This is what has been done so far
1. Give something back to the community. I have been elected Chair of our local Safer Neighbourhood’s ward panel. This is run by the police as part of the new look neighbourhood watch scheme, and the purpose of the panel is to advise the police as to what we consider priorities for policing. Its a two year commitment, so I am not getting off that lightly.
2. Watch an England game. Well I saw the under-21 game England v Italy, the first match at the new Wembley Stadium, so I think that counts. I am in the the ballot for other England tickets, so maybe I might strike a better game.
3. To start the fund raising for the Encephalitis Society I have set a page up at http://www.justgiving.com/suzannecollier . It goes without saying that I feel megaguilty about this, because if I should be raising money for anyone it should be for the BTBS (Book Trade Benevolent Society). The only people who are likely to raise money for the BTBS are people within the book trade; so if you are arranging company social events, outings, whatever, why not have a raffle and donate the money to the BTBS? After all it is your charity. [Extra long guilty pause].
On that note, I’ve edited my fundraising aims to include the BTBS. You can donate money here http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/suzannecollier . (Although I have raised money for the BTBS over the years – by doing the Walkies – my first one was in 1984. The next one is on the 10 July 2007, its great fun and you get to raise some money along the way.) You can find out more about the BTBS and the walkies from http://www.booktradecharity.demon.co.uk
4. Now this wasn’t on the list, but I’ve never done it before in my life. For 25 years, through various name changes and mergers, I have followed my local football team, now called Dagenham and Redbridge FC. If you’ve visited the bookcareers site over the past few weeks, you’d have seen our congratulations posting. Basically, they’ve been a non-league football team; and although Liverpool are somewhere in my football allegiences, I have always watched non league football. D & R have won promotion to the Football League and will play next season in League Division 2. So, the thing I have never done in my life before is support a Football League Club. Thank you Dagenham and Redbridge for helping me with my challenges. The fixture list is out tomorrow; I can’t wait for 11th August. ;o)