Sally's World

Is it just me, or does anyone else think that having a fund raising charity walk for two healthy children, who are actually millionaires in their own right is taking things too far.

Now, Jade Goody is a 27 year old mum of two, she has just been given weeks to live from cervical cancer. My heart goes out to her and her family, and I, like most people I know, have been behind her and her choices 100% so far.

Jade has been criticized (quite unfairly in my opinion) for selling her story to the press, and for selling the rights to her wedding pictures for just under a million pounds. But she wasn’t doing it for her; she was doing it to secure a future for her sons. I think anyone her position would have done the same. If someone told me I was dying, and I had the opportunity to give my kids financial security for life…I’d grab it with both hands.

But, what I think has taken it too far is the fact that her friends and supporters had a fund raising walk over the weekend to raise money for her sons.

Whilst jade earning money for her sons is one thing, I’m not entirely sure she would have asked or wanted this. The reason she wanted to secure their financial future was because she didn’t want her boys to be seen as charity cases. I sincerely hope she steps in and insists that the money raised goes to cancer research.

There are thousands of families and kids out there suffering because of cancer, the majority of them are not celebrities and do not have the option of selling their stories and so on…perhaps the money could be used to help some of them, or the hospices that so need our support.

Jade is doing so much good in publicising her story, the amount of women going for smear tests has gone up, at least 20% in the UK since she started raising awareness. Yes, she may be getting paid for that publicity, but I think she would be raising awareness either way. It would be a real shame if her story was tainted by this fund raising walk.

So, I know Jade did not organise the walk, and I’m sure the organisers were trying to be helpful, but it is very misguided. Firstly, to do a charity walk, it needs to be for a charity, Jades boys most certainly are not, secondly, Jade has earned more than enough to secure their future financially.

It just smacked of friends of hers trying to get in on the act, which sounds harsh, but its how it seemed. Perhaps they should put that time and energy into raising money for the hundreds of worthwhile causes and charities there are to support.

If you want to read more about Jade and her brave fight against cancer, click on…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/4901791/Jade-Goody-feeling-brighter-in-hospice.html

One of my daughters friends e-mailed me last night to ask how she can help with fundraising. I was touched and very proud of her. I guess Trojan and I are getting something right, it's lovely to know that we are inspiring people to think of others. Although she may regret her kind offer in time...I fully intend to rope her right in now.

We have done alot of fund raising in the past. We started small with jumble sales, raffles and auctions, then we quickly progressed onto head shaving (not a good look for me),nor was it the right time of year...note to self...only shave head while residing in a tropical climate. We did some bungee jumping, which frightened the life out of my poor mum, and we reigned it in a bit with the occasional pub crawl...all in the name of a good cause of course, the hardships we endure. Next time though we'll rethink the St Trinians outfits.

There are tons of things other people can do to help, a friend of ours did a the great north run...madness if you ask me...I'd rather throw myself off of a crane from 300 feet up in the air attached to nothing more than a glorified elastic band...oh yeah, did that! In fact did it twice it was so much fun.

I have now decided to do a parachute jump, and I can't wait, my mum's not quite so happy about it though. She says I give her grey hairs, which is not entirely fair, my brothers and sisters have to take at least some of the responsibility on that one. Although, to be fair, I did promise no more bungee jumps...and as far as I'm concerned I'm keeping that promise...sky diving...much better. Dave is desperately trying to find comprehensive life insurance that covers jumping out of a plane from 20,000 feet up...good luck with that one Dave. Even the kids questions on what will happen should my parachute fail to open, aren't putting me off.

We have lots of ideas for future fundraising events. Via the blogs and You Tube we aim to keep you posted, and of course the charity site will be up and running soon with all upcoming events listed. There are always things you can do to help, even if it's just spreading the word. We have been overwhelmed so far by the response and the compassion of others. We rope in family and friends all the time,and are eternally grateful for their unwavering support, but it is often the random act of kindness from a stranger that amazes us.

If you want to know of ways you can help, then please e-mail me. And I promise, I'm not expecting anyone else to jump out of airplanes or to get straight down the barbers for a number one. Unless you really want to that is. I bet I get inundated with people offering to do pub crawls though!!!

Take care

Sal x