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Friends compete to raise money for Saint Francis Hospice
05 April 2011
A pair of close friends who are skydiving for Saint Francis Hospice in June are competing with each other to raise the most money. Sarah Landragin, 24, has challenged her friend Michael Slavin, 21, to beat her current fundraising total of £870.
Sarah, from Gallows Corner, has been bitten by the fundraising bug since visiting Saint Francis Hospice, which cares for people living with a life limiting illness.
“My next door neighbour was patient at the hospice,” she said. “All she ever said was that the care given to her was fantastic. I thought if I was in that position I’d lock myself away, I’d be scared.
“But then when I visited the hospice I realised it wasn’t scary at all, it was bright, airy and a positive place. Seeing the work that is done there first hand – as well as finding out how much is done in patients’ own homes - has made me determined to raise even more money!”
Sarah decided to test her fear of heights and sign up to the skydive on June 12, and has since been busily fundraising in her office, asking staff to donate £1 on their dress down day, and organising raffles. She managed to convince her friend Michael to sign up to the skydive, and then challenged him to beat her fundraising total.
“We’ve started to carry our fundraising forms in our pockets everywhere we go, ready to catch people and ask them to sponsor us,” she said. Both keen bikers, they are also planning to arrange a biking event to raise more funds.
Michael said: “The hospice was completely not what I thought it would be. It was a very bright and upbeat place, where people would want to go.
“Hopefully I can beat what Sarah has raised but she did get a bit of a head start – I’m optimistic though!”
Hospice fundraiser Lauren Josman said: “We think that this friendly competition between two friends is great, we can’t wait to see who wins! Sarah has thrown herself into fundraising, and raised such an incredible amount already, so we wish Michael good luck in catching up. Their support means a lot to Saint Francis Hospice, as we depend on the community to help us raise the £7.4 we need this year to fund our free services for people living with a life limiting illness.”
There are still spaces available to join Michael and Sarah on their tandem skydive. Call the fundraising department on 01708 771427 or email fundraising@sfh.org.uk for more information.
