A Little Help from my friends and Bannatynes!

[Spotty-ewe]

Hi fellow Lupies! I hope you are all doing as well as can be expected.🤞

I haven’t posted for ages because I’ve had nothing of interest to report just the usual chronic fatigue and lots of joint and muscle pain especially in my left shoulder and neck and especially during this winter weather. 🥴 I see my GP tomorrow so hope she can help with the pain. So to distract me from it I’ve been arranging a wee sale of books, DVDs, CDs and a few crafts at my local Bannatynes Health club to raise awareness and funds for Lupus UK.

I told my neighbours and friends of my intentions and they have donated loads of books, CDs, DVDs and a few crafts which I added to my own which some of you will recognise from a previous post. I put Lupus UK badges on the sewn and knitted items I made and hope they will gain a few donations. My friend Sue made the lovely framed items in the first photo.

The manager of Bannatynes has been very supportive and put up a notice on the Members Noticeboard last week to announce the sale and to invite donations of books. When my hubby and I took the 4 flat boxes of items I’d collected to Bannatynes yesterday the manager’s office floor was strewn with books that had been donated by other members. She said to leave all the awareness posters and leaflets with her and she’d get the display made up today. So imagine my surprise when the Reception Manager sent me a photo of the display last night! That is the second photo. Didn’t they do a great job? 👍🏻 So it is up and running now and will remain in the main reception area for a week.

I am so blown away by the interest and generosity of all those who have donated, and by the enthusiasm of the manager and staff of my Bannatynes Club. All that is left to do is hope and pray that this display will achieve both its goals - to raise awareness of Lupus and to raise funds for Lupus UK.🙏🏻🙏🏻🤞🤞

[Kevin53]

Well done. Best wishes Kevin

[Spotty-ewe in reply to Kevin53]

Thanks Kevin. Fingers crossed it goes well. 🤞

[stiff19]

Well it’s looking great spotty 🙌🏻👍 and I hope it all goes great makes lots of money and raises lots of awareness 👍it’s great you give all this great efforts for a great cause. Hope you are not over doing it, take care spotty and great work 💐🤗x

[Spotty-ewe in reply to stiff19]

Thanks for your kind wishes Stiff. I hope it does well too because as you say it is a good cause. 👍🏻 I don’t think I’m over-doing it but if I am it is worth it! Look after yourself Stiff. 🤗😘

[Hidden]

Kate, as always, you are amazing!! You take your pain and discomfort and turn it into a selfless act for others. And applause to all those who rallied around to help you too. 👏👏👏 You have wonderful friends because you are a wonderful woman! Kudos!!

[Spotty-ewe in reply to Hidden]

Aww, thank you Brook, you are too kind! I am certainly lucky to have wonderful friends and you are one of them! You are always supportive, positive, encouraging and appreciative despite your own health issues. I really appreciate that. Thank you. 🤗😘 Take care Brook. 💕

[Hidden in reply to Spotty-ewe]

❤️❤️❤️

[thestorm]

Fantastic!!! Pat yourself, but lightly for your courage, sweet ideas and blessings that you did something that we all cannot. Looking past your own difficulties for the greater cause. Sending you humbling acts of success, comforts from your pain, and peace. thestormx

[Spotty-ewe]

Thank you so much for your good wishes Storm, and your kind words. How are you keeping these days? It is a while since I saw you on the forum. I hope you are okay. 🙏🏻 With best wishes, Spotty. 🤗

[thestorm in reply to Spotty-ewe]

Thank you Spotty for asking. I have been very unwell, and trying to hold out as I have a new Cardiologist visit this week. As so many of us here, I have so many symptoms this winter, and with the ongoing ones still on the GP's desk, seems like it never ends. Thats why I have been hovering here, but not posting. I can not help but love your inspirations, as well as everyone else's positive vibes, it lifts my spirits, and brings me smiles. Especially when you all post great moments, photos, and talents! You all are an encyclopedia of wealth, and common ground. I appreciate that you remembered me, thank you again, and be well, blessed and loved. thestorm

[Spotty-ewe in reply to thestorm]

Sorry to hear you’ve been so unwell Storm. This illness with all its symptoms is a challenge in so many ways. 😫 But we are all here to listen and to help if we can. So keep us updated on how you are doing. We care and we want to know. I hope the Cardiologist appointment goes well. 🙏🏻🙏🏻 Let us know how it goes. Take care Storm 🤗😘

[stiff19]

P.s love your crafts in the pic , keep up the crafting too 👌 fantastic 👍🤗x

[Spotty-ewe in reply to stiff19]

Thank you Stiff. I take that as a real compliment from one who is very talented at crafting herself.👍🏻 I’m crocheting another bowl at present - helps to make TV programmes more enjoyable. 😂😂 Take care lovely Stiff as I know you have a lot going on just now. Hugs 🤗😘

[stiff19 in reply to Spotty-ewe]

Thankyou spotty and for your support you give , as others say even with sufferings of your own, ewe r a real gem 💎😂👌🙏🤗😘

[Spotty-ewe in reply to stiff19]

I’ve received a lot of support from everyone on this wonderful forum so only too pleased to be able to offer some back. Thanks for all your support too Stiff. 👍🏻👍🏻😘😘🥰🥰

[Jhpc]

Well done you, despite your own problems you managed to do all this.

Hope you have a good appointment and get help with your neck and shoulder pain.

I used to get bother with both but touch would they have settled down.

[Spotty-ewe in reply to Jhpc]

Thank you so much Jhpc. 😘 Isn’t it typical that now the GP appointment is near my shoulder and neck feel SO much better! 🤷‍♀️ But I’ll still tell her and see what she suggests. Glad yours has settled down. 👍🏻 I hope that the antibiotics have kicked in and that you are feeling much better today. 🤞 Take care. 🤗😘 Spotty

[Jhpc in reply to Spotty-ewe]

Thanks yes beginning to feel better the antibiotics are kicking in, going to venture out today get a bit fresh air.

[Spotty-ewe in reply to Jhpc]

Very pleased to hear that. Keep warm. 🤗

[Lily77]

Wonderful job!!! Congratulations. It is already a success I am sure in raising awareness, very best regards, Lily

[Spotty-ewe in reply to Lily77]

Many thanks Lily.😘 I popped in this afternoon and was pleased to see some of the literature had been taken. Only 3 craft items were left, and many spaces are appearing between the books, CDs and DVDs, and this is only the second day. So a success already as you say. Thanks for your support! 👍🏻👍🏻

[Krazykat26]

Congratulations Spotty 🤗🤗

Another fabulous stall..n you've got staff working for u now then!! 🤓

Do u know what? I can see u jumping out of a plane in the future!! 😜😹

Well done!!

Kat 😽😽 xx

[Spotty-ewe]

Thanks as always for your enthusiasm and encouragement Kat!👍🏻👍🏻 But I think you are a little ambitious with the challenge you envisage - I have trouble jumping out of bed never mind a plane! 😂😂 Maybe one of my staff? 🤣 Or have you any other ideas I might manage? 😁

Take care Kat🤗😘

[Hidden in reply to Spotty-ewe]

🤣🤣😅😆

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK]

This is amazing. Thank you so much for your continued efforts to raise awareness and funds for the charity. It is great that your health club has been so supportive!

[Spotty-ewe]

It is a real pleasure Paul and yes I am very grateful to Bannatynes for their support. The manager just told me today that they plan to run it for another week because some people are still bringing in books for the table. We counted up what was in the donations box on Monday and it was £53.91 and yesterday a further £17.50 had been donated. Hopefully a few more pounds will be raised before the end of next week.

Do you think it would be possible for a letter of thanks to be sent to my Bannatynes Health Club when it is finished? I would be happy to supply the names of the general manager and the reception manager who have both gone out of their way to help and support me, if this is at all possible. The letter could always be sent via me, if that is easier, once I have sent in the final donation. I think they would really appreciate it. Best wishes.

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK in reply to Spotty-ewe]

Hi Spotty-ewe ,

That's excellent fundraising from the stall! Well done!

We can definitely send them a letter of thanks. The best thing to do is to email my colleague Janine at [e-mail]

Janine is our Fundraising Manager and tends to send out the letters of thanks. If you provide her with the details of the people to write to and and outline of what they did, she'll definitely ensure they're thanked.

[Spotty-ewe in reply to Paul_Howard]

Yes we were staggered by the funds donated in the first 48 hours being so much 😃 but I think my neighbour’s blue-ray DVDs as well as our crafts brought in good donations. 👍🏻

Thanks for Janine’s e-mail address. I’ll get in touch with her as soon as we close the stall and have a total for the funds raised.

Thanks Paul.

[Spotty-ewe in reply to Paul_Howard]

Hi Paul,

Just to let you know I collected the last of the donations in the Lupus UK donations box from Bannatynes’ safe today, and when my husband added it to what we’d collected already it amounted to £162.73! I’m really chuffed with that and will contact Janine now to see if I can send it via bank transfer.

So pleased it did so well. 👍🏻👍🏻

Spotty 😁

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK in reply to Spotty-ewe]

That's amazing! Well done!

[Spotty-ewe in reply to Paul_Howard]

Thanks Paul. It is an incentive for me to give it a go again another time! A member of Bannatynes approached me yesterday to say she’s thrilled with the lovely books she got and hoped she’s put in enough of a donation. So a success all round. I’ll definitely try it again if I’m allowed.😁