PEOPLE NEWS EXTRA
overwhelming support and is “going slightly crackers”, exclaims Bryan. “Originally it was just going to be family and friends but now we have 59 registered walkers and 30 more interested!”
The charity has also had several business partners come on board, including Premier Housewares donating £1,000, while Dexam Trust has pledged £500 a year for three years.
So, what can people do if they are touched by Bryan’s story and how can our industry get involved to help support Evie’s Gift? “We are looking for business partnerships – that’s what we need – that regular
If your child needs emergency specialist treatment, you can end up anywhere. You could be sent to a hospital that is hundreds of miles from home…
commitment,” Bryan explains. “We’ve already got some corporate partners in Bristol and the southwest. The business partnership programme is called ‘Business Friends’; and companies can become ‘Good Friends’ or ‘Best Friends’ for an annual donation of £250 or £1,000 respectively.”
Vital work
For anyone who knows Bryan, they will know how hard he works for the Rainy Day Trust and also be aware of his fantastic fundraising efforts to benefit people within the home improvement and garden industry who have fallen on hard times. He has not slowed down his efforts and will still be taking part in the VADO Rally this year to raise money for the trust. He has committed more than a
decade to helping important causes but Evie’s Gift, understandably, holds a special place in his heart. Having lived through every parent’s worst nightmare, Bryan and his wife are determined to support other families in the same situation. Of his time at Bristol Royal Hospital, he says: “Every morning we would come down and see a chalkboard of names on the wall. That waiting list never dropped below 18 or 19 names the whole time. “We saw a young mother and her mum who were up from Devon. They had no money, so they spent the first night in the quiet room on sofas before being turfed out; the second night they spent in the waiting room in chairs before they were moved out of there; then the third night they spent in the corridor sleeping on chairs.
“Imagine knowing you’ve got to
leave your child in intensive care and go home because you have no money left and can’t afford to stay. “In Spain we didn’t eat or sleep for three days. I’ve seen people surviving on bits of sandwich for days. We can’t let that continue. We knew that Evie was going to die but we thought we had six months – as it turned out we didn’t have that long… From Evie’s first headache to her death was just 13 weeks… But people are expected to take in information and make decisions in that state. You are so frightened and so tired, you don’t question things.
“It just makes so much difference having somewhere to go back to and have a shower, or to be able to get some rest and be able to have a sensible conversation.”
Bryan is inviting business partners who want to support the charity and its work to get in touch at
chairman@eviesgift.org. uk. Personal donations can also be made via
www.justgiving.com/ eviesgift and more information can be found at
www.eviesgift.org.uk
“Supporting people of all ages in your industry”
Celebrate our 175th Anniversary by getting involved
WE NEED YOUR HELP …
• We need 175 volunteers • To raise £175 each • Please help us!
Registered Charity Number 1170878
www.diyweek.net
Contact us on 0121 237 1132 or via
info@rainydaytrust.org.uk
11 MAY 2018 DIY WEEK 13
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