CCCC Benefitting Charities

There will be 3 charities that will benefit from our John o’ Groats to Land’s End Classic Car Charity Challenge.

All money raised will be split equally between the three charities.

BEN.

BEN is the automotive industry charity, providing care and support to employees and their dependants in times of need.

This is Charlie, he’s eight now but was born three months premature. Charlie has Autistic Spectrum Disorder, is chronically asthmatic, suffers frequent vomiting, constant glue ear, has a problem with his optic nerve and due to a congenital problem, one of his thighs is larger than the other. As if this wasn’t enough he has been diagnosed with nocturnal epilepsy. Goodness knows how Charlie copes, but his mum, Heidi, says he never complains and is one of life’s smilers.
Charlie’s dad, Matthew, works in our industry and his son’s condition places a strain on him and his wife, who also has ME. At various times one of them has given up work to provide care and take him to hospital appointments.

In 2005 the couple lost close relatives and incurred expenses travelling to be with their family. Their finances, already stretched with one income and needing to buy clothing for Charlie, were at breaking point. They turned to BEN and we helped with travel costs to hospital appointments and gave emotional support, but the best thing we did was fund a respite break for them. This really made a difference and they are now getting back on track.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army has a wide remit including looking after the homeless and tracing missing families.

Brian Mooreland, from Scotland, remembers waving to his sisters as a small child when they were fostered and he went into a care home. He never saw his sisters until his care worker Betty chatted with him and he shared his background. Betty suggested The Salvation Army Family Tracing Service could help, and they found his sisters who came to visit just before Christmas 2006. Later they brought a niece and nephew to visit. Betty has since taken Brian to visit them at their home in Dumfries. Betty says Brian is more confident now and is exceptionally happy to find he has a whole new family. Now he has plenty of visitors and his sister’s telephone every week.

Starlight Children’s Foundation, brightening the lives of seriously and terminally ill children.

When Starlight began in 1987, we helped just 4 children; this year, we will help over 500,000 children all over the UK. Where possible, mums, dads, brothers and sisters are involved to strengthen family bonds at what is often a time of great stress and give everyone happy memories to share, no matter what the future may hold. Starlight receives neither Government nor Lottery support.

Five-year-old Chloe from Ramsgate was diagnosed with a Wilms' tumour, a rare type of kidney cancer, in October 2007. Her illness meant that she has spent long periods in hospital and missed out on many activities that her friends take for granted such as learning ballet.

Chloe decided to have a party to celebrate reaching the end of her treatment and wished to have fairies and ballerinas at her party, just like the ones she enjoys reading about in her favourite story books.

Chloe’s mum said,

“Chloe is a girly girl, who is popular and outgoing. She doesn’t let anything get in her way. Having ballerinas and fairies at her party really brought her wish to life and thanks to Starlight her party was extra special.”

At the moment there are 24 other children in Kent waiting for their wish to be granted.

Do you think that you could help fulfil these children’s dreams and ambitions by donating some money to Starlight Children’s Foundation?