Garden party raises money for charities
Author Lizzie White reports on a garden party held to launch her new book and to raise money for two important charities.
On 23rd June we held a Garden Party at our home in Reading in aid of Mind (mental health charity) and Launchpad (local homelessness charity). About 60 people joined us to enjoy refreshments, tombola, games, and crafts. I was so happy to see a large number of people attend, as I really wanted to draw some attention to the charity with this event. Garden parties are an excellent way to bring people together to raise money for a good cause and if you were looking for sports team fundraising ideas then you may want to also consider going down a similar route. However, you might want to consider the overall space you have in your garden beforehand to ensure that you can host an event where enough people can comfortably attend. Thankfully we had a lot of space in and around our house, ever since we decided to ditch our garage to look into carport ideas as a makeshift parking space instead. I also researched how to make the event a hit and known in the community. I really tried to make it obvious to passers by what the charity was for, by looking into the appropriate flagpole height for a residential flagpole to wave down people to attend. This charity deserves recognition and support, so I hope that is what we gave it. I was even considering looking for a swing set for sale so that the kids would have something to play on while they were there. Luckily, everyone took the first opportunity to buy copies of my book, 26 Years to Eternity.
It was a wonderful way to spend time with friends, family and neighbours whilst raising an incredible £1,084 for two amazing charities in memory of our son, Robbie, and to promote my book about our journey through grief. (Plus a great platform for my husband to show off his ‘splat the rat’ skills!)
About ’26 Years to Eternity’
“Thames Valley Police is appealing for information following a fatal collision in Finchampstead this morning. … The driver of the Nissan, a 33-year-old man from Hampshire, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.” – ITV NEWS
When a young Christian teacher, active and well-loved in his community, was killed during a traffic accident, his mother Lizzie found herself struggling to make sense of all that had happened, particularly from a faith perspective.
In a series of discussions with a fictional counsellor, Lizzie tells her true story, sharing memories of her son that will make you laugh and cry, but also tackling head-on issues of suffering, loss, forgiveness and hope. As we sit in on these counselling sessions, we join Lizzie on her journey of asking questions and deepening our understanding of God, of life and of eternity.
