Working holiday for DawnHeather

Back at the Happy House is our very good friend DawnHeather White who does so much to help our family.

DawnHeather, from Bangor, North Ireland, works so hard to raise money and her end-of-summer brainwave to challenge her colleagues to bag a sales bargain to the tune of £3 for our kids  caught on big time and has resulted in lots of beautiful new clothes (and a whole load of Happy House inspired shopaholics!)

She has been sendingthe clothes out in parcels for weeks (the last of which arrived the same time as she did) plus bringing suitcases full to the delight of the whole family.

DawnHeather, who sponsors Fikiri, is now spending her hard-earned leave working with our kids helping out in school and wherever else she.

Welcome back DawnHeather and thank you for all you do.

Shades of delight: DawnHEather is pictured with Fikiri and Katana, all are sporting the new shades she bought for them!  And also with Sue and Dave and some of the latest parcels from Bangor.

£1,000 cuppa

We are touched and amazed by the staggering generosity of the ladies who go to the Easy Exercise Centre in Lytham.

They have really taken our kids to their hearts.

The final total raised from their coffee morning on October 20, including personal donations, comes to an incredible £1000.10p.

Thank you all so much. As you know, every penny will go towards giving our children the very best of care.

Sue and the children send you lots of love!

*Elizabeth Gomm is pictured with Sue Hudson from EECentre and Diane Dibley, who organised the coffee morning.

 

Inspiring Sue

Each one of us reading this will, most likely, already know that Sue Hayward is a truly inspirational woman.

Her determination and sacrifice to fulfil her Happy House vision has already touched our hearts.

But there are so many who don't yet know about the work of our small but incredib charity, which she founded and leads.

They don't know how our Happy House is saving and changing children's lives, giving them the happy childhood they deserve and opportunities to have a really fulfilling life in future.

So we are delighted that Sue has been nominated as a finalist in the Network She Awards which take place on Friday, November 18,

at Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

Since their launch in 2008 the Network She Awards have become recognised as the platform to celebrate the success of women who mean business.

This glittering gala black tie event presents the ideal opportunity to recognise and reward the inspiring achievements of business women and women in business, who have succeeded and continue to succeed in their chosen field during such difficult, turbulent and unpredictable times.

This year Network She has been successful in securing the company of OBE awarded International Business Woman Michelle Mone. Widely recognised for her achievements in the business sector as well as her presence on television programmes such as The Apprentice.

Network She produces a glossy magazine and the current issue carries a feature on Sue's work, which I was asked to submit after meeting the Network founder Ruth Lloyd-Williams at an event at the Villa, Wrea Green, organised by local businesswoman Kim Chamberlain.

Sue says: "I am absolutely thrilled and honoured to have been chosen as a finalist. Winning this award would do so much to raise vital awareness of our work at the Happy House. It's just lovely and very humbling to nominated."

Sadly, Sue is unable to attend the ceremony and because the date is so close to our travelling to Kenya, neither Lynn nor I can be their either to represent her and we don't know of anyone nearby who could attend on her behalf.

We are so thrilled Sue, Lancashire Woman of the Year in 2008, is being recognised by such a prestigious group of leading businesswomen and have our fingers' and toes crossed - as do all 54 of our kids- that she will be a very worthy winner.

 

 

Our Stan

Phew, it must be hot. Even our honorory Happy House kid has taken off his duffel coat!

Our kids love Stanley. He is an empathy doll used for counselling troubled kids, and he spend his days sitting in Sue's office watching the world go by, until school is out and he gets a chance to play.

It so nice for the kids to have a doll they can really identify with and cuddle up to and he got to us via our very good friend Lesley Pidcock.

As our network of supporters around Blackpool use the Art Deco Cafe in Blackpool

Stanley Park as their unofficial HQ, we named him Stanley Park.

As far as the kids are concerned, Stanley's had a pretty tough start just like they have.

Abandoned on a park bench with a note from a troubled mum asking his finder to give him a good home

 

Stanley was found by Aunty Libby and she knew just the place for him - a home and family where he would always be safe and loved, with lots of brothers and sisters , The Happy House.

And now he, too, is a has a role to play in the happiest of families.

Our friend: Stanley is pictured with  with John, Francis, Hope, Oscar and Samson

Clifton calling Kenya!

It's gives me real pleasure when I get a chance to tell children here about our own children at the Happy House.

They always want to find out as much as they can about how our kids live .. what they eat, what games they play and how, and why, they come to be growing up in our care.

So I was delighted to spend an hour or so so yesterday with a class of eight-year-olds at Clifton Primary School, St Annes on Sea.

They've been doing a project on Kenya (there's a splendid display of their work in class) and so I was invited in to tell them what it's like to actually go there.

They were so interested in all the pictures I had to show them, both of the local area and the Happy House. And by their enthusiastic questioning they had taken in every word I said and were so caring when talking about our family. We could have carried on they had so may questions to ask but it was almost time for break.

The children finished off by thanking me by singing a song in Swahili and did it so well they excitedly volunteered a verse about coconuts too - also in Swahili!

They were a real joy to be with -their brand of enthusiasm is totally infectious- and sent me home humming their African tune. 

Asante sana (thank you) to each and every one of you.

A world waits for Harry

 

Our Harry is trying just so hard to go solo!

He's 16 months now and very mobile. He can power crawl and walk around the furniture a top speed and while he can stand alone for several seconds he's not yet quite ready to take his first steps.

He tries, but then he wobbles and crashes down on to his well-padded bum ... always with a charming chuckle and delicious smile!

He's even been awarded a coveted Star of the Week for his concentrated efforts to go it alone.

Uncle Billy says: "He can stand alone, now we are just waiting for his graduation!"

Don't worry Harry, you are our little miracle and,having fought so hard for life, we are are just happy that you are here and doing things your way.
 We can wait, if you can!

Seaside success in Brighton

Our friends by the sea in Brighton are riding a wave of success after netting £700 for the Happy House at a charity night.

Marc and Thalia Venturi and their children, Emma and Joe, staged a successful evening at the resort's Master Mariner.

Joe and Emma were busy all night running the tombola and there was also snail racing, buffet and live music to keep everyone entertained.

Marc says: "I'd really like to thank Roger Ferris, Dave Golden and Jeff Haynes from the band Beatroot. They are a fantastic band and came on free of charge. They helped to create a great atmosphere.

"Can I also mention Pete Feris from Brighton Pier who helped with loads of prizes for the tombola."

The Venturi family are hoping to do some more fundraising before they go back to visit the Happy House early next year.

A huge thank you and lots of love to them all, and to all those who supported their evening, from Sue and everyone at the Happy House.