Another busy week, another crazy weekend coming up too. Today Simon and I spoke to the wonderful Victoria who is running the Xmas Markets in Chorley THIS Sunday from 10am-4pm. MY WORD is there so extra special and unique stalls who will be showcasing a wide range of gifts, food and creating that good old magical Christmas vibe. As Simon and I said is a day to EAT, PLAY, SHOP AND DROP. If you are fresh head to Chorley town centre to catch all the action, I REALLY don't think you want to miss out, some of the food stalls sounded AMAZING. NO need think about breakfast, lunch and dinner you can have it all in one place AND pick up some extra special, personal gifts.
Simon and I are also going to be banging out the tunes at the GIN FEST tomorrow at BROOK HOUSE HOTEL, TOMORROW from 6-10pm! Geoff from Chorley FM will also be there 1pm-5pm, and it WILL be an awesome day. Let's just keep Simon off the gin cake and we will all be good. He will be bouncing off the walls come 10pm if he start nibbling at 6pm. How else would you want to spend your Saturday? Join us for some great tunes, a fab atmosphere, LOCAL GIN and good grub...
Grab your tickets for this event via this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/local-distillers-gin-festival-tickets-49159350942
Project FEED CHORLEY launched this week, as we aim to raise £20,000. We are working together with Chorley FC and The Chorley Guardian to build a new building where food stores are kept to enable us to provide a Christmas meal for everyone in Chorley this Christmas. The project has raised £7,500 in just a few days which is amazing and it would be great to have your support. We are playing our part and the wonderful Barbra Lowe has worked hard to put together Kid Sing Christmas which is on 5th December and 7 schools will be taking part in this wonderful event and then Sam Martin has kindly organised: 11th December – Christmas Shopping Bazaar, 13th December – The Great Big Chorley FM Retro Christmas Shindig to raise as much money as we can for this amazing cause.
To support the campaign, you can donate via the crowdfunding page at https://www.gofundme.com/project-feed-chorley or attend a fund-raising event.
THANK YOU.
So this week I also launched the BELIEVE-A-BEAR campaign which is close to my heart. I was lucky enough to be discharged from hospital before Christmas last year. The thought of spending it alone, without friends and family close by was really, really upsetting me. My family travelled over two hours to see me everyday just to see me for an hour or so and when they would leave to go home, I felt more alone and scared than ever. My health wasn't good and knowing everyone was out enjoying Christmas markets, Christmas shopping, the cheer and everything else was heart-breaking. That is why this year if you have a loved one in hospital, I wanted to create a little mascot, for motivation to keep fighting but also to be a friend to show your loved one they are NEVER alone.
Especially with Lyme patients and people suffering conditions where they have to seek treatment in special clinics that could be miles and miles away from home and family. I don't want them feeling alone or not receiving a gift that will bring them comfort.
I feel so very lucky to have been given a number of extra chances, as I have had many days I have doubted whether I would pull through or not. I am grateful for those times however because it has made me so passionate about bringing communities together, healing hearts whether it is a simple hug to a meaningful gift, realising the true reason for Christmas and just giving back. We should be putting smiles on people's faces because I know I am lucky enough, as many of you are to have people who put smiles on your faces, ensure you have food on your table, give you meaningful gifts and brighten up your memories and we should be aiming to give that back into the world and the community too.
A small donation is included in the price of the bear and these donations will be split between LYME DISEASE UK and Invisiyouth.
Just a little bit of background on Invisiyouth for people who don't know about them, they support youth's and young adults battling chronic illness, find purpose in life and re-gain their self-worth which is SO very close to my own heart and of course LYME DISEASE UK support Lyme patients and their loved ones, we work with the Government and medical circles to drive change for our disease. LYME DISEASE UK are my family and they were my life-line, they gave me my sense of self-worth and purpose. These charities' both mean the world to me, and I would be MOST GRATEFUL for any support you can offer.
You can see all the info on BELIEVE-A-BEAR on my shop page of my website.
Each bear will be named with a positive tagline for motivation.
Remember this season is about LOVE.. <3
SPRINKLE IT LIKE CONFETTI.
THANK YOU,
SOPH
XO