14 Jan 10: Make 2010 the year to support EACH!

14th January 2010

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) is hoping to build on the success of last year’s fundraising success, and has organised an action-packed fundraising calendar to inspire existing supporters and recruit new ones.

Last year a record number of participants signed-up to Ride For Life, a record number of participants took part in Santa Runs, the number of people taking part in overseas challenges and treks increased and supporters came up with new and exciting ways to raise funds in their local communities.

EACH is a registered charity that relies on public support for the majority of its required income of around £5.8million, and to help raise this figure, a host of exciting fundraising events have been planned for 2010. Here are just some of them:

• Belly Dance and Cabaret Show - January 30. Buy your tickets for this fun night hosted in Needham Market.

• Head Back to School - February 12. Head teachers go back to the classroom to have fun and raise funds.

• Endurance Go-Carting - April 11. Hosted at Ellough Park Raceway, near Beccles, Suffolk, teams of three battle it out to be crowned karting kings.

• Jurassic Coast Weekend - 23 – 25 April and 16 -18 July. Trek 23 miles over two days along the South West Coastal Path.

• East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival - 9 May. Oulton Broad, Lowestoft.

• Star For a Night - May 14. Talent show hosted at Regent Theatre, Ipswich.

• Ride for Life - May 16. Head to Santon Downham in Thetford Forest to take part in sponsored cycle rides and walks.

• Trek Morocco- 3 - 7 June and 9 - 13 September.

• Paris to Geneva Cycle Ride - 6 - 11 June and 12- 17 September.

• Summer Wishes Bal l- June 12. Don your finest evening wear and head to Barnham Broom Hotel, near Norwich for a champagne reception, three-course dinner and dancing to the Chicago Blues Brothers Band.

• Paddle league competition- 18 July Norwich, 25 July Cambridge, 1 August Peterborough. Take to the water to test your balance, agility and speed in aid of EACH.

• Iceland Trek - 14 - 22 August.

• Land's End to John O'Groats Cycle Ride - 31 August- 12 September.

• Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival - 11 September.

• Kilimanjaro Trek, The Lemosho Trail - 15- 26 September.

• The Celebrity Golf Classic and Gala Dinner - 3- October. Hosted at Marriott Sprowston Manor Hotel, Norwich, teams get the chance to play alongside top sporting celebrities, followed by black tie gala dinner.

• Everest Base Camp Trek - 29 October - 15 November.

Karen Chesney, EACH events fundraiser, said: "We rely upon voluntary donations for the majority of our income, so we are always looking for people to fundraise.

"We have a wealth of events and challenges on offer for people of all ages this year, but if they don’t appeal to you, then why not set-up your own challenge in aid of EACH. The possibilities are endless."

As well as exciting fundraising events, EACH will also give supporters the opportunity to see the charity’s facilities and learn how the money they raise helps local life-threatened children and their families at open days/ evenings.

Ipswich: Open days: 27 April and 12 October. Open evenings: 27 April and 11 October. Milton: Open days: 29 April and 7 October. Quidenham: Open days: 23 June and 23 September. Open evenings: June 22 and 22 September.

Click here for more information about forthcoming events, and here to find out more about our open days. Alternately, please call 01223 205180 or 01953 715559.