February 12th 2006 saw the beginning of Children’s Heart Week. The www.childrens-heart-fed.org.uk and its member groups, including the Children’s Heart Association organised a week of exciting events to raise awareness and funds to support the needs of heart children and their families.
You can read more in our feature here.
Thank you to Kevin and Barry Wilkinson who have again been raising funds and awareness for the Association. In December 2005 they took part in the Grim Challenge, a gruelling 8 mile off-road challenge. You can visit their website atwww.stacey-louise.co.uk.
Photos by ProSportPhotos
The Children’s Heart Federation (CHF) brings together groups across Britain and Ireland so that they can share problems, ideas, approaches and educational materials designed to help heart children.
Members of the Association joined each other at Jodrell Bank observatory near Mancheser on the 12th November. It was a very enjoyable day.
It was cold but bright and sunny on Saturday, 12th November for our Children’s Heart Association trip to Jodrell Bank. The attraction here is the radio telescope and the visitor centre.
We met just after 11a.m. and looked around the small gift shop and the hands-on exhibition area. The displays included feeling the weight of baked beans cans on Jupiter, the Moon and the Earth and also drawing lines in a star shape by looking at it in a mirror. For the adults the science was explained and it was of interest on several levels.
Our f
irst arranged event was a talk by Eric. This took place outside so it was rather cool but Eric gave a very lively performance and kept us all amused. We were near the giant telescope and heard how Bernard Lovell (later Sir Bernard) had it built and tracked the first Russian rockets into space. It led the way then and today it is still at the forefront of space exploration following a refit.
Then it was inside to the 3D theatre where we went on a voyage to Mars. Wearing our special glasses we travelled through space and then flew close to the surface of Mars. Our guide pointed out the volcanic area in the north and a vast canyon that runs around much of the planet. Finally we landed at our space hotel on Mars. Again Eric was on hand and it was obvious that he loves entertaining visitors with facts and figures about the stars and planets.
By now we were all feeling quite hungry and ready for lunch in the Space Café. All the food is freshly cooked so we had to wait a while but there was a good choice of dishes and everyone was happy with their chosen meal: especially Jennifer Picton, who took great delight in biting the heads off her turkey dinosaurs! We sat and chatted for a while and then went outside for a walk.
We followed the path that goes partly round the telescope and were interested to see it being manoeuvred into a different position by a technician in a building nearby. He also receives all the information from the telescope. Birds of prey settle in the frame that supports the telescope and fly out to catch pigeons. We saw a kestrel flying around with a pigeon in its talons and Jordan took a photo of it. Finally we went to the children’s play area and the arboretum before ending our visit to Jodrell Bank.
Carol Shaw
If you would like to know more about the Jodrell Bank Observatory, please visit its website at www.jb.man.ac.uk.
Want to know what Liverpool branch has been up to the last few months? The latest issue of the branch newsletter is now available in the downloads section (document ID CHA40-0007). See Downloads.
Together with buy.at we have launched a webshop. You can choose from over 80 retailers and by purchasing through our webshop the Association receives commission on the purchase.
You pay exactly the same price as if you’d gone directly – so there’s no excuse!
In the shop you will find many retailers you know including Comet, BT, M&S and John Lewis. Thinking about getting Sky TV? If you sign up via our webshop, you will be helping the Association. Have a look through the A-Z to see all the available retailers.
Keen to buy? Visit www.heartchild.info/shop.
On the 1st October 2005, the Association for Children with Heart Disorders has relaunched itself as the Children’s Heart Association. We have a new name, new logo and new website. For more information, please see A New Beginning.
We were saddened to hear about the loss of Stacey-Louise who died due to congenital heart disease on 15th August 2005. Friends and family of Stacey-Louise decided to take part in the Great North Run to raise money for LGI, where she was treated, and for our Association through Justgiving. Over £400 pounds was raised, for which we are extremely grateful.
The finish times were: Barry – 2hrs 36m 27s; Kevin – 2hrs 29m 18s; Martin – 3hrs 21m 30s (injury at 6 mile marker).
You can read more about the day in this feature.
There’s an article about Jill on the Rochdale Observer website. It can be found here:http://www.rochdaleobserver.co.uk/news/index/articles/article_id=21994.html
The Association has teamed up with JustGiving.com. For more information see JustGiving and the Association.