A
couple of weeks ago I spent a very enjoyable evening at a welcoming, well
organised charity fashion swap.
The
general premise of the evening was that you could take clothes you no longer
wore and swap them for other people’s unwanted items. We all have clothes we are fed up with, are
too big or too small or we just no longer like. A clothes swap is a perfect way
to clear your wardrobe, add new pieces and help raise money for a very
worthwhile charity.
There
was a very fun, relaxed atmosphere and everyone was trusted to hang up their clothes
and swap for the same number they had donated. If you wanted more clothes than
you had donated you could also donate financially. The £10 paid on the door and
the money raised from refreshments went towards the charity, as did a fee for
anyone setting up a stall. (There were
several make up stalls, handmade cards and manicures and pedicures on offer.)
A
raffle with donated prizes was also good for raising money and two of Sarah
Parry’s children did a sterling job of pulling the tickets and managing the rowdy
crowd. (Women with raffle tickets clutched firmly in their hands, eyes on the
prize, are a hard crowd to control!)
Cancer
Research UK, a hugely important charity, was the recipient of the money made at
the clothes swap and donated through Mandy Mole’s Just Giving page in memory of
her best friend Sarah Parry.
Sarah
died at the age of 44 after a battle with breast cancer. She left behind her
husband Phil and their four lovely, funny, confident children. Her best friend,
Mandy helped to look after Sarah’s children, supported Phil and has tirelessly
raised money for cancer research.
Mandy,
Sarah and Phil had been friends and neighbours for many years and their
children had grown up together, been on holiday together and shared many happy
events. After her divorce in 2011 Sarah
and Phil supported Mandy even though they had their own tragedy unfolding
behind the scenes. Mandy was with Sarah
and Phil in the hospice for Sarah’s final days.
Previously,
in 2010, Mandy had survived skin cancer and started to raise money for cancer
research as she was extremely grateful for having been able to survive this awful
disease and for her mother having also battled with, and won, against uterine
cancer.
In
a bid to raises their spirits Mandy and Phil went, as friends, to Phoenix and
Las Vegas on holiday and returned a couple.
Mandy was the perfect person to continue helping raise Sarah’s four children
as she had always been part of her life. Having met the fantastic four I have
to say that Sarah, Phil and Mandy have done a fabulous job.
While
battling with cancer Sarah and her 3 daughters worked through and got their
black belts in karate. Their little brother is now working towards his. To have
that bond with their Mum must be a fantastic feeling and memories to treasure forever.
If
you want to donate to the Just Giving page for Sarah Parry this is the link:
I
will be publicising any future fund raising events and hope you will attend as
many as you can. Having helped my Dad
battle with cancer and survive, I know that no one is immune to this dreadful
disease. Some people have had their own struggles and others have had someone
close to them, but we all know one or more people who have been there.
