Fundraising news

Teeing off to a flying start!

The 2010 ACE Centre Junior Golf Challenge competition got off to a flying start in June with the first qualifying round at Burford Golf Club. The competition extends across more than 16 clubs in Oxfordshire and is entering it's second year. Pictured below are the winners of the qualifying round: Craig Summers (Best back 9) Matthew Comley (Winner) Ben Liddle (Runner up) Nick Roebuck (Best front 9).

Brighton Marathon places up for grabs

We've got ten places in the Brighton 2011 Marathon on Sunday 10th April 2011 up for grabs. Each place costs £100 so we're asking a not-too-onerous £500 sponsorship. Further details about the run can be found at www.brightonmarathon.co.uk

If or anyone you know is interested in taking part then email curtis@ace-centre.org.uk 

Stunning start to Golf Challenge

During the summer of 2009, 114 junior golfers took part in the inagural ACE Centre Junior Golf Challenge competition. The Challenge commenced on 31 May at Tadmarton Heath Golf Club and qualifying rounds continued throughout the summer at Burford, Carswell, Chipping Norton, Drayton, Frilford Heath, Kirtlington, Magnolia, North Oxford, Oxford City, The Oxfordshire, Studley Wood and Wychwood Golf Clubs.

The 26 finalists from the qualifying rounds held at 13 Oxfordshire clubs over the summer met at Frilford Heath for the final of the competition. The overall victors, lifting the ACE Centre Junior Golf Challenge Cup were Jordan Garnish and Charlie Blewitt from The Oxfordshire Golf Club (pictured below).

It was a double delight for the Oxfordshire juniors as they also scooped the trophies for nearest the pin and longest drive. They just pipped their Rye Hill rivals, Freddie Frithz and Ed Preece, to the post on countback after both pairs finished with 40 points. Third place which was won by Harry Collins and Chris Little from Frilford Heath, who scored 39. The trophy for best front nine of the day went to Sophie Stone and Alistair Haynes from Studley Wood, with Charles Powell and Robbie Nicholson from North Oxford winning best back nine. The prize of a golf day at The Manor Golf Course in Castle Coombe went to Matt Alexander from Rye Hill who personally raised an amazing £155.00 sponsorship.

The event raised in excess of £1,000 and will be run annually throughout the summer – watch this space for details of the 2010 competition.

TNT fundraisers eye up new technology

Charity fundraisers from the county’s leading express delivery company had an eye-opening experience when they witnessed how the funds they generate are used to help disadvantaged youngsters in Oxfordshire and beyond.

Employees from Milton-based TNT Express Services came face-to-face with new eye-guided communication technology during a fact-finding visit to the ACE Centre.

Our building was partly funded by a £300,000 donation by Wooden Spoon - a children’s charity that focuses on helping youngsters who are disadvantaged mentally, physically and socially. Wooden Spoon is able to support worthy causes such as ACE thanks to TNT Express Services who are the charity’s biggest benefactor having generated more than £2.5million to date.

Led by Jamie Mitchell (above, left), General Manager at the TNT depot in Milton Park, Abingdon, the TNT delegation were given a fascinating insight into technology that enables children with conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, head injury and stroke  to communicate, access education, interact with family friends and peers via technology many take for granted such as emails, facebook and mobile phones, which  would otherwise not be accessible to them.

Jamie and members of his team were highly impressed with the technology and the wonderful work undertaken by ACE.

He said: “As the biggest contributor to Wooden Spoon it is enormously gratifying to know that TNT is having such a profound and positive impact helping improve the lives of literally tens of thousands of disadvantaged children and young people. The Milton depot plays a full part in the company’s support for Spoon and it is very rewarding to see our donations being put to such great effect in Oxfordshire.”

Lena Curtis, Fundraising Manager of the ACE Centre said Wooden Spoon and TNT had played an important role in helping ACE develop by providing them with the space to grow into a nationally recognised centre of excellence.

“Our Centre reaches out to many children and families whose lives can be improved by harnessing the skills of our people and developing technologies.  We were delighted to play host to the visitors from TNT and Wooden Spoon and show them how their support has underpinned all that we do in helping children both locally and across the UK.”

The visit was part of a nationwide initiative being run by Wooden Spoon and TNT entitled ‘Seeing Is Believing’ - a programme that has so far enabled up to 2,000 TNT employees to take time off during the working day to witness, first hand, how the money they generate is used by Spoon.

Star trekkers!

Massive thanks and many congratulations are due to Nick, Steve, Kate, Gill, Andrea, Audrey and Vicky on completing the 2007 Inca Trail fundraising challenge in support of ACE. Below is a picture of the team at the ancient ruins of Machu Piccu in Peru.

Run like the wind

On Sunday 30 September, in some surprisingly sunny weather, 8 enthusiastic souls braved the hills of Newcastle for the Great North Run to raise over £1000 for the ACE Centre. The participants were extremely impressed with the event’s organisation and friendly atmosphere, and everyone enjoyed a bit of celebrity-spotting along the route! A special mention goes out to Jackie Ayre, the ACE Centre’s Occupational Therapist, who successfully completed the course in record time. A big congratulations and thank you to everyone who took part and wore their ACE Centre t-shirts with pride! The photograph below shows some of the ACE Centre runners showing off their finishers’ medals!

Sprint finishers

A big thank you to the eight runners took part in the British 10k in London on 1st July 2007 in aid of the ACE Centre, raising much needed funds and having a great time along the way!  All our participants thoroughly enjoyed the sights of central London (despite the rain!) and achieved fantastic times that we hope they’ll be promising to match or improve next year! Pictured are Rob Marshall, Richard Moore, Vicki Horner and Jennie Travis.

Madonna well hung

The smiles pictured here are from Shaun Moore (right), production designer for 'Allo 'Allo and Colin Jennings, winning bidder of the Fallen Madonna! The presentation was a great opportunity for Shaun to share some stories and gossip from the 'Allo 'Allo set, much to Colin's delight. After spending many happy hours watching the programme, Colin assures us that the picture will be given pride of place in his home in Solihull.

Last updated: 14/07/10