Get yourselves along to Centotre this Thursday morning, 18th November, to partake of some tasty cupcakes, lovely coffee, good chat and the chance to bid for some of the great auction items up for grabs at the ‘It’s Good 2 Give!’ charity bash.
The woman behind all of this is Lynne McNicoll, who is a phenomenal fundraiser. She has received awards for it she is so good. When still on the right side of her 50th birthday (does that have to mean there is a wrong side?) Lynne decided she would raise some money or do some good deeds rather than ask for presents. So, she set off on the road to raising £50,000 in the year leading up to her birthday – and of course in true enterprising style she reached her target.
Now some five years later she has single-handedly raised £650,000 for charity and is now so entrenched in fundraising that she has set up her own charity called It’s Good 2 Give!
“I was coming up to my 49th birthday and wanted to think of a way to celebrate my 50th differently. I really had no need for any presents. I said I was going to raise £5,000 in the year leading up to my big birthday. My husband countered that and suggested I could raise £1000 for each year of my life. I thought he was having a laugh, but I like a challenge!
“The first few months were horrible. There were plenty of tears, but baby steps, we took it one event at a time. All of a sudden things started coming together and I now do this full time. This is the day job, the night job and the during the night job. I love it! I am a full-time volunteer and don’t make any money myself out of it. I have a lovely house and a lovely husband. I don’t have high needs – I am a scruffy wee individual sometimes! This is what I enjoy.
I started five years ago now, and I have raised £650,000 up to the end of 2009 for Teenage Cancer Trust. £250,000 of that was used to create a unit for teenagers at The Sick Kids. The remaining £400K was put aside for the unit at the Western which is still at appeal stage. They need £1.6m and they are doing really well.
In January 2010 we set up our own charity because we had got to know so many of the families. Many of them are now friends and I had listened to the gaps in the market, the areas we could help with. It is different because we look after the whole family affected by the young person’s cancer. I have seen that while it is dreadful for the young person the whole family is affected. We can make a difference and want to make a difference to the whole family – including the family pets! We look after young people from age zero to 25. We wanted to stay local to the East of Scotland. We are also proud of the fact that 100% of the funds raised go to the charity.”
The charity aims to create a purpose built retreat for cancer victims and their families in the East of Scotland.
So what about The Cupcake Auction?
“Well, we did it last year and raised about £5000 then. We still have some tickets available for the event on Thursday 18th November, and people can pay £10 at the door to get in. We have some fantastic items available.
It is not just about giving money but also giving skills and time. One of our patrons is Cathy Cassidy who is a children’s author and she has just sent us a bundle of signed books.
The owner of Centotre, Victor Contini, will auction everything. He and his wife Carina are big supporters of the charity. He is a wonderful auctioneer and we hope Thursday will be a huge success. We have no real financial goal but that doesn’t matter too much. What is important to me is that people have a nice time at our events. Every penny we get in is well-used and much appreciated.”
Here are just some of the things you could bid for…..
2 Tickets for a Take That concert June 2011 (might cost you a wee bit more than £10…..)
A two night stay at the Hilton Caledonian in the Caley suite for up to six people – includes breakfast and afternoon tea. This is worth over £2000.
A day of Rae Gibson’s time and skills (and his colleague) – Rae owns Bridgend Joinery Co has just completed work on our house and I can recommend him highly. I rarely do that! He is a skilled joiner and will also offer materials you might need at cost.
Links of London have once again donated – this time their sweetie bracelet with their brand new and oh so appropriate cupcake charm.
A day at Lothian and Borders Fire Training centre in Edinburgh for up to 10 ladies.
“We have raised about £70,000 so far this year for It’s Good 2 Give! It will grow like Topsy next year I am sure!
In fact under Lynne’s enthusiastic leadership, the new charity is growing so well that the Christmas event at the Caledonian Hilton, an afternoon tea with fashion, is already sold out!
You can follow Lynne on Twitter @itsgoodtogive
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