Now we are on another quest, we’re on a mission just like the blues brothers, that first £6,000 we gave to the Children’s Hospice South West went towards extending the Messy Play area at Little Bridge House. Then two years ago year we gave the CHSW £130,000 enough money to pay for and equip the Messy Play area at the recently opened Charlton Farm. We have already launched our new appeal for a, “Messy Play Area 3” a specially designed room for the New Children’s Hospice planned for Cornwall.

To help us raise the money we are putting together a very special calendar for 2009. The reason why the calendar is so special is because all of the pictures have been done by the children from the Hospice, in the Messy Play areas!

As you may already know Messy play is so important because it breaks down barriers and is used as therapy, not just for the special children but also their siblings. Sometimes the children have so much to say but cannot find the words to express how they feel, that’s when messy play works best.

Every picture tells a story and messy play has helped so many children tell theirs and just like a photo or letter the picture is there forever, alongside the treasured memories.

That’s what messy play is all about, besides giving the children a great deal of fun; doing what they want and making a mess that someone else cleans up!

The calendar lets you see a small bit of their world through their eyes and you will be amazed just how full of life the pictures are.

Messy play and minis really go well together. Alison Berridge and a few of the carers from the hospice are doing most of the work, she joined the dark side when she brought her New Mini

Before you go, have a read of this, which Alison sent me a few days ago.

"I am trying not to panic that it wont be ready on time and am doing my damndest!!!!
Have spoken to all the families for permission this morning......just to hear how thrilled they were does your soul good.......... One young deceased girls Dad said, "We would be honoured if you used Sarahs picture"............I'm speechless!!!....HE'S honoured??!!"

So why is the Grand Tour so special?

Once again over the August Bank Holiday weekend North Devon is going to be invaded with 100’s of minis and hordes of motorbikes as the 14th Grand Tour takes place. During the weekend the minis with the help of the motorbike marshals will be visiting Northam Burrows, Bideford,  Westward Ho! Hartland Quay, Chappleton Barton Vintage Steam Rally, The Valley of the Rocks, Lee Abbey & IIfracombe. The 2 & a bit day event is now one of the top Mini events in the country and a major fund raiser for the Children’s Hospice SW.

Over the years the minis and the motorbikes have become part of the family of the Children’s Hospice SW and the highlight of the weekend is a drive through visit to Little Bridge House, that has become Legendary.

Jill Farwell knew exactly what she was doing when she said yes to the silly idea of taking 300 minis into Little Bridge House and how right she was when she said the children will love it.

If anyone thinks they just drive into Little Bridge House and out, without a sound, how very wrong they are. If they think they see nothing but the buildings and flower beds, how little they know.

When they go into Little Bridge House it is so full of life, the special children, their brothers and sisters and their Mums and Dads, their carers, the cooks and everyone else is there to greet them.

The Cheering and the flag waving from everyone in the grounds is a picture that will remain with most of them forever. All of the families at Little Bridge House have asked to be there that weekend because of the minis.

They see a side of the CHSW that few people ever get to see. They see so many smiles and they hear a lot of laughter, they see joy and happiness and they can feel the excitement and through their tears, all they see is a lot of people having fun. If only everyone could see what they see.

Sometimes it is hard for them to remember that Little Bridge House is still a place where get well cards do not work and no matter how many hugs you give the special children, you can never kiss them better and all the magic in the world cannot change their diagnosis.

The mini owners and the motorbike marshals who do the Legendary Grand Tour really do feel humble and privileged because for a short time they have been part of the children’s life’s and in that short time they made them smile and laugh and that is worth more money than they could ever raise and last year they raised over £44,000.

Nick Harvey MP for North Devon, after witnessing the event at little Bridge House said

“To be able to combine such a total for charity and to bring such a joy to the children was totally remarkable”

The CHSW Teddies are getting restless they are mumbling amongst themselves

and when you look at them they go quiet. The word is spreading and has

somehow got out of Little Bridge House. There is an eerie sense of

foreboding around them. WHY

 BECAUSE THEY HAVE HEARD THERE ARE FOUR COACHLOADS

OF NEW CHSW TEDDIES HEADING FOR DARTINGTON CRYSTAL

AND THEY SHOULD BE THERE ON SUNDAY 27^TH JULY.

What a coincidence so will we.