to raise £1,000 in balloon sales for the charity, printing each balloon with the name of a donor and releasing it from the plinth, with prizes awarded to those whose balloons travelled the furthest.
Ms Mendes, a French teacher from Fitzroy Road, said: “It is such a fabulous opportunity to go on the plinth – a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
“I thought it would be shame to waste it by just going up there and waving at people, so I decided to make it special and raise money for charity.
“I was inspired by Gormley’s vision of sharing the plinth with 2,400 people to think about how I could share my hour with others. I decided to say the name of the donor when releasing each balloon from the plinth so that everyone would get a second of my hour and share the plinth with me.”
Donations poured in from well-wishers, with several top prizes up for grabs. All funds raised from the balloon race and individual contributions will go to the Karen Morris Memorial Trust, a charity set up in memory of a 23-year-old fundraising student who died a year after being diagnosed with leukaemia.
Its main objective is to provide facilities and support for leukaemia patients and their families.
Dr Mendes said: “The charity really appealed to me as it has a kind, caring aspect to it and I’m really pleased to be involved in raising money for it.”
For more information on the Karen Morris Memorial Trust visit www.kmmt.org.uk or see Ms Mendes’ website www.ontheplinth.co.uk. To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/balloon-race.
Ms Mendes was due to take to the plinth at 8pm last night (August 19).

Fundraising award for Nazi survivor

A HIGHGATE man has received an award from the charity industry in recognition of his lifelong efforts in fundraising.
Erich Reich, 74, was awarded the outstanding contribution Award from Professional Fundraising magazine for his work in raising money for causes from cancer support to animal welfare.
Mr Reich, of Hornsey Lane, said: “This is quite unexpected. I am very happy and quite proud.
“I have been helping charities raise funds for the last 18 years and I am happy not just for myself but for the people working with me.”
Mr Reich set up his company, Classic Tours, in 1987. It led the way in “charity challenges” and has become a venture making over £10 million a year for charity in sponsorship through adventurous activities such as trekking in Nepal.
The company has helped 200 charities to raise £50 million in total by organising challenges including motorcycle rides and mountain climbs from Brazil to China.
Mr Reich said: “My drive for charity work comes from combining two features in my life – the travel business, and helping close friends and relatives who need support for their causes.
“I came to this country as a four-year old, which saved me, so maybe subconsciously I want to give something back.”
Mr Reich came to the UK in August 1939 via Kindertransport, a rescue mission for Jewish children from Nazi Germany and its occupied territories.
As a teenager he moved to Israel and took part in the 1956 Arab-Israeli war as a paratrooper and communication officer, returning to the UK after his brother’s death at the age of 27.
Moving to North London, he embarked on a career in the travel industry and combined it with fundraising. He came up with his first charity challenge, a ‘Biblical Charity Bike Ride’ in Israel covering 400km in five days.
Classic Tours has since gone from success to success, operating over 100 events a year for charity with some 30,000 participants having taken part in fundraising challenges since its inception.
In addition to his role at the company Mr Reich is also involved with World Jewish Relief in raising funds for the Liverpool St Station Kindertransport Monument.
Mr Reich said: “I have an instinct for supporting charities, predominantly those helping children, as well as cancer charities, as my brother died from cancer at 27.
“I feel that I want to give whatever help I can.”

The fashion in raising money

A HAMPSTEAD boutique owner has raised more than £30,000 for Cancer Research UK.
Dominique Cussen, owner of Designs on Rosslyn Hill, has been supporting the charity for the past five years.
Ms Cussen said: “It makes me feel good to raise money for such an important cause. I have been donating to Cancer Research UK, as everyone’s lives seem to be touched by cancer somehow and this is a way of helping towards vital research into the disease.”
The boutique, which has been running for 27 years, is renowned for its second-hand designer items including upmarket fashion labels such as Prada, Chanel, Missoni and Fendi.
Customers sell unwanted clothes, shoes and accessories to the store, which are then snapped up by fashionistas eager to pick up a bargain.
Stock that goes unsold or is unsuitable for the store is donated to Cancer Research UK, which then sells them on in one of their 600 shops.
A spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK said: “The money raised by ‘Designs’ with the help of its customers will now be used to fund groundbreaking research into the prevention, treatment and cure of cancer.”
Ms Cussen, who has seen close family and friends succumb to the disease, said: “My brother-in-law and father both died from cancer, so it is a very important subject to me. One in four people is struck down with it at some point in their lives, so it is an issue that affects everyone.”
Ms Cussen is determined to continue her fundraising efforts for the charity and even beat her previous record.
“The total I have raised so far is only the tip of the iceberg, as I plan to double this amount in the future,” she said.

Mayor’s back on the chain gang

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THE Mayor of Camden joined a chain-gang of ceremonial mayors to commemorate Dick Whittington on a colourful charity walk.
The 31 London borough mayors, all dressed in full regalia of mayoral robes and chains, made the annual five-mile trek from Highgate Hill to Mansion House.
Camden Mayor Cllr Nurul Islam said: “I really enjoying taking part in this walk and following the historic trail of Dick Whittington.
“I was delighted to be able to carry on such a fine tradition, and it was a great opportunity for me to meet other London mayors and to represent Camden.”
This year marked the 36th occasion of the All London Mayors’ Charity Walk, which gives the mayors both the opportunity to raise money for charity and catch up on each other’s boroughs.
City of London Lord Mayor Ian Luder led the councillors in retracing the steps of London’s most famous Mayor.
He said: “It is a splendid opportunity to get all the London mayors out of their offices on a Sunday walk for their individual charities.”
Setting off from the memorial statue of Dick Whittington and his cat on Sunday April 19, the mayors made a pit stop at Islington Town Hall where they toasted the city’s famous son. They were then welcomed into the City by horsemen and bagpipers near Finsbury Circus, and ended the walk in Mansion House, the official residence of the City of London Lord Mayor.
The walk follows the footsteps of Dick Whittington from more than 600 years ago, who according to legend was distinctly underwhelmed by London when he first arrived.
A merchant from Gloucestershire in the late 14th century, he was told the streets of the city were “paved with gold” and came to the capital to seek his fortune, but initially met with little success.
Deciding to return home, he paused on Highgate Hill on his way out of the city and heard the bells of Bow Church ringing.
He believed they said “Turn again, Whittington, thrice lord mayor of London”.
He returned to be elected mayor three times in 1397, 1406 and 1419, as well as becoming a wealthy trader who donated much of his profit to the city.
Alderman Ian Luder said: “Whittington really was an excellent role model. Not only did he leave his wealth to charity, he built almshouses, a hospital for single mothers, drinking fountains and even a 64-seat public loo!”