On April 29th Amy and I are going to take part in a 10k sponsored walk to help raise funds for CHIPs CHIPs (Childrens Integrated Playschemes). For a couple of years now Toby has been going to a regular saturday morning club organised by this charity. Although it's only held every couple of weeks it has become part of Toby's routine and he always gets excited when I get his CHIPs T-shirt out because he really enjoys his visits there.
All of the team are hugely dedicated and work so well together to keep the children happy and entertained. Toby's visits there in term time and the school holidays give him a chance to interact with others and while he's having fun H and I have time to spend with Amy and each other. But the costs of running such schemes are of course huge and although parents pay towards the sessions most of the money needed to fund special equipment and one-to-one staffing is raised by charity events and donations:
Imagine, as a child, having nowhere to play, rarely going out and having few friends to have fun with. Horrible isn’t it? Yet that is the situation facing many disabled children today due to the continuing lack of support and understanding of disability in society. It is CHIPS goal to provide a fun, safe and integrated environment for children of all ages to play and socially interact.
CHIPS is only part funded by Councils which mean that we rely heavily upon fundraising and the kind generosity of people like you.
Source: CHIPs website
We have just heard the the council have reduced their funding to CHIPs from this year and so the need to raise funds is even more urgent than in previous years.
That is why my lovely friend Hazel (herself the mum of a sweet autistic son called Jack) has organised this sponsored walk and why Amy and I will be joining in. We have set up a fundraising page and would really appreciate any sponsorship donation that you're able to make, however small because any money raised will really benefit families like ours and CHIPs now supports over 225 families with children like Toby.
I am also having a little giveaway and will include anyone who makes a donation in a random draw to win this spring bunny.
On Monday April 30th I'll draw one name with a random number generator from all of those who have donated and that person will win her.
Thanks so much x
