PLEASE READ THIS: Sarah Blanksby is f... - Restless Legs Syn...

Restless Legs Syndrome

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PLEASE READ THIS: Sarah Blanksby is fundraising for RLS-UK, in memory of her brother Andrew, who passed away just a few weeks ago.

Daragh profile image
39 Replies

In Sarah's words: Andrew was a sufferer of restless legs for many, many years. Although he rarely complained, it affected him every day of his life. The sensations in his legs meant he struggled to sleep and it was also in his hands and fingers. It did worry him and the family what his future health would bring. Andrew was always on medication but it never eradicated the condition. He underwent drug trials and spoke at seminars in the hope more research could be done to improve the quality of life of sufferers like him. Therefore, it was easy for me to select my chosen charity, to raise money for other sufferers in the hope they can benefit from the help, advice and support from others who have this condition. The charity is tiny and so every penny raised really does make a difference. I am the first person to raise money for RSL-UK through JustGiving so please help me support them. My first £500 will be matched by my employers so every pound will make a difference.

Sarah will be jumping 13,000 feet from an aeroplane in a parachute jump on Saturday, 24th May.

Please, please support Sarah's fundraising. Just £1 from each of our you would make a massive difference. It is an incredibly generous thing for Sarah to do for us at what must still be a very difficult time for her and her family. The weekend of the jump would have been Andrew's 40th birthday, which makes this even more significant.

justgiving.com/sarah-blanksby

Thank you.

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Daragh profile image
Daragh
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39 Replies
nightdancer profile image
nightdancer

Can people outside of the UK donate? I will have to check that out. Thank you for posting this. So sorry to hear about such a young person dying, and am very impressed by his advocacy and awareness work. We need way more people like him all over the world. I have heard of that web site, but had not checked it out yet.

Daragh profile image
Daragh in reply to nightdancer

I believe people worldwide can donate, but only UK taxpayers can add 'Gift Aid' (a form of tax relief on UK Charitable donations)

nightdancer profile image
nightdancer in reply to Daragh

thank you, will check it out!

How sad for this family... :( And what a brave thing Sarah is doing to raise money for this charity. I will check the link out. :)

thedragon profile image
thedragon

Done. Good luck Sarah!

Daragh profile image
Daragh in reply to thedragon

Thank you thedragon. I know from speaking to her that this will mean a lot to Sarah.

Daragh profile image
Daragh

Please can I ask that all of our regular forum contributors keep this thread alive and keep the momentum going.

This is a wonderful opportunity for RLS-UK and for us to raise awareness of RLS...

Gonzo123 profile image
Gonzo123

How did Andrew pass away

Daragh profile image
Daragh in reply to Gonzo123

I have not asked, but if Sarah feels it's appropriate to tell me, she may do so in time.

All done for you Sarah.... :)

Tiredparent profile image
TiredparentRestless Leg Syndrome

Thank you to everyone for supporting Sarah and the charity. The RLS-UK trustees are meeting on Saturday (we meet in London 4 or 5 times a year) and I'm sure we will discuss how best to use the money raised. Thanks to Sarah for supporting our charity so passionately. All the best with the jump - you're a braver woman than me!

Rosie (tiredparent)

Vice Chair RLS-UK

in reply to Tiredparent

Raisng awareness for this horrible condition is of course important, the more that people know how we suffer on a daily basis the better for us to be understood. But is any research going on in the UK, for RLS, that would benefit from maybe some of the money...? Research on RLS seems to have come to a standstill and we need more of it, if there is going to be any hope of finding out more about this condition and find a way to either cure it or find better medications which we are desperate for.

Daragh profile image
Daragh in reply to

There may be some research on the horizon. We will provide further details when we have them...

in reply to Daragh

Thanks Daragh, Cant wait to hear about this.... :)

Jumpey profile image
Jumpey

So sorry for your loss Sarah. Your brother sounds like an amazing man. Thank you so much for doing so much to raise awareness and research funds for this hidden disease/disability. Respect and good luck. I'm happy to sponsor you.

Kaarina profile image
KaarinaAdministrator

Is there a possibility that a link button for Gift Aid will appear on the Sarah's JustGiving page fairly soon, so we can up the total even more please, even if we have already donated an amount?

Kaarina

Daragh profile image
Daragh in reply to Kaarina

We have sent our Gift Aid forms to HMRC (for a second time) - hopefully they will process the paperwork quickly. Gift Aid can be back-dated. We have liaised with JustGiving and provided them also with the appropriate Gift Aid paperwork - this will all be activated once HMRC has done its part.

Many thanks

thedragon profile image
thedragon

URGENT.....DARAGH

I just called the just giving company as I didn't vet the option to gift aid. Sarah doesn't seem to be registered for gift aid. Can you please get a message to her...she's missing out on lots of cash. There may be a reason why she isn't ....if so sorry! But I thought I should point it out. X x x

Daragh profile image
Daragh in reply to thedragon

We have sent our Gift Aid forms to HMRC (for a second time) - hopefully they will process the paperwork quickly. Gift Aid can be back-dated. We have liaised with JustGiving and provided them also with the appropriate Gift Aid paperwork - this will all be activated once HMRC has done its part.

Many thanks

Kaarina profile image
KaarinaAdministrator in reply to Daragh

Thank you Daragh.

Kaarina

thedragon profile image
thedragon

Oops....sorry kaarina.....didn't see your post!!!!

Kaarina profile image
KaarinaAdministrator in reply to thedragon

Great minds think alike! :)

jimeka profile image
jimeka

So Sorry for your loss, Andrew sounds like he was a beautiful person, and he would be so proud of you doing the jump.I not only suffer with RLS but also MS, so my daughter did what you did for MS, we were not aware of the RLS charity then, so all the best for the jump. How do I donate? Jimeka

jimeka profile image
jimeka

Sorry Sarah, have just reread your message and seen the address. Thanx Jimeka

Hally profile image
Hally

So sorry for your loss Sarah, thank you from all of us who suffer, your brother would be proud of you. Happy to donate.

Kaarina profile image
KaarinaAdministrator

Sarah has had so many donations already on the JustGiving site. We cannot thank you enough, Sarah, for all you are doing for sufferers of this horrid condition and carrying on the good work of your dear brother Andrew. We shall always be indebted to you and your names will be remembered.

Kaarina

Its just wonderful that so many people are giving to Sarah, the money raised so far is amazing. You are so brave to be doing that jump Sarah. Just standing on a chair, is high enough for me.!! :)

Lets hope we can keep this going, and reach a target of £2000. :)

nevo74 profile image
nevo74

Sorry for your loss Sarah I'm sure your Brother would be very proud of what you're doing in his memory.RLS is a horrible horrible condition.I've suffered for 20 years with it and I'm desperate,as are many other's I'm sure,for a cure.I take lot's of meds to keep it at bay but I still suffer and it's always on my mind especially in the evening when I know it could get worse.I will donate on my payday and hope all goes well for you,best wishes x

Kaarina profile image
KaarinaAdministrator

Wow, Sarah, if you are looking in, you're nearer your £2.000 target than not. :) I hope many more will sponsor you. You are partaking in such a great venture in memory of Andrew and for all RLS sufferers. . Your friend Jacqui too, who is doing the jump with you for another charity because Andrew helped her so much. He was a truly lovely man.

Kaarina

Kaarina profile image
KaarinaAdministrator

62 donation so far Sarah. I sincerely hope there will be many more before your 13,000 feet parachute jump from an aeroplane. Just under two months to go.

You are a star.

Kaarina

If anyone has a facebook account, you can look on the RLS-UK facebook page and there is a message from Sarah. :)

Kaarina profile image
KaarinaAdministrator

Wow, Sarah, you are well over the £2,000 mark now. Well done you! I look in most days to see how your JustGiving is getting on I am very grateful for what you are doing for us . Thank you. :-D

Kaarina

maesllan5 profile image
maesllan5

well done Sarah will donate gladly :) X

I have just been to visit Sarah's page, she is doing amazing with all the donations, well over her target... I hope she gets many more before her jump. We are so grateful to Sarah to be doing this not just for her brother but for all of us who suffer with RLS. :)

Hi Sarah I am so sorry to hear about your brother, I am confused and concerned that from your story & how you portray his terrible problems with RLS that your brother has passed away from RLS is this infact the case, as it is very worrying, I do not mean to be insensitive, but as a fellow sufferer I am worried that it may be due to medication, therapy or as one person I knew had an operation, and it was not successful. I really hope that you are not offended by my reply to your message, but I am just anxious. Sorry.

Widgeylegs, Sarah's brother didnt pass away from RLS. Sarah hasnt said what her brother died from. She is doing the jump because he did have RLS, in his memory and for the RLS-UK charity.

tilly4 profile image
tilly4

sorry for your loss, i too suffer bad rls,in my arms ,legs and back

jigglefoot profile image
jigglefoot

If you don't mind my asking, what was it that actually took his life?

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