Thank you to Inspire Risk Management for sponsoring the Five Stars Appeal!

‘Inspire Risk Management Limited are a firm of Independent Insurance Brokers and Risk Management consultants specialising in Commercial Insurance and Private Client Insurance for high value homes both in the UK and overseas.’

For more information about Inspire, please go to www.inspirerm.com

A massive thank you to MA Brickworks Ltd for re building the shop's wall. Someone had driven in to the wall at the back of the charity shop and knocked it down. MA Brickworks Ltd kindly spent the day taking the wall down and rebuilding it in order to help save the charity funds! Very kind of this family run business and we urge you all to give them a call if you're ever in need of superior building work. Go to www.mabrickworks.co.uk for details.

Do you want to make a difference by raising money for charity, whilst at the same time acheiving a personal goal?

Here at Five Stars Appeal, we've recently been taking on a number of challenges (as well as facing our fears) to help raise money towards Nicholas Bamforth's treatment in the USA.

The charity is working in partnership with Ultimate Training Days to hold fundraising events, which include abseils, assault courses and even an 'I'm a Celebrity' style challenges!

These types of events are great for team building and facing personal challenges, as well as being a fantastic opportunity to raise money for charity. 

If you want to get involved in any of our upcoming events, please contact Nicola at the charity offices.

With the weather remaining firmly in the doldrums, we're giving you the opportunity to bid for a once in a lifetime yacht charter experience, whilst raising much needed funds for charity!

Currently open for bids is a 3 day charter, for up to 12 people, on board the luxury 86ft motor yacht ‘Lady Tatiana of London’.  The prize must be taken between 1st October 2013 to 30th May 2014 (including Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter).

Lady Tatiana is a luxury motor yacht managed by White Star Charter and based in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

The stunning yacht provides 5 permanent guest cabins, all with en-suite bathrooms which can accommodate up to 12 guests sleeping on board.

Subject to availability, the yacht charter can take place over a weekend (from 10.00am on Friday to 6pm on Sunday) or, a midweek charter can be arranged.  These run from 10.00am on Tuesday through to 6pm on Thursday.

The price includes chartering of Lady Tatiana for the period, plus the 3 person crew - comprising of the captain, chef and deck hand stewardess - and moorings in the home port of Palma.

Please note that food, drinks, fuel for the yacht, laundry, utility charges, moorings outside the home port of Palma are not included.  Further details can be found at www.whitestarcharter.com

Happy bidding!!

http://www.givinglots.co.uk/lots/three-day-yacht-charter

If you've been tempted by the recent adventures of Team Five Stars, why not join in?

We're looking for brave and willing participators to get involved in our upcoming events, including treks, abseils and other challenges.  As well as raising money for charity, these events can be great team building exercises as well as being lots of fun.

Our Trustee, Kirsty MacDonald recently took part in an abseil for Team Five Stars:

"By taking part in the abseil, not only did I raise money for the charity, but I overcame my fear of heights.  The sense of achievement I received from scaling down the building was massive and I would do it again and again.  Knowing that I raised funds towards a worthy cause made the experience all the better."

Check out our upcoming events at www.fivestarsappeal.co.uk/events or contact Nicola Smith on 0161 798 8936.

Congratulations are in order for charity Ambassadors Reconnected, who's latest single 'One in a Million' debuted at number 32 in the Official Charts on Sunday 24th March.

The boys, who are signed to Bannatyne Records are going from strength to strength.  Duncan Bannatyne himself even makes an appearance in the boy's video as an ice cream man, so it is well worth a watch.

The single, which was released on 17 March 2013 is available to download now!

The Five Stars Appeal Abseil Team successfully completed an abseil in Salford Quays, in order to help raise funds for Nicholas Bamforth.

On Friday 15th March, the team faced the elements to abseil down the Holiday Inn hotel in Salford.

Despite the adverse weather conditions, including gusts of wind and plenty of rain the abseil was completed succesfully.

Our very own Trustee, Kirsty MacDonald faced her fear of heights to take part in the event, with funds raised going towards helping Nicholas to receive the treatment he needs in the USA.

The Five Stars Appeal would like to thank all who supported us on the day, and everyone who has sponsored our brave abseilers! 

There is still time to sponsor the Five Stars Appeal Abseil Team at www,justgiving.com/teams/fivestars

Nicholas Bamforth travelled to America today, with his family, as he is due to have his operation on Feb 19th. We are all sending lots of love to Nicholas and looking forward to receiving updates on his progress.

Thank you to all Go Goodwin customers! £769.16 was raised on Christmas Eve with fares taken and donations collected in buckets. Donated by Go Goodwins Coaches

The Five Stars Prize Draw winner, Mr. Gibbons, was delighted to be picked from the 97 entries to win £250. Congratulations!

Five Stars Appeal will be working with U.T.D and Glue to organise a fundraising abseil down the talest building in Salford, Media City's Blue Tower.

If you would like to be on of the 60 people to take part and raise towards £10,000 needed for Nicholas, please contact Nicola on 0161 798 8936 or nicola@fivestarsappeal.co.uk for full details and to sign up.

Star Racing Driver Jay Goodwin Arranges a Good Deed for Nicholas…That’s Nicholas Bamforth, not Santa.

Five Stars Appeal Ambassador and Star Racing Driver, Jay Goodwin, aged 15, came up with the idea to give all fares from all Go Goodwin bus services on Christmas Eve, to 8year old Nicholas Bamforth who is raising funds for an operation needed in America by February 2013.

The Five Stars Appeal aim to raise £10,000 towards the £60,000 treatment Nicholas needs to help him walk, run, jump and play like his friends. Nicholas has Cerebral Palsy, there is no cure but this operation will make life easier for him.

Every penny counts, so you’ll be helping Nicholas by taking a Go Goodwin bus around Altrincham, Sale, Urmston, Wythenshawe, Hale, Partington and Trafford Park on Christmas Eve.

Go Goodwin Coaches:

I would like to confirm that Go Goodwins Coaches, would like to give all fares taken, on all bus services on Christmas Eve, 24th December 2012 to the Five Stars Appeal.

Our services travel around Altrincham, Sale, Urmston, Wythenshawe, Hale, Partington and Trafford Park from 06:30 (our first service),  until 19:00 (our last service), we have 13 vehicles travelling around these areas between these hours.

If you would like to donate please go to www.justgiving.com/fivestars-nicholasbamforth

My name is Nicholas and I am 8 years old. I have Cerebral Palsy. There is no cure for Cerebral Palsy! I have left sided Hemiplegia which means all the left side of my body is affected. My balance is not good. I trip over and fall over a lot and get tired very easily. I even find it hard to carry my school bags. I need a wheelchair when I go to the park and on long trips out. I wear special boots which are very heavy and uncomfortable especially when it is warm, and I wear a splint. The splint pulls my heel to the ground so I don’t walk on my toes but it sometimes hurts because my left foot is twisty. My leg aches and I don’t want to wear the splint anymore.

Normal activities like putting on my clothes, going up and down stairs and getting up from a sitting position are difficult for me.

As I grow the tightness becomes worse and makes everyday tasks more difficult.

Despite my daily challenges I am just a normal bubbly little boy with lots of friends, but with your help and support my future could be a lot brighter as I have been given the chance of a life changing opportunity at The St Louis Children’s Hospital in the U.S.A to have an operation called SDR (Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy) by a wonderful surgeon called Dr T S Park. The hospital has an amazing success rate with 100% of patients permanently reducing plasticity.

The SDR operation will permanently remove all the tightness (spasticity) in my body and help me improve my walking, posture and gain flat feet so I should be able to run, skip, jump, play football, ride a bike and scooter like all my friends do.

 The operation, travel, accommodation and intensive after care will cost over £60,000 and the NHS will not help with any of the costs. We hope with your support we will reach this target.

Five Stars Appeal

Nicola Smith

0161 798 8936

nicola@fivestarsappeal.co.uk

www.fivestarsappeal.co.uk

Sheridan's New Years Eve V.I.P Banquet Launch Party at Cafe Istanbul will kindly be making a donation to Five Stars Appeal.

The Black & White themed event will include a live performance by Five Stars patron, Sheridan and a mystery guest.

Tickets cost £50pp and include champagne at midnight.

Go to www.sheridanmusic.co.uk for full details and tickets can be bought directly from www.uktogether.co.uk

From every basket sold, Beau Baskets donates £1 to Five Stars Appeal!

Any special occasion should go hand-in-hand with a special and memorable gift, and if you want a gift with the wow factor then Beau Baskets are the right people to help you. Beau Baskets have luxury gift baskets for every occasion all of which contain high quality products that have been carefully and thoughtfully selected for each basket.

"We carefully choose all our products and aim to fill our baskets with high-quality products sourced from luxury brands that are either from UK Designers/Manufacturers, Organic or Natural products."

- Laura Stubbs, Managing Director, Beau Baskets  www.beaubaskets.com

SKYFALL 007 - The Only UK IMAX Bond Premiere Comes to Manchester

Join Five Stars Appeal for the UK IMAX Premiere of 007’s  SKYFALL

On Friday 26th October 2012 at Odeon – Printworks

7.00pm - Drinks Reception & Canapés at Chiquito Mexican Restaurant & Bar in Printworks

8.15pm -  Make your way to your seats to watch SKYFALL 007 at 8.30pm

10.30pm – Cocktails and Entertainment – Band & DJ

VIP Tickets Just £20 – donations to Five Stars Appeal – Call the charity office to book your tickets

on 0161 798 8936 or email nicola@fivestarsappeal.co.uk.

Special thanks to Loaded TV and Jack Marsden for supporting local charities Five Stars Appeal and Maddi’s Butterflies

Media reports, earlier this year, suggested that the Five Stars Appeal was being investigated by the Charity Commission. As soon as these press reports came to light, the Five Stars Appeal contacted the Charity Commission, who confirmed that the charity was not under investigation.

However, because of the media attention, the Charity Commission felt that it had an obligation to ask the charity to answer some queries they had with regards to how the charity is operated now, as well as historically. The Five Stars Appeal was more than happy to comply and assisted the Charity Commission in reaching the right conclusion.  As a charity, we have always made sure that our financial accounts are correct and submitted to the Charity Commission on time.  Our history shows that we have provided life saving and life changing equipment to benefit children over a 35 year period.  Many children in the North West have benefitted from the funds we have raised, which stands in excess of £3.5million. We are continuing to help children with life threatening and life changing illnesses and this remains our motivation.

Like many, we have suffered in the recession.  However, thanks to  our supporters and the hard work of all involved at Five Stars, 2012 saw donations to poorly children increase to in excess of £25,000.  These funds have been used to help children with life threatening and life changing illnesses.  An example of one of these children, is Leon Harrison:

Letter from Leon’s Mum:

‘Hello Laura,

Leon is doing brilliant thank you very much for the email and of course all of the support you have shown towards our fundraising. Dr Park predicts he will be walking independently within 6 months and already has stood for 5 seconds which is incredible. We thank you so much for your support and feel so grateful to everyone who has shown the unbelievable support during our fundraising. Leon's life will and already has changed forever :)

Kind Regards,

Danielle’

This is why the Five Stars Appeal do the work we do and make a difference to the lives of children and their families.

Please contact us if you would like to help us help children like Leon.

Thank you!

The Five Stars Appeal Team

A huge thank you to Winstanley College, Wigan for their kind donation of £50.00.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR LUCKY WINNER!!

Five Stars Appeal are pleased to announce the winner of their Olympic Prize Draw has been named

Congratulations Lisa Skadins of Pinto in Prestwich! A £250 cheque is on its way to you.

If you would like to enter our next prize draw please email nicola@fivestarsappeal.co.uk to find out more.

Entry £2

Raise Money for Five Stars

The Five Stars appeal have teamed up with Sports Tours International www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk to bring you the best selection of sporting events.

Visit their website and sign up to amazing events such as the NEW YORK MARATHON and many more. With guaranteed places available you can raise money for the charity and take the trip of a life time.

Runs, cycles, triathlons in the UK or abroad all available from Sports Tours International. Make a difference today.

Call Laura on 0161 798 8936 or follow the link for more details www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk