Michelle gets ready for the Great North Swim

We would like to wish Michelle Milburn the best of luck when she takes part in the Great North Swim on September 4th 2010.

The Great North Swim is a one-mile open water swim in beautiful Windermere, Cumbria. The challenge is open to swimmers of all abilities and last year an impressive 6,000 swimmers took part over two days.

So far Michelle has raised a fantastic £200 from those who have sponsored her. The money will be split between the St Mary’s Hospice at Home Service and St John’s Hospice Outreach, Lancaster.

Michelle has decided to take part in the Swim to raise money for both hospices, after he mother, who was diagnosed with cancer, received home care in the last few months of her life. Michelle’s mother was able to remain at home throughout her illness, in familiar surroundings, with her family and friends by her side. This was made possible by the help of St John’s Hospice Outreach Service who give support by relieving carers.

Michelle commented: “I want to thank them for their hard work, and want to help raise money to enable more people to be cared for in their own home.”

Michelle came up with her fundraising idea while watching the Great North Swim in 2009. “I had not swum in 20 years but I thought it looked a good challenge. The swimmers made it look easy. My mum had just been diagnosed and I thought this would be a good challenge for me and a great way to raise money for the Hospices.”

Michelle started training by swimming on a regular basis and she soon got back in to the rhythm. On Tuesday 20th July she did her first swim in Coniston Lake. Michelle had been putting this part of her training off, so her friends made sure that they attended for moral support!

“I found swimming in the lake very different to the swimming pool. The water was brown and I couldn’t see more than 2ft into it. It was very daunting and I worried about what was lurking beneath the surface! The cold water took my breath away and I was unable to do my usual stroke. Swimming further out I reached the middle. I started to doubt myself and felt anxious that there was no bottom or sides to touch and we just had to keep going. The skies were dark, it was raining and I was cold. What was I doing out here?!”

Michelle completed her training session with the help of encouragement and support from her friends. “I continued and started to enjoy myself. It was an amazing feeling bobbing around in the middle of the lake looking at the view with heavy rain falling. I now feel much more confident and I am ready for my next training session.”

Good luck Michelle!

Cadbury Dairy Milk Launches Limited Edition Bar for Help the Hospices

As part of its Charity of the Year partnership with Help the Hospices, Morrisons has teamed up with Cadbury Dairy Milk to raise money for hospice care.

Exclusive to Morrisons stores across the UK, Cadbury today launched a limited edition Cadbury Dairy Milk Bar of Plenty in Honey Flake and Pecan.

Ten pence of every sale of the new chocolate bar will go directly to Help the Hospices, the UK’s leading charity supporting hospice care throughout the UK.

Mike Palfreman, director of fundraising at Help the Hospices, says:
"We are thrilled that Cadbury Dairy Milk is supporting our Charity of the Year partnership with Morrisons. We aim to raise £1 million from the partnership, helping us to support our member hospices in their vital work caring for people with life-limiting and terminal illnesses and their friends and families. We hope the money raised from sales of these Cadbury Dairy Milk bars will help make our £1 million target a reality."

Luciana Andreoni, brand manager for Cadbury Dairy Milk, says:
"As with the current Cadbury Dairy Milk Bar of Plenty flavours, Honey Flakes and Caramelised Pecans were the result of our researchers going through hundreds of recipes until the tastiest combinations were found. We’re really pleased to offer the bar exclusively to Morrisons and to work with Help the Hospices. We’re sure Cadbury Dairy Milk fans will love the flavour and really get behind this cause."

Ryan Turnbull, chocolate buyer at Morrisons, says:
"It’s fantastic that we’ve worked so closely with Cadburys to help support our Charity of The Year – Help the Hospices. It’s great to see our charity Raise a Smile logo on these delicious bars of plenty. In turn, by donating part of the proceeds to this important cause we can help people currently in hospices and their families raise a smile of their own."

Available in 140g bars, Cadbury Dairy Milk Bar of Plenty in Honey Flake and Pecan (£1.59 RRP) will be stocked in Morrisons across the UK from Monday 19 July until stocks last.