At the helm of our growing Fundraising team is Carolyn Bray, who is responsible for managing, organising, supporting and guiding our small but incredibly dedicated and enthusiastic team. 

Along with Carolyn - Marion Currie, Maddie Kavanagh and Maria Smith together form the Sands Fundraising and Events team. The team are all full-time and work from home (each having very supportive and understanding partners and families!).  All have personal fundraising experience and so understand first-hand what it is like to fundraise, whether that be taking part in an event or organising your own; we know how daunting it can feel at times!

Along with the above team, we have our new team member, Marc Dorman, Database & Membership Administrator, who works four days a week and is based at head office.

First and foremost, the team’s main priority is to look after all of our fabulous fundraisers, supporting and helping in any way that we can.  From providing the initial fundraising pack and t-shirt to the sending out of your ‘good luck’ letters and writing our special thank you letters, the team is always on hand to help bring your fundraising ideas to life and answer any questions you may have.

No two days are ever the same for the team and in addition to supporting our fundraisers the team tries to find time to create new fundraising events that people will love and have fun taking part in. They are responsible for dispatching items bought through the shop and sourcing new items for sale, including the items for our popular Christmas catalogue. They also support the organisation of our national events such as the AGM and the annual Lights of Love as well as help the Sands groups with their own fundraising events and many, many other things!

In addition to her role within the Fundraising team, Marion is the Footprints Editor and Carolyn closely supports her in preparing this publication three times a year. Both are regularly involved with the many reports, leaflets,  posters and other publications that Sands produces. They are responsible for updating the website’s homepage and the Fundraising section of the website as well as Facebook and no doubt Twitter in the foreseeable future!

There are all sorts of ways you can get involved or organise an event yourself to support the work of Sands.  If sport is your thing, then you could run a marathon, organise a sponsored walk, climb a mountain or even cycle around the world!  If you just break out into a sweat just reading those words there are still loads of things that you can do to raise vital funds for us.  From organising a collection or dress-down day at work, collecting stamps or doing a sponsored silence, jumping out of an (perfectly good) aeroplane or abseiling down the Tyne Bridge...there so many ways you can help to make a real different to those affected by the death of a baby and help fund research to stop babies’ dying.  Frustratingly we’re running out of room and there are just too many ways you can get involved to mention, the only limit is your imagination!

Volunteers Needed: If you have a few hours to spare at the weekend, and would be interested in ‘cheering’ our runners on in your local area we’d love to hear from you. We are also looking for volunteers with specific skills including crafters (nothing too technical but must have an eye for detail), data inputting (must be able to type 35-40+ wpm) and proof-readers (experienced in proof reading and editing) and photographers (professional or semi-professional). In the first instance please email fundraising@uk-sands.org putting ‘Volunteer’ in the subject line. If you think you would like to get involved with or organise a fundraising event; need help with an event you are planning or just to talk through a fundraising idea you may have, our friendly fundraising team is on hand and can be contacted by telephoning 0845 6520 448 or emailing fundraising(at)uk-sands.org.