Ash UK/US

In helping raise some money for charity with a raffle?

As some of you may recal my mum died on Thanks Giving last year from Necrotizing Fasciitis aka The Flesh Eating Bacteria. The mortality rate from the infection can be as high as 75% one of the biggest reasons is that doctors often mis-diognose thinking the patient has bad flu, sprain or pulled muscle by the time they figure it out it often too late for the patient.

The National Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation are trying to raise money to make a video to distribute to help raise awareness. www.nnff.org

Anyhow I was going to send them a donation then I thought maybe we could raise a little more money with a raffle... I was thinking I would make up a box of goodies have people make a donation direct to the charity... I would put the names of the donors into a hat and the lucky winner gets the box. I thought $3 per name would be resonable.

Here is what I would include in the box:
1 Small Cadbury Button Easter Egg
2 Cadbury Carmel Eggs
1 Cadbury Cream Egg
1 Cadbury Dairy Milk bar with Cream Egg
2 Bourville Bars
4 Snack Size Mars Bars
4 Funsize Mars
4 Original (2 Finger bars) Kit Kat Biscuits
1 Fry's Chocolate Cream Bar
1 Bassetts Cherry Drops

Let me know what you think.

Ash

Celsius

Unless you're feeling very generous, you might want to limit raffle ticket holders to the US only 'cos you might get a winner who lives in Oz or somewhere further away.

Ash UK/US

That is a good point.

To mailed within the US only

Sarah

Hi Ash,
This sounds like a great idea. My husband has done similar kind of thing with some mates of his, and to make it all legit, he uses (a web-based) random number generator so no one can complain. Also if you decide to use paypal, make sure you get people to use a 'money funded transfer' , paypal transaction instead of the normal one where they take a %.

Sarah x

Ash UK/US

I was thinking that if I got enough people interested to make it worth it then they could mail a check direct to the founder of the charity. If the check was marked 'expat raffle' and thier user name I am sure she would let me know who made a donation.

Ash

Sarah

Thats a good idea.
I hate paypal anyway.

Yorkieabroad

Sounds like a good idea...I'd be up for that.

Have you seen www.justgiving.com? A few friends have been doing sponsored events recently, and used this site to collect their sponsorship - its pretty easy and straightforward, although there are fees involved. Not sure if it is just set up for UKPDS, or whether there is a USD facility - or whether there is a US equivalent site.

Bob

yup, they do it for the US too apparently

Rompers

Ash...Have you thought about an online auction. You may make more money - particularly from those of us who drink and post - and there would be only one financial transaction: winner sends you a cheque, you send them the goodies.

Ash UK/US

Could be a good idea too... lets see if I can get enough people interested to make it worth while.

Should also add... while I have peoples attention: NF is caused by Strep A the same one that causes common throat infections: when it gets under skin in a severe form it can cause NF and can enter the body in a wound as little as a pin prick...next time you have a small wound better to be safe then sorry.

Here is a copy & paste of the tribute to my mum that I posted last year on the NNFF web site.

My mother thought she had an diabetic abscess on her inner thigh. After a couple of days she went to see a doctor who gave her some antibiotics. After a couple more days she became worse, eventually collapsing on floor and was taken to the local hospital via ambulance. That was Sunday morning. Later that day she was transferred to a specialist hospital and taken immediately to ICU. On Monday she was taken for surgery and the hospital staff seemed positive. On Wednesday she was taken for a secondary surgery. My mother worked as a RN for over 30 years (right up to her death) and the surgeon that operated on her was a doctor she had worked with. He seemed very hopeful and told my father that he was willing to do more surgery if needed. After the surgery the ICU nurses and doctors were unable to lower my mothers temperature as well as the routine stuff. They even tried ice packs and an ice blanket but nothing could lower it. On Thursday evening my husband and I received a call saying that my mums blood pressure had dropped extremely low and that there was nothing else they could do for her. My mum passed away at 11.56 pm (GMT). She had fought very hard for four days but eventually her organs failed.
My mother was the kind of person who always wanted to take care of everyone else before herself, she and my father, Tommy had, had a very happy 32 years of marriage together and she had been a great mother to my older brother, John my younger sister, Kirsty and myself. She was also the best grandmother any kid could ask for to my daughter Emily. I am/was also five months pregnant when she died, she was so happy to hear that she was going to be a grandma again and I know that she is in a better place watching down on us and enjoying every minute of it.

Unfortunately I was unable to be by my mothers side when she died (all my family live in the UK and I live in the US) but I will forever hold in my heart and mind her last words to me: Before she was taken for her first surgery the nurses held the phone to her ear and I was telling her she had to be strong and fight it, I told her that I loved her, she was conscious but very quiet and I said to her did you hear what I said and she replied 'yes, you love me'. After that she drifted off to sleep and it was the last thing she ever said to me.

As well as a dedication I would like this to serve as yet another reminder of why we should all be careful with small wounds and seek immediate treatment when things don't seem right. In loving memory of a mother and grandmother who will be sorely missed.

Elsie The Maid

Ash, I would be interested in participating. Let me know when you get a system set up. I can pay by paypal.

Angry White Pyjamas

I'll donate $3 but I dont want the chocolates.

Rompers

I see your $3 and raise to $30 (I do want the chocolates)

Vicky88

I'm in, I'll make a donation as long as you promise you won't send me solicitations for the rest of my life.

Manc

I'll throw some money in the pot.