Scaling the heights of Blackpool’s Big One is the tall
order Pauline Royle has set herself.
Retired teacher Pauline, from Carleton, near Blackpool,
has been motivated to climb 420 steps to the 235ft summit of Britain’s tallest
rollercoaster by the 74 vulnerable children who are being given a home and hope
our Happy House.
Pauline, said:” I started sponsoring Jane at the
beginning of this year. I am just finding out about her and what she is like –
a very clever young lady.
“She
likes dancing and seems to have a real twinkle in her eye.
Elizabeth , the charity’s volunteer UK coordinator, knows the children so well and her enthusiasm is infectious. In my family there are far more boys than girls, so Jane redresses the balance a bit!”
Elizabeth , the charity’s volunteer UK coordinator, knows the children so well and her enthusiasm is infectious. In my family there are far more boys than girls, so Jane redresses the balance a bit!”
Pauline
is hoping to raise £500 from walking the Big One on Friday, October 11. “I have
tried to do something scary every now and again – I think it is good for the
soul to be challenged/
“It involves walking up 420 steps to a height
of 235 feet, with five other people. I think it is the first time I went on the
Big One (as a passenger) as we trundled up I thought ‘Oh, this isn’t so bad’ –
that was before the whoosh down.
“I have a nasty feeling walking down may be more
difficult than walking up.''
Pauline is determined to complete her challenge. “When I really decide to do
something I do it and it would be very difficult to lose face now so many
people know. So the more people who sponsor me the more it will help and I
can’t let down the Happy House – anyway I don’t know how I’d give all the money
back!”
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| View from the top of the Big One |
“ After looking it up on the website, what Sue has managed
to do has fascinated and amazed me.
“ Then reading the daily blog about the daily happenings and
costs involved made me want to help.
“I have found out that being a sponsor is more than just
opening a standing order. It is being able to get to know the child and have
real interaction with them, writing letters and emails, getting their school
reports, seeing photographs. I think the memory box idea is just wonderful and
also being able to add a little to their bank accounts for their future/
“Sponsoring Jane has brought me more than I could have
dreamt in so many different ways. A wonderfully, warm welcoming organisation;
new friends through the other people in Jane’s sponsor family and an
opportunity to go shopping! It’s amazing what bargains can be found in the
shops when the size doesn’t matter – it will fit someone. Also it has made me
realise how lucky we are in this country, especially with education and NHS. I
can knock the last one with the best of them, but reading about the medical
costs in the blog has made me realise how lucky we are in this country being
able on the whole to get treatment free of charge at point of need.
“But the BIG thing about the Happy House is that all the
money goes to meet the children’s needs, not into big fancy premises in the
centre of London and director’s pay. I have really wanted to be able to raise
some money for the future plans, so ‘Making Room for Another One’ seemed to be
just the ticket.
“It was getting an idea about what to do that was hard. I
also want to support the Independent Living project, another of my hobby
horses, that “looked after” children in
this country seem to be largely on their own after 16, when we wouldn’t dream
of abandoning our own children at this age. So Sue’s dream for a halfway house
for her children ticks the box for me.''
You can sponsor Pauline via her Just Giving web page www.justgiving.com/Pauline-Royle or text giving account HHPR73 followed by
amount to be donated to 70070.
