50@50: Interview with a fundraiser
Once I have made my mind up to do something I go at it all guns blazing
Are you looking for inspiration for your next fundraising endeavour? Need fundraising ideas? Look no further! We have the perfect story to get your fundraising wheels turning. In this article, we will be interviewing Helen Owen, who is currently embarking on a fantastic fundraising frenzy! Read on to find out all about Helen, her reason for fundraising for the HDA and exactly what her 50@50 challenge is.
Who is Helen?
Most of my family and friends think I am a little mad
My name is Helen and I turned 50 in November 2018. I have worked in the Aerospace industry for over 20 years now, after settling in Lancashire post moving around the world for 25 years with my Dad who was in the forces. I am a bit of a control freak (some would say a lot), I like to plan ahead with everything and once I have made my mind up to do something I go at it all guns blazing.
Why are you raising money for Huntington’s disease?
In 2014 myself and the family started to notice signs of Huntington’s in Simon such as dropping things…
I met my Husband Simon 12 years ago and after about two months dating he spoke about his genetic risk of being diagnosed with Huntington’s disease. He had lost his Dad and a number of other family members to the illness. I read up on it and decided what would be would be. Simon and his sister had made the decision that neither of them wanted to be formally tested which I respected. Then in 2014 myself and the family started to notice signs of Huntington’s such as dropping things and generally becoming clumsier. Then in December 2014, Simon had an accident at work and we spoke that maybe now was the time to go for testing. Simon was formally diagnosed in June 2015.
What motivated you to start fundraising?
… fundraising sometimes feels like the only thing I can do
I have been fundraising for more years than I care to remember, for lots of different organisations. I have raised in excess of £8000 in the last ten years. I don’t really know what drives me to fundraise, just that feeling sometimes of hopelessness in not being able to help a cause or someone who is suffering – fundraising sometimes feels like the only thing I can do. My last major fundraiser was running a Marathon for Help for Heroes.
What is 50@50?
I was originally going to Brave the Shave for my 50th birthday and raise some funds that way but Simon said he wouldn’t let me back in the house…
Well, I was originally going to Brave the Shave for my 50th birthday and raise some funds that way but Simon said he wouldn’t let me back in the house so I had to come up with an alternative. My Niece-in-law recommended lots of mini-challenges and that’s when I decided to do 50 challenges / activities in 50 weeks to celebrate my 50th birthday.
It took a while to decide on all the challenges and activities with some of them being much more demanding in time / cost and my own courage factor, but most of them I can do with family, friends and especially Simon. This means at the same time as fundraising I can build loads and loads of memories with Simon, making an album up at the end for me to keep and look back on.
The challenges range from croqueting a blanket to sell, paint a picture (never painted in my life), ‘Am I Smarter than a 10-year-old?’ (a quiz made for ten year olds that I took with my Great Niece), fly a helicopter, drive a tank, read a book, do a 3D jigsaw. For more information on my many, many, challenges you can visit my JustGiving Page.
How is your fundraising going?
Chilli Choc Challenge – Yuck, not to be advised
Nothing is happening when I planned it but I am now in week nine of my 50 weeks and am slowly getting through the challenges, with completed to date:
- Am I smarter than a 10-year-old? – No, my Great Niece is definitely smarter than I am
- Build a 3D jigsaw – Not as easy as I thought it would be
- Pay for someone’s coffee anonymously
- Reverse Advent Calendar – Big bag of items taken to Clitheroe Food Bank in time for Christmas
- Give an anonymous gift – two gifts went to Mission Christmas and a Bag of helpful items gifts were donated to the Clitheroe Shelter in time for Christmas
- Chilli Choc Challenge – Yuck, not to be advised
- Write a blog – Done and used within work, plus as a bonus, I am writing for the HDA website
- New Year Ice Bucket Challenge – Brrrrrrr (four bags of newly melted ice was a bit colder than I had planned)
- Hold a spider – I am so proud of myself on this one. I have been terrified all my life, had to have my eyes closed initially and made me cry but I did it
- Hold a snake – Wasn’t ready for it to be a 20ft Boa Constrictor but hey-ho was okay with this one and managed to smile
Below are the challenges that have either been booked or are being worked on:
- Crochet a blanket – nearly there
- Abstain from sweets for 50 days – started and trying not to have any sweets or chocolate
- Dry January – was going to be August but decided to try for January to tick another one off the list
- Impossible jigsaw – wish I hadn’t started it!
- 20 February – Archery and clay pigeon challenge
- 23 March - Great escape challenge
- 15 June helicopter flying lessons – Had to move this from April so that Simon didn’t miss the last game of the season
- 24 June ski downhill and fun in the snow – Fingers crossed no trips to A&E after this one as I have never been skiing in my life
- Tank driving and hot air balloon vouchers purchased and ready to book along with lots and lots more
How much are you planning to raise?
…with a secret wish to raise more and maybe get to £2000
My original plan was to raise £500 with a secret wish to raise more and maybe get to £2000 which would mean raising £10000 for charity in ten years. Generously family, friends and complete strangers have helped raise just over £600 so far.
What's been the most positive thing to come out of your fundraising challenge?
… most of all the special memories that we are making with Simon
A couple of things, as always the generosity of family, friends and individuals I have never met and may never meet. Also, gaining the courage to overcome one of my biggest fears in life but most of all the special memories that we are making with Simon.
Helen is such an inspiration to fundraisers all over the world. We hope that her story has given an insight into living with someone affected by Huntington’s disease and has kick-started your engines into fundraising gear! If you would like to learn more about how you can fundraise for the HDA contact us on fundraising@hda.org.uk.
If you are affected by Huntington’s disease and are looking for support please get in touch with us on info@hda.org.uk or call 0151 331 5444.
Once I have made my mind up to do something I go at it all guns blazing
Are you looking for inspiration for your next fundraising endeavour? Need fundraising ideas? Look no further! We have the perfect story to get your fundraising wheels turning. In this article, we will be interviewing Helen Owen, who is currently embarking on a fantastic fundraising frenzy! Read on to find out all about Helen, her reason for fundraising for the HDA and exactly what her 50@50 challenge is.
Who is Helen?
Most of my family and friends think I am a little mad
My name is Helen and I turned 50 in November 2018. I have worked in the Aerospace industry for over 20 years now, after settling in Lancashire post moving around the world for 25 years with my Dad who was in the forces. I am a bit of a control freak (some would say a lot), I like to plan ahead with everything and once I have made my mind up to do something I go at it all guns blazing.
Why are you raising money for Huntington’s disease?
In 2014 myself and the family started to notice signs of Huntington’s in Simon such as dropping things…
I met my Husband Simon 12 years ago and after about two months dating he spoke about his genetic risk of being diagnosed with Huntington’s disease. He had lost his Dad and a number of other family members to the illness. I read up on it and decided what would be would be. Simon and his sister had made the decision that neither of them wanted to be formally tested which I respected. Then in 2014 myself and the family started to notice signs of Huntington’s such as dropping things and generally becoming clumsier. Then in December 2014, Simon had an accident at work and we spoke that maybe now was the time to go for testing. Simon was formally diagnosed in June 2015.
What motivated you to start fundraising?
… fundraising sometimes feels like the only thing I can do
I have been fundraising for more years than I care to remember, for lots of different organisations. I have raised in excess of £8000 in the last ten years. I don’t really know what drives me to fundraise, just that feeling sometimes of hopelessness in not being able to help a cause or someone who is suffering – fundraising sometimes feels like the only thing I can do. My last major fundraiser was running a Marathon for Help for Heroes.
What is 50@50?
I was originally going to Brave the Shave for my 50th birthday and raise some funds that way but Simon said he wouldn’t let me back in the house…
Well, I was originally going to Brave the Shave for my 50th birthday and raise some funds that way but Simon said he wouldn’t let me back in the house so I had to come up with an alternative. My Niece-in-law recommended lots of mini-challenges and that’s when I decided to do 50 challenges / activities in 50 weeks to celebrate my 50th birthday.
It took a while to decide on all the challenges and activities with some of them being much more demanding in time / cost and my own courage factor, but most of them I can do with family, friends and especially Simon. This means at the same time as fundraising I can build loads and loads of memories with Simon, making an album up at the end for me to keep and look back on.
The challenges range from croqueting a blanket to sell, paint a picture (never painted in my life), ‘Am I Smarter than a 10-year-old?’ (a quiz made for ten year olds that I took with my Great Niece), fly a helicopter, drive a tank, read a book, do a 3D jigsaw. For more information on my many, many, challenges you can visit my JustGiving Page.
How is your fundraising going?
Chilli Choc Challenge – Yuck, not to be advised
Nothing is happening when I planned it but I am now in week nine of my 50 weeks and am slowly getting through the challenges, with completed to date:
- Am I smarter than a 10-year-old? – No, my Great Niece is definitely smarter than I am
- Build a 3D jigsaw – Not as easy as I thought it would be
- Pay for someone’s coffee anonymously
- Reverse Advent Calendar – Big bag of items taken to Clitheroe Food Bank in time for Christmas
- Give an anonymous gift – two gifts went to Mission Christmas and a Bag of helpful items gifts were donated to the Clitheroe Shelter in time for Christmas
- Chilli Choc Challenge – Yuck, not to be advised
- Write a blog – Done and used within work, plus as a bonus, I am writing for the HDA website
- New Year Ice Bucket Challenge – Brrrrrrr (four bags of newly melted ice was a bit colder than I had planned)
- Hold a spider – I am so proud of myself on this one. I have been terrified all my life, had to have my eyes closed initially and made me cry but I did it
- Hold a snake – Wasn’t ready for it to be a 20ft Boa Constrictor but hey-ho was okay with this one and managed to smile
Below are the challenges that have either been booked or are being worked on:
- Crochet a blanket – nearly there
- Abstain from sweets for 50 days – started and trying not to have any sweets or chocolate
- Dry January – was going to be August but decided to try for January to tick another one off the list
- Impossible jigsaw – wish I hadn’t started it!
- 20 February – Archery and clay pigeon challenge
- 23 March - Great escape challenge
- 15 June helicopter flying lessons – Had to move this from April so that Simon didn’t miss the last game of the season
- 24 June ski downhill and fun in the snow – Fingers crossed no trips to A&E after this one as I have never been skiing in my life
- Tank driving and hot air balloon vouchers purchased and ready to book along with lots and lots more
How much are you planning to raise?
…with a secret wish to raise more and maybe get to £2000
My original plan was to raise £500 with a secret wish to raise more and maybe get to £2000 which would mean raising £10000 for charity in ten years. Generously family, friends and complete strangers have helped raise just over £600 so far.
What's been the most positive thing to come out of your fundraising challenge?
… most of all the special memories that we are making with Simon
A couple of things, as always the generosity of family, friends and individuals I have never met and may never meet. Also, gaining the courage to overcome one of my biggest fears in life but most of all the special memories that we are making with Simon.
Helen is such an inspiration to fundraisers all over the world. We hope that her story has given an insight into living with someone affected by Huntington’s disease and has kick-started your engines into fundraising gear! If you would like to learn more about how you can fundraise for the HDA contact us on fundraising@hda.org.uk.
If you are affected by Huntington’s disease and are looking for support please get in touch with us on info@hda.org.uk or call 0151 331 5444.