We are the World Blogfest ... # 7 - Cornwall Hugs Grenfell ...

I expect many of you will remember the terrible tragic fire that recently enveloped Grenfell Tower in west London …

I love this logo - so clever ...
Cornwall Hugs Grenfell
Holidays of Hope...
says so much ...

… who could have envisaged something as appalling as this happening in this day and age … I’m not going into the details – suffice to say about 80 people died … and the police are still investigating …

But at the time 280 miles away in Cornwall – and you know how my heart could easily reside in the far west – a mother of two, Esme Page, watched completely shocked as the information on the horror unfolded.

Cornish flags flying high for Grenfell

This has left a whole community bereft … of a loved one, a friend, neighbours and locals of knowing what happened, of trauma, with serious injuries, of post-traumatic stress disorder from the effects of this ghastly event … it is ongoing …

Esme set up a Facebook page “Cornwall Hugs Grenfell” … the response was magnificent … she had posted:

“Imagine if we could put a Cornish holiday on the horizon of every Grenfell resident and firefighter family: a time to rest, a time to let our beautiful county bless these people and work its gentle magic.”

Cornwall travel poster from the 1920s

… more than 200 pledges were received from local businesses – for accommodation, vouchers for attractions and meals, transport, water-sport opportunities, sight-seeing, et al …

The first holiday was hugely successful – the visitors won’t ever forget the devastating effects of the fire, but could now have some recent happy memories to share with each other and others …

St Michael's Mount off Marazion

… the intention is to run the project until 2019 … providing free holidays for those of the families and supporters who wish to take up the offer …

Cornish Cream scone and tea

… there were therapy sessions of massage, reflexology, sound therapy, sculpture and singing workshops … local foods of cream teas, fish and chips, ice creams, picnics on the beach … sightseeing trips to various sites …

It is just the sort of idea that should be sung out to the world … reminding us that we can all help in the background – there’s always a way to offer our comfort – there is a just giving crowdfunding link …

 

This epitomises We are the World people – who deserve to be recognised … Esme Page with her two children (7 and 10) – more details can be found in the links …

Thank you for participating in our monthly We are the World Blogfest – please join us next month … here's the link to join us - Damyanti Writes ... this is her post after the Manchester bombing earlier this year.

Visit Cornwall - Cornwall Hugs Grenfell 

Daily Echo - survivors take a holiday in Cornwall 

Evening Standard - Grenfell Tower Survivors take healing holiday

Just Giving Crowdfunding site details - if you can give a little ... it would be greatly appreciated - the suffering and struggling on must be so difficult ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

We are the World Blogfest ... in Darkness, Be Light ... #4 - Blood Runners

A group of bikers who have combined their passion for bikes with volunteering for an essential service in Sussex – the transporting of blood and associated products needed in an emergency. 

Come and join us in this
WAWTB fest - link below

This group is called:

SERV Sussex – Service by Emergency Rider Volunteers

'Racing' through the night to deliver blood
c/o Sussex SERV site

There are 60 volunteers who work at intervals overnight (7.00 pm to 6.00 am) to provide night time transportation of blood, blood products and other urgent medical items for the National Health Service (NHS) hospitals around Sussex.

Without this willing group of night time riders the NHS would have to use ambulances, or pay taxis to transport these urgently needed items.

This amazing service has just been awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – the highest award that can be made to a voluntary group.

In 2016 SERV Sussex responded to 1,147 individual requests for assistance from NHS Trusts or the UK Association for Milk Banks (premature and sick baby services).

Tube map of the London Underground - Tooting is ringed
Sussex lies approximately due south

Blood and blood products usually originate in Tooting, south London … but transfers are made to London and between Sussex Hospital Trusts.

A second service is provided as SERV has recently expanded to transporting human milk; now providing daily support to milk banks in London and Brighton. 

Sussex SERV's logo

They will collect milk from donors in Sussex, Surrey and London at pre-arranged times, then deliver to one of the milk banks.

They will also deliver treated milk to mothers in their homes if donor milk is required and they are unable to make it to the hospital to collect their supplies. 

Donated breast milk helps babies who are ill to get the best start in life… it contains all the nutrients (at least 400) that a baby needs and contains the hormones and disease-fighting compounds which are not found in formula milk.

Another photo of their vehicle c/o SERV site

These volunteers who cover the 365 nights in a year … leave the hospitals free to focus their resources on patient care and eliminate costly transport bills.

The volunteers give their time for free, together with use of their beloved bikes, they put the fuel in and maintain their vehicles from their own pockets.

A wonderful service recognised by The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service … so well deserved – many of us will be thankful, while the volunteers gain from giving back to society, to helping families at times of dire trouble … 

c/o Sussex SERV site

Today and all days we give thanks to those who will look after us in times of need … while I am sure the Service for Emergency Rider Volunteers in Sussex has been working overtime to help those with great need in London.

Let us not make life worse for others …

SERV Sussex - Service by Emergency Rider Volunteers (SERV)

The Blood Runners of Sussex

We Are The World ... In Darkness, Be Light ...  

link to join and participate is here ... 

Your lead co-hosts this month are:  
Belinda Witzenhausen,  Lynn Hallbrooks,  Michelle Wallace, Sylvia McGrath, Sylvia Stein 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

We Are The World … In Darkness, Be Light … #3

My story this time comes from Mexico … Monterrey and Mexico City … highlighting a teenage son and his mother …

Julian Rios Cantu has recently hit the headlines through inventing a prototype bra … eliminating the need for a mammogram …

… the bra will detect cancer very early, by noticing the changes, particularly abnormal temperature, occurring in the breast. 

Here Julian is with Richard Branson - having won
his award - c/o Higia Technologies

I’m not explaining this very well … but please read up about him.

He was determined to help his mother, and all mothers with (potential) breast cancer …

Apart from his dedication to overcome his dyslexia by studying obsessively, which then enabled him to better understand science – he became top of the class with interests in technology and robots.

He is inspirational … his motto on (that dreaded birdie thing!) twitter is:

“Stop Thinking.

Stop Pondering.

Stop Strategising.

Stop Debating.

GO     DO.”

Monterrey, Mexico where the
company is based.

The family are practical … but you do need to read his story – definitely worth it … totally admirable.

His mother still works to feed her family – Julian and his twin sister, Daniela – while having cancer medication and chemo …

The prototype bra 

Julian has set up a company Higia Technologies with three of his smartest friends!  This includes a brief introductory video … please listen …

Higia Technologies

It also notes some statistics … one of which is that over 1,700,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed every year … check the website – it is before you get to the video.

Let us take stock … GO DO …

        … and then help others to GO DO …

We Are The World … In Darkness, Be Light

Your lead co-hosts this time are: 

Emerald Barnes, 

Eric Lahti, 

Inderpreet Uppal,  

Lynn Hallbrooks,  

Peter Nena, 

Roshan Radhakrishnan,  

We Are The World Blogfest

Emily Bloomquist - Her Life in Ecuador ... is a new participant this month ... so please join us via the sign up form on her blog ... 

After the terrible tragic happening in Manchester this week – my heart goes out to all the families of those affected … please read Damyanti’s post:

http://www.damyantiwrites.com/2017/05/24/light-darkness-manchester/

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

We Are The World ... In Darkness, Be Light ... #2

As some of you will know the end of April Friday clashed with the 2017 A-Z Blogging Challenge that many do … and I was on the downward slope at the XYZ sundown days! 

X being the one that particularly clashed.   What to do – add in an extra post to the alphabet to make it 27 letters instead of 26 – or just quietly not worry and pick up the threads later …. here I am gathering my wits now Mayday has come around.

I have plenty of ideas for the future month end Fridays – subjects and people I wish to write about … but perhaps the best way is to tie in my A-Z theme of Aspects of Rare Breeds in the British Countryside to ‘our’ motto:  In Darkness Be Light …

Dorset hills rolling away towards the English Channel

Thankfully we have many dedicated farmers, volunteers, supporters, interested parties and organisations who care for this British landscape on our island.

So this is a shout-out to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust: the over-arching body that monitors, saves and promotes our rare and native farm breeds … I will add to this post when I do a Reflections A-Z post(s) later this week.

The Ark - part of  the
Rare Breeds Survival Trust

But thank you to all our farmers, associated organisations, volunteers, and members of the public, who are guardians of our natural history.

Rare Breeds Survival Trust – their About Us page …

Rare Breeds – What’s the Point … Indie Farmer’s article

      (surprisingly the farm is only about ten miles away)

We are the World Blogfest …

In Darkness,      Be Light … 

My R for Rare Breeds Survival Trust post where you can find further information

From a blogger who blogs positivity please join us at:

We are the World Blogfest

Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

We are the World ... in Darkness, Be Light ...

Thank you for joining us in the We are the World Blogfest ... 

We are the World … yes part of it … but the important bit is our family and our locality – where we live, where we experience life, and where we wish the best for all …

… yet we are the world … it is us – we need to set the examples, we need to lead … we need to protect nature …

… then let the butterflies of Spring flutter their wings and spread our message …

… open our heart to others – let the light in … be aware others have different viewpoints – we are all entitled to our views … perhaps look to understand more … acknowledge other people and set positive examples …

The creation of Light by Gustav Dore

… close our hearts to darkness, unfairness, cruelty, ignorance …

We are the World ….

        In Darkness,         Be Light ….

As the American Cochran – Payne families whose son, in the recent London terror attack, lost his life, miraculously their daughter lives and is recovering … the families’ comments:

‘this has been a humbling and difficult experience, but we have the love of so many people during these past several days’ …

… ‘it has been a tender experience for our family to be together with Melissa here.’

Kurt Cochran, who died in the attack on Westminster Bridge, has left a legacy of generosity and service that continues to inspire us, we are deeply saddened to lose him but grateful that the world is getting to know him and be inspired by him.

This story is detailed here in the Guardian article.

We are the World …

                In Darkness,           Be Light

……… as these brave families have done for their loved ones and as examples for us …. in darkness, they let the light in.

Your lead co-hosts this time are: 

Belinda Witzenhausen, 

Lynn Hallbrooks,  

Simon Falk, 

Sylvia McGrath, and

Damyanti Biswas.  

From a blogger who blogs positivity ... please join us via this website 

... We Are The World Blogfest

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories