Had a lovely couple of emails today from SASS. They've said that not only would they be happy to accept my donations, they would also be able to post my just giving page (and this blog) on their front page, they can sort me out with a visit to see some of the work that they do, and they may even be able to help me publicise my efforts with the Sheffield Telegraph!
Emails transcribed below:
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From: Josie Soutar
To: Lewis Skinner
Subject: RE: Sponsorship
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:03:59 -0000
Hi Lewis
Thank you so much for your email and thinking of us. What a great idea for not only Lent but also for really getting into the spirit of Easter and giving something back. I also think it’s a really interesting angle because even if you aren’t drinking at a problematic level it’s surprising how difficult it is to stay absent for a relatively short period.
We are happy to help where we can and I think coming in and visiting us would definitely help you to understand some of the issues that effects people with severe alcohol problems. You might have seen on our website that we run a thing called the Alcohol Recovery Community (ARC) that is all about helping people to rebuild their lives without alcohol as that is the long-term challenge. As part of this we run peer support groups and I’m sure they would be happy for you to come in and speak to them about their own struggles. Obviously if you used any of this on your blog then we would need to make sure names etc. were changed to protect confidentiality.
On the publicity front we have a couple of contacts with the local press (one being my dad who works for the Sheffield Telegraph). We’re happy to pass you email contacts once you’re up and running. Also there is a national blog site around substance misuse (http://wiredin.org.uk/) who we have close links with and would be happy to speak with them about getting your blog featured. We have our own just giving so make sure your page is linked up to that (http://www.justgiving.com/Charity/Donate.aspx?cid=190008)
Anyway, lots of room for thought and once again thank you for supporting us. Feel free to give me a ring if you need anything else such as fliers etc.
Kind regards and good luck with your abstinence! (I’m vegetarian so your girlfriends plight seems pretty straight forward to me)
Josie Soutar
Business Development Manager
(Address & phone no supplied)
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From: Michael Ng
To: Lewis Skinner
Subject: RE: Sponsorship
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:30:29 -0000
Mailer: Produced By Microsoft Exchange V6.5
Hi
Lewis
Josie passed your email onto me, I’m in charge of the SASS website and would like to link your blog to our site.
I’d like put you blog on the front page and link to your blog, but also on our donate page we could place a link to you blog, doing this method mean they would go to your page to read your blog and also use your links to donate so you can track.
If there is additional social media you would like us to advertise i.e twitter etc let me know how I can help!
Or any logo’s or flyers etc …….
Mike
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I was so pleased to receive these emails so soon after asking for their help I cannot tell you. I think it'd be a lovely thing to throw myself into something like this, see and report on the great work being done by a fantastic local charity, highlight the issues of alcohol and substance misuse on the user and their family, and raise them a little cash in doing so.
Roll on Ash Wednesday!
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