The Bling Fling Charities
Breast Cancer Research at Aberdeen Royal
Infirmary, led by Professor Heys
Ward 15/Chemotherapy Unit at Aberdeen Royal
Infirmary 
The Bling Fling team has handed over cheques
amounting to £25k to Prof Steve Heys, to undertake a research project
into Breast Cancer. We chose to finance a study into why chemotherapy
successfully shrinks some tumours and not others, and the Prof and his
team hope to come up with a test that will predict whether or not
chemotherapy will work on a tumour before they administer it.
The Bling Fling Research Project is being carried out in memory of a
very special Bling Fling lady, 39-year-old mum of one Audrey Mitchell,
who walked with us last year, and was diagnosed with breast cancer
around the same time as our founder Sonja.
Despite having developed secondary tumours by the time of the Bling
Fling, she walked the 5km supported by her friends "Audrey’s Angels".
She was a shining star who made a huge impact on everyone who met her.
In July 2009, two months after the Bling Fling, Audrey lost her fight
for life, and the world lost another wonderful person needlessly to
breast cancer.
Although the recovery rates are improving all the time and most pink
ladies do go on to live full and happy lives, sadly there are still
those who don’t make it, and the research being carried out at ARI is
taking steps to ensure that sometime in the future, everyone diagnosed
with breast cancer can look forward to watching their children grow up –
a privilege deserved by every woman and mother.
£10,000 allocated to set up a "Bling Fling Helping Hand Fund", to offer direct practical support to individuals and families who find themselves in situations of hardship because of cancer.
Children's Cancer Research at Aberdeen
Royal Children's Hospital
Due to the success of last year’s Bling Fling, we were able to help even more.
As well as the projects we had planned to fund, we had enough
left over to give £10,000 to the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, which
was used to buy two chemotherapy chairs for youngsters receiving cancer
treatment, and a heart monitor to be used in the Day Ward.
Archway, supporting families with learning disabilities in
Aberdeen and North-East
The £25,000 raised at the first Bling Fling has
been used to create a therapy bathroom at Archway’s Two Mile Cross Unit
in Garthdee.
Jim Sangster, Archway’s founder and chairman, says : “One little girl
who found bathing particularly stressful is now laughing instead of
crying and staff are just delighted with the change it has made not only
to her but to everyone using the unit.
It cost over £20,000 to install the bathroom but the results have been simply priceless and
we can’t thank you enough."
Thank You
On behalf of all of the Bling Fling Charities, we thank you for the work you do in raising
money on their behalf. As Jim Sangster, Archway Parent and Chairman
says: "None of us knows
what is round the corner. We just have to deal with it the best way we
can. Your support is helping us do that in such a very positive way."
The funds you raise
at the Bling Fling are transformed into something quite magical. They
become happy memories, new experiences, new ways of communicating, new
ways of overcoming disabilities. They become laughter
and greater confidence and getting the most out of life whatever
obstacles are in the way – and we cannot thank you enough.
Help Us Raise More at Bling Fling 2010
The Bling Fling in May 2010 will help fund further research projects into Breast Cancer at ARI,
as well as Research into Children’s Cancers at RACH and for Archway will
help fund a new wheelchair friendly vehicle for the Berryden Unit.
So Please come and join us and help make someone's day sparkle...