PLEASE CAN YOU HELP
Posted: 20 Nov 2010 20:26
Following the London Patient Day, I approached David Bayliss regarding his MINI 2 THE ARCTIC project and asked if he could also help to raise awareness and funds for MDS. He had no hesitation, except the proviso that I would need to deal with the fundraising for MDS.
I am a total novice, so that's why I would welcome all suggestions. There is bound to be a wealth of experience out there, expecially to create an effective viral campaign. That makes me sound I.T. literate, quite the contrary, but I certainly recognise the power of the internet, FACEBOOK, TWITTER and U TUBE.
This amazing arctic challenge, starts a week today (27th Nov 2010 ) from the Arden Mini Dealership Aylesford Maidstone at approximately 10am. The press releases are in hand and hopefully on Monday, I can encourage the local TV stations to cover the event. Members of the Kent and Sussex Mini Club have agreed to provide a convoy down to the channel Tunnel, which should provide quite a spectacle.
The MDS Committee kindly invited me to their meeting yesterday, when I had the opportunity to discuss how we could get greater value out of this incredible trip. Firstly, they have agreed to change the logo for my promotion boards, so that they will include "Supporting patients with bone marrow failure" This will help with the words MDS, which mean little to the public at large. I had hoped that we could mail shot all the MDS patients, but this would break all the rules of confidentiality, which I can fully appreciate.
What I want to achieve is that all MDS patients are aware of the UK Patient Support Group, so that they are not in the dark and riding that awful rollercoaster of emotions and feeling of isolation.Then they also will have a choice whether to participate in the online discussion groups, Patient days etc . With an estimated 7,000 patients even a proportion would create the voice that is required, especially when it comes to lobbying for drugs and treatment comparable with other European countries. Hopefully, this will also boost the effectiveness of the discussion forums.
I would like to take this campaign to the next level. So I would be very grateful for help with any of the following as my batteries are running down, probably because I am awake in the early hours thinking of other ideas.
- Publicity is key - press, TV, Radio, any ideas.
- Please could you use all your contacts to spread the word. I have given Sophie an embedded link, where by clicking on the car you can link to the donation page. Excellent for sending via emails, with a message perhaps that this Year you are donating to MDS rather than sending Xmas Cards. Also, my I.T. friend has cleverly designed a the same link for Companies to place on their websites, where they can add a message perhaps "Supporting patients with bone marrow failure" The actual Mini Countryman has now been delivered with fantastic graphics, advertising the charity, so hopefully, I will be able to use an embedded link of the actual vehicle, soon. Let me know if you need these.
- Could everyone on FACEBOOK /Twitter spread the word
- I produced some flyers which were used recently at the Cambridge Patient Day, which are available if your hospital clinic will display / or wherever. (Let me now if reqd)
- Please could you check that the Hospitals have the UK Patient Support Group Newletters, which will in turn advertise the website and will then link to the project.
- Help to find celebrities for the future to raise awareness. I contacted a number of the 71 degrees North - but no luck. Another JK Rowling would be great.
- Free marketing expertise to drive this forward.
- More Companies to host the embedded link, especially in the City
- Advice from veteran fundraisers
- Presence on the day - let me know if you can come along
- A spare £ million !
Now for my THANK YOU's
David and Vikki for being brave enough to take on this challenge and devote a month of their time to help others (The Bayliss family are simply the best and baby Phoebe born last week is gorgeous. David is an Uncle for the first time.
Everyone that has already donated
MINI UK for supplying the MINI COUNTRYMAN
GO GIRL for the fantastic Graphics for the car
Pen and Ink for my leaflets and boards
Friends that understand I.T.
Companies and individuals that have sponsored the trip
Companies for hosting the embedded link
Sophie for her patience
Finally thanks for taking the time to read this, I hope we can pool our skills to make this fundraising event truly successful.
I
I am a total novice, so that's why I would welcome all suggestions. There is bound to be a wealth of experience out there, expecially to create an effective viral campaign. That makes me sound I.T. literate, quite the contrary, but I certainly recognise the power of the internet, FACEBOOK, TWITTER and U TUBE.
This amazing arctic challenge, starts a week today (27th Nov 2010 ) from the Arden Mini Dealership Aylesford Maidstone at approximately 10am. The press releases are in hand and hopefully on Monday, I can encourage the local TV stations to cover the event. Members of the Kent and Sussex Mini Club have agreed to provide a convoy down to the channel Tunnel, which should provide quite a spectacle.
The MDS Committee kindly invited me to their meeting yesterday, when I had the opportunity to discuss how we could get greater value out of this incredible trip. Firstly, they have agreed to change the logo for my promotion boards, so that they will include "Supporting patients with bone marrow failure" This will help with the words MDS, which mean little to the public at large. I had hoped that we could mail shot all the MDS patients, but this would break all the rules of confidentiality, which I can fully appreciate.
What I want to achieve is that all MDS patients are aware of the UK Patient Support Group, so that they are not in the dark and riding that awful rollercoaster of emotions and feeling of isolation.Then they also will have a choice whether to participate in the online discussion groups, Patient days etc . With an estimated 7,000 patients even a proportion would create the voice that is required, especially when it comes to lobbying for drugs and treatment comparable with other European countries. Hopefully, this will also boost the effectiveness of the discussion forums.
I would like to take this campaign to the next level. So I would be very grateful for help with any of the following as my batteries are running down, probably because I am awake in the early hours thinking of other ideas.
- Publicity is key - press, TV, Radio, any ideas.
- Please could you use all your contacts to spread the word. I have given Sophie an embedded link, where by clicking on the car you can link to the donation page. Excellent for sending via emails, with a message perhaps that this Year you are donating to MDS rather than sending Xmas Cards. Also, my I.T. friend has cleverly designed a the same link for Companies to place on their websites, where they can add a message perhaps "Supporting patients with bone marrow failure" The actual Mini Countryman has now been delivered with fantastic graphics, advertising the charity, so hopefully, I will be able to use an embedded link of the actual vehicle, soon. Let me know if you need these.
- Could everyone on FACEBOOK /Twitter spread the word
- I produced some flyers which were used recently at the Cambridge Patient Day, which are available if your hospital clinic will display / or wherever. (Let me now if reqd)
- Please could you check that the Hospitals have the UK Patient Support Group Newletters, which will in turn advertise the website and will then link to the project.
- Help to find celebrities for the future to raise awareness. I contacted a number of the 71 degrees North - but no luck. Another JK Rowling would be great.
- Free marketing expertise to drive this forward.
- More Companies to host the embedded link, especially in the City
- Advice from veteran fundraisers
- Presence on the day - let me know if you can come along
- A spare £ million !
Now for my THANK YOU's
David and Vikki for being brave enough to take on this challenge and devote a month of their time to help others (The Bayliss family are simply the best and baby Phoebe born last week is gorgeous. David is an Uncle for the first time.
Everyone that has already donated
MINI UK for supplying the MINI COUNTRYMAN
GO GIRL for the fantastic Graphics for the car
Pen and Ink for my leaflets and boards
Friends that understand I.T.
Companies and individuals that have sponsored the trip
Companies for hosting the embedded link
Sophie for her patience
Finally thanks for taking the time to read this, I hope we can pool our skills to make this fundraising event truly successful.
I