 |
Ann-Maria
Frarey |
September
will be a difficult month for some of us. Autumnal leaves will
scatter upon the once baking pavements, hot days spent down at
Edgbaston cricket club will be a distant memory, and thousands
of sullen faced children will face another term at school. However,
spare a thought for Ann-Maria Frarey and Penny Jones, who will
be attempting to complete a 60 Kilometer walk in aid of cancer
come September.
I’ve always been tempted to participate in such an event but,
unfortunately, and shamefully, always come up with an excuse not
to put pen to paper and complete the application form. Not so for
Bust Busters, alias Ann-Maria and Penny, who have put the likes of
me to shame.
So why did they complete the application form and what drove them
on to sign up for the event?
Ann-Maria explains: “Cancer affects everyone and breast cancer,
in particular, can hit anyone regardless of age, religion and nationality.
Thankfully, I’ve never been affected by this cruel disease
but I want to play my part. I’ve never raised anything for
charity apart from selling a few raffle tickets for the parish, but
I felt really moved by this event. It makes you think how you would
cope if you were in that situation and how lucky we are if we have
our health and strength because no amount of money can buy it back
once it's gone. With Breakthrough, all the money goes to research
and if the money Penny and I raise goes somewhere towards researching
the causes of breast cancer, then giving up one weekend in my life
is nothing.”
I’m told that it’s not too late to sign up for the event,
officially titled, The Aviva Weekend to Breakthrough Breast Cancer,
and you can
register by logging on to http://www.breakthrough.org.uk or contact
the event organisers on 08080 100 200. The event takes place on 22nd
to 24th September 2006 and the itinerary for the walk is being treated
as confidential until nearer the time, although it has been intimated
that participants will be camping overnight in bright pink tents
at Cannon Hill Park
or the NEC, which will be an
event in itself!
Bust Busters, also explained that they are a little short of their
sponsorship target figure and would appreciate a call from one or
a number of kind hearted Harp readers.
Ann-Maria says: “All donations will be gratefully accepted.
If anyone would like to sponsor us, all they need to do is contact
me. We’re willing to wear company-sponsored t-shirts throughout
the walk and we’ll ensure to give plenty of plugs to the generous
company to any media representatives along the way. Similarly, if
anyone would like to make a donation or donate prizes for a raffle
we’re hoping to organise, then that would make our day. Also,
if there’s anyone out there with any fund raising ideas they
wish to share, we’re not proud, we’ll take on board any
advice from people who are more familiar with raising funds for such
events compared to myself and Penny.”
I also hear that this duo is desperately looking to hire
a complimentary function room to organise a fund raising night and
again, are anxious and eager to hear from any individual who may
be able to help, be they landlord or hotelier.
As well as putting all her energy into increasing her personal fitness
in anticipation of completing this arduous walk, Ann-Maria is also
putting the final touches to her wedding plans in Gretna Green on
30th December 2006 where she’ll be marrying Paul, her northern
man from Newcastle, following a destined meeting in Hurst Street’s
O’Neill’s. Penny, on the other hand, will be leave-taking
her husband of three months to fend for himself while she does her
bit for cancer.
Both Ann-Maria and Penny have received encouragement from their respected
families and Ann-Maria advises that her mom, a County Clare lady,
and dad, a Wicklow man, are praying and crossing fingers in the hope
that it will bring the pair a bit of luck and that
they can raise enough funds towards the event. However, Ann-Maria
appears determined and is adamant and certain that they will complete
the walk and is hoping
to make her two boys, Ciaran, a
St Edmund Campion pupil
and Anthony from the Holy
family, proud – plus the fact that she wants to impress her
soon to be husband.
As the website advertises, the September weekend is a time where
people find the hero in themselves and participate in the event due
to a personal loss or like, Ann-Maria and Penny want to give up a
weekend of their lives to help raise funds for a worthwhile cause.
I hope both Ann-Maria and Penny raise the funds they so desperately
need. It’s at times like this that I wish I wasn’t so
pot less and could help them out with sponsorship. Their dedication
is impressive and so too is the fact that although neither has been
personally affected by cancer, they both feel strongly enough to
participate in an event which will, no doubt, be gruelling and physically
and mentally exhausting. However, with zeal oozing out of the pair
of them, I’m sure they’ll do well and who knows, maybe
Penny will accompany Ann-Maria on another walk – all the way
to Gretna Green to say her ‘I dos’!”
Good luck girls.
If you would like to contact Ann-Maria with regards to any issues
concerning fund raising, contact 07903-169139.
|
