Thank you to our amazing London Marathon 2023 team

A massive thank you to our 2023 London Marathon team, for going above and beyond for the cause of dyslexia, and for really making a difference in the world.

Six intrepid heroes signed up for the Helen Arkell team in this year’s London Marathon which took place on 23 April.

David, Debbie, Eskil, Justin, Sam and Steve all showed incredible determination to help us fulfil our mission to transform the lives of children and adults with dyslexia.

The months of intense training in order to manage the 26.2 miles in one piece involved running whatever the weather, on dark evenings after work and chilly early mornings.

On the day itself, the team all completed one of the greatest challenges there is, collecting their hard earned medals before celebrating with proud family and friends.

You can read their stories by clicking on their names below, and this will give you an insight into their own individual, personal reasons for putting their bodies on the line in this way.

And they would all be hugely grateful if you contribute a little something to their fundraising pages, because raising sponsorship can be as challenging as the running itself.

To join our 2024 London Marathon team, please apply here.

Debbie training for the London Marathon
Sam is running the London marathon
David is running the London Marathon
Eskil is running the London Marathon
Steven is running the London Marathon
Justin is running the London Marathon
By |2024-07-23T16:45:33+01:00May 31st, 2023|Fundraising news|0 Comments

What a great day! Teddy’s Big Walk for Dyslexia

We had a fantastic day on Sunday at Teddy Arkell Bear’s Big Walk for Dyslexia. This was the first Big Walk we had done from our West Street Centre and we were delighted that it was part of Farnham Town Council’s Walking Festival.

The sun came out and our dedicated walkers spent a beautiful afternoon enjoying leafy Farnham Park. We then enjoyed tea and cake and a lovely chat back at the Centre. Teddy was very well-behaved and managed to leave enough cake for the rest of us.

Thank you to everyone who came along to raise awareness and funds to help support children and adults with dyslexia and to those who sponsored our walkers. A big shout out and thank you to 11-year-old Finlay who raised £400 for us!

If you would like to join us next year, the date will be announced in our e-newsletter. You can subscribe here.

By |2024-07-23T16:45:48+01:00May 22nd, 2023|Fundraising news|0 Comments

Sam’s Amazing Skydive

It all started last October when Andy and Tory presented an Introduction to Dyslexia Lunch and Learn session to IT consultant firm Capgemini. Sam Smith watched the presentation during his lunch break and, having dyslexia himself, was inspired to fundraise for us to help support others with dyslexia.

Sam doesn’t do things by half and has now run the Leicestershire Half Marathon in February, the London Marathon last month and this weekend he took to the air and did a skydive, falling from 14,000! So far, Sam has raised a massive £2,140!

You can read Sam’s inspirational story and support him here.

We’d like to say a monumental thank you to Sam for going to all these lengths (and heights) to help us provide much-needed support to children and adults with dyslexia.

By |2024-07-23T16:45:56+01:00May 21st, 2023|Fundraising news|0 Comments

Teddy Arkell’s Big Walk for Dyslexia

Our Big Walk for Dyslexia is on the afternoon of Sunday 21 May and we’d love you to come and join us! We will be walking in beautiful Farnham Park – just a stone’s throw from the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity in West Street. And this year, we’re thrilled to be part of the Farnham Walking Festival.

As you know, Teddy Edward Arkell Bear loves to be involved where he can so he’s decided to take over the Big Walk and would like your furry teddy friends to come along too. There’ll be tea and cake at the end (if Teddy hasn’t already eaten it all).

Join in wherever you are!

If you can’t attend on the day, why not do a ‘virtual’ walk for us and tag us as you share your photos on social media?

This is all to raise money to help support adults and children with dyslexia and to raise awareness of dyslexia and the work we do here at Helen Arkell so we would love your support.

It’s a lovely, fun family day out – dogs are welcome too. You can find out more and register here.

Good luck and enjoy the walk! It will be great to see all your pictures on social media so be sure to tag us.

By |2024-07-23T16:46:08+01:00May 19th, 2023|Fundraising news|0 Comments

Some people are just brilliant, aren’t they?

Why would anyone want to run non-stop for 26.2 miles, when they don’t necessarily even enjoy running? Which probably means somewhere between three and a half hours, to five and a half hours of very painful activity?

More than that. Why would anyone put themselves through several months of relentless training in order to manage the above in one piece? It probably means they’ve had to run on cold, dark winter’s evenings after work. Or icy winter mornings. And if you only run on nice, dry days, you probably won’t do many runs … so out you go (again) for another 2 or 3 hour run in the rain, when everything chafes twice as much as it normally would.

Why on earth would anybody do that?!

Probably the best people to answer that question are David, Debbie, Eskil, Justin, Sam and Steve, who are doing it on Sunday.

These intrepid heroes are the Helen Arkell team in this year’s London Marathon. You can read their stories by clicking on their names above, and this will give you an insight into their own individual, personal reasons for putting their bodies on the line in this way.

A common theme is that they have a determination to help us fulfil our mission to transform the lives of children and adults with dyslexia. That’s why they’re doing it.

So, please join me in saying a massive thank you to all our team, for going above and beyond for the cause of dyslexia, and for really making a difference in the world.

Think of them on Sunday morning, as they negotiate one of the greatest challenges there is. Please send them lots of positive vibes, to help get them safely to the finish line, where our Hazel and Helen will be waiting for them.

Above all, please contribute a little something to their fundraising pages, because raising sponsorship is actually just as hard and painful as the running itself.

Good luck David, Debbie, Eskil, Justin, Sam and Steve! You are all absolute heroes!!

Good luck!

Andy

PS If you feel inspired by the efforts of our London Marathon runners and want to ‘do your bit for dyslexia’ too, there are various options available to you, including the Royal Parks Half Marathon on 8 October, or Teddy Arkell’s slightly more gentle Big Walk for Dyslexia on 21 May.

By |2024-07-23T16:47:11+01:00April 21st, 2023|CEO blog, Fundraising news|0 Comments

Tesco Community Grants – New Stores!

We’re in the customer vote for a Tesco Community Grant. This is a scheme giving community projects and small charities like us grants of up to £1,500.When you pop into a local store, it would be fantastic if you could put your blue tokens (given out at the checkout) into the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity slot to decide how much funding we get.The money we then receive from Tesco Community Grants will be used to support children and young people with dyslexia, giving them confidence and helping them succeed at school, college or university.

Which Tesco stores?

From the beginning of April, you can choose Helen Arkell at:

Tesco Express, 10 Salisbury Street, Fordingbridge SP6 1AF

Tesco Extra, Bourne Centre, Salisbury SP1 2NY

Tesco Express, 21-25 Castle Street, Salisbury SP1 1TT

Tesco Express, Wilton Road, Salisbury SP2 7HW

Huge thanks to everyone who has been supporting us in various Tesco stores around the country since last October – this really makes a difference!

You can find out more about Tesco Community Grants here.

By |2024-07-23T16:48:17+01:00March 27th, 2023|Fundraising news|0 Comments

Fantastic donation is EGGSactly what we need!

We were absolutely delighted to welcome Thierry HENry to the Centre in West Street at the beginning of this month. This honoured guest was brought along by the Howard family who also brought a very welcome cheque for the charity for £1,000.

Brian Howard has been organising a charity event in Haslemere since 2017; there have been hogs, hares and hounds and this year was the turn of the hens. Thierry HENry is a three-foot fibreglass model hen – just one of 80 sponsored hens that have been decorated, hilariously named and sold in aid of local and national charities. Other hens included an artistic HENri Matisse, a super-heroic Cluck Kent, a musical EGG Sheeran and a nature-loving David AttHENborough. The events have raised a huge £190,000 since they began.

Thierry HENry is the brainchild of Brian’s grandson Charlie who is an avid Arsenal fan. Eleven-year-old Charlie was diagnosed with dyslexia at here at the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre 18 months ago and decided that his footballer hen should raise money to help children like him to get the support they need.

Charlie’s mum Lorraine said, ‘[the diagnosis] really changed Charlie’s life. We know first-hand what amazing work the charity does supporting children and adults with dyslexia as well as their families. Charlie wanted to give something back.’

Charlie’s dad Douglas is CEO of the Real English Drinks Company which sponsored the Arsenal-kitted hen. The hen was bought by a determined and enthusiastic club fan for an amazing £1,000 – all for the benefit of the dyslexia charity.

Our CEO Andy Cook said, ‘It was so lovely to welcome Thierry HENry and the Howard family and to hear Charlie’s story. He’s proof that the right kind of support can make a world of difference. As a charity, our aim is to make this support available to as many people – children and adults – as we possibly can. The £1,000 donation goes a long way to helping people, so thank you to Charlie, Brian and the family and to the very keen Arsenal fan.’

By |2024-07-23T16:48:27+01:00March 21st, 2023|Fundraising news|0 Comments

Meet our London Marathon runners

Support our amazing London Marathon 2023 runners

These dedicated individuals are pushing themselves to the limit training in preparation for the event on 23 April.

And if that wasn’t enough, they’re running to raise funds for the people we support at Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity.

Click on their stories below to find out what led them to commit to running for Helen Arkell and how you can support them.

Debbie training for the London Marathon
Sam is running the London marathon
David is running the London Marathon
Eskil is running the London Marathon
Steven is running the London Marathon
Justin is running the London Marathon
By |2024-04-24T09:33:45+01:00March 13th, 2023|Fundraising news|0 Comments

Discover Adventure – and support people with dyslexia

We’ve partnered with Discover Adventure who are award-winning specialists in UK and worldwide trekking and cycling challenges. They offer challenges and adventures all over the world specifically for individuals and groups who are fundraising. Are you ready for an adventure? Want to challenge yourself? There are loads to choose from, with a small selection below. Or head to their website to choose your big adventure!

UK Coast to Coast Cycle

Yorkshire 3 Peaks Weekend

Mount Toubkal Trek

By |2024-07-23T16:49:09+01:00February 6th, 2023|Fundraising news|0 Comments

Vote for us at My Favourite Voucher Codes

Vote for the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity this February in the My Favourite Voucher Codes Charity Poll

We are delighted to be taking part in My Favourite Voucher Codes monthly charity poll, where we are up for a chance to win 20% of their profits. As one of three charities taking part, we need your support!

My Favourite Voucher Codes isn’t your average voucher code website – not only do they help their users to save money whenever they shop online, they’re also passionate about helping good causes, donating 20% of their profits to charity every month.

With thousands of voucher codes and offers from the UK’s favourite merchants, their site gives users the opportunity to save money on groceries, fashion, tech, beauty, travel, insurance and loads more.

Every month, three charities take part in their poll to compete for votes by visitors to the site. At the end of the month, the charity with the most votes wins the donation.

How is the money raised?

The donation to the winning charity is formed by the amount of voucher codes used throughout the month. Every time someone makes a purchase through My Favourite Voucher Codes, the site makes a small commission, which is at no extra cost to the customer. In short, every time a customer shops through the site, they will be contributing to the donation prize, and of course, the more codes used, the bigger the donation.

How to support Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity

To be in with a chance of winning this donation, we need your votes. You can cast your vote for free from 1 February, and the poll will run up until midnight on 28 February.

You don’t need to register or sign up for anything to take part, and you don’t have to use any codes for your vote to count, so everyone can get involved!

If however you do need to do any online shopping, make sure you have a browse at the site’s offers, as chances are you’ll come across a voucher code to help you save money on your purchase. Not only that, but by making a purchase through the site you’ll also be contributing towards the donation we’re up for winning!

Please share the poll on your social media channels too if you can to help us get even more votes! Show your support for the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity this February and help us offer dyslexia support to everyone who needs it.

Thank you!

My Favourite Voucher Codes website

By |2024-07-23T16:50:14+01:00January 22nd, 2023|Uncategorized|0 Comments

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