Brighten up everyone’s day with a Rainbow Raiser at your school, college or workplace this February all in aid of The Leanne Fund.
 
The Leanne Fund offers a range of services to individuals affected by Cystic Fibrosis and their families across the Highlands, Islands and Grampian regions.
 
This special fundraiser on Friday February 22nd will help make a real difference to the lives of those with CF and ensure a fun charitable activity for your class, group or workplace.
 
Last year’s inaugural event was a great success with over £3,000 raised for the charity.
 
All you have to do is request a Rainbow Raiser pack and get set to wear your best/wackiest and brightest clothes for the day.
 
Chrisetta Mitchell, Development Manager for The Leanne Fund said: “Each week 5 babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis and sadly 2 young lives are lost.  There is currently no cure.
“At The Leanne Fund we provide a range of support services to individuals affected by Cystic Fibrosis and their families, helping them to maintain and improve their quality of life and live life to the full.  This help is available across Highlands, Islands and Grampian.
“We are inviting schools, colleges, work places and businesses to partner with us in hosting a ‘Rainbow Raiser’, from which the funds raised will contribute towards making a difference in the lives of those affected by this life-limiting disease.
“We are delighted that many local schools and workplaces have already signed up to take part and I would encourage everyone to get involved and encourage your local school or nursery, workplace to do so.”
To find out more email The Leanne Fund at info@theleannefund.co.uk
Here are just some of the ways the money you raise will be spent –
 

• £30 will pay for TV cards for a young CF patient when they are in hospital for treatment
• £40 will provide a confidential counselling session to help with issues of anxiety, bereavement, depression, illness and other unexpected life events
• £40 will provide a complementary therapy treatment to help a young person feel better and cope better with their CF
• £200 will pay for patient transport costs for those who need additional support for getting to hospital appointments
• £200 will pay for emergency support for a family when their child is in hospital and they are facing additional costs with accommodation, meals, fuel, childcare
• £150 will provide a special Christmas experience – a trip to the Panto or a family meal
• £300 will provide sport and fitness equipment to support an active lifestyle and improve lung function
• £750 will provide a much needed holiday for a family
• £750 will provide support for a young CF sufferer who is moving away to college or university or setting up home independently

 
Every pound raised goes directly to providing these life changing services for those affected by Cystic Fibrosis.
In your Rainbow Raiser pack you will receive the following to help you set up your day:   

• Colourful bunting template to help you make your space bright & beautiful
• Stickers to give to those participating
• A poster to let people know what you are organising
• Our top 10 tips for making your day as successful and fun as possible

 

The Leanne Fund has launched a new Befriending service for individuals affected by Cystic Fibrosis in the North of Scotland.
 
The service has been developed in response to feedback from those who have received support from The Leanne Fund.
 
The Fund is now recruiting Befrienders to provide this service throughout the Highlands and Islands and Grampian.
 
Chrisetta Mitchell, Development Manager for The Leanne Fund said: “We are delighted to launch our new Befriending service, ‘Befriending with The Leanne Fund’ offering vital emotional support to individuals, helping them to gain confidence, increase self-esteem and get out and about in their community.  

“Our service will match each applicant (Befriendee) with a volunteer Befriender who will visit or meet up weekly for at least 6 months to provide some company and, in some cases, assistance with accessing particular interest groups or sources of support.”
 
The charity’s Befriending Co-ordinator will match Volunteer Befrienders with Befriendees who have similar interests and will be able to provide the required support.
In addition, the new service will include telephone and Skype Befriending as some individuals with CF may want to talk to others affected by the illness.

The charity operates an open referral system which means that people can self-refer or be referred by family, friends or by their CF Team/health professionals.  You may request a referral form by emailing info@theleannefund.co.uk
 
Befriending is a flexible service and can be carried out from Monday to Friday during daytimes or evenings. A meeting might include just having a coffee and a chat, going shopping or going to watch a film.
 
Volunteer Befrienders are now being recruited across the North of Scotland ie Inverness, Fort William, Aberdeen, Aberdeen-shire, Moray, Western Isles
We’re looking for friendly, positive and upbeat volunteers to join our team.

If you are interested in this exciting new opportunity please contact Chrisetta Mitchell on 01851 or email info@theleannefund.co.uk to request an information pack.
 
No experience is necessary as full training will be provided.
 
Chrisetta concluded: “We are pleased to be in a position to launch this new initiative which will add a further new service to benefit those affected by Cystic Fibrosis.  It is well documented that increased social support reduces depression, increases self-esteem and therefore improves quality of life.  We hope our service will be well used and look forward to receiving referrals and enquiries from potential volunteers.”

The Leanne Fund has supported even more families affected by Cystic Fibrosis through its Development Project which is now moving into its second year.
Following the award of funds from The Big Lottery Fund last year, the Fund’s Development Manager and volunteers have been working hard to expand services from the Highlands and Islands to the Grampian area and develop new projects in response to demand.
New initiatives include ‘On the Move’ – a service to support a young person with CF towards independent living and 'Over the Rainbow’ which is an extraordinary wishlist or experience for those in the final stage of illness.
Chrisetta Mitchell, Development Manager said: “The Leanne Fund has been well received in Grampian and we are pleased to be in a position to provide vital services to an additional 100 patients and their families who live within this region which extends to Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Moray and the Northern Isles.
“The Leanne Fund services are well used and hugely appreciated by all and we are so grateful to everyone who has supported us during the past twelve months to allow us to continue our work to improve the quality of life of those affected by Cystic Fibrosis.  We look forward to a great year ahead with new fundraising initiatives and also the launch of our new Befriending service.”
The difference The Leanne Fund makes to the everyday lives of those it supports is summed up in a series of short films, one of which highlights the experience of Isle of Lewis schoolboy Rowan Macleod.
He and his family talk about his daily routine which includes medication and physical activity and the challenges that presents for family life on an island.
The short films tells his story and how The Leanne Fund has made a difference to him and his family.
Dad Uisdean said: “As a family we are now much more about the ‘here and now’. If we want to do something we find a way to do it. Our mindset is to live for the moment and go for it.
“The Leanne Fund do great work for children with CF. Their lives revolve so much around medicine. It is great for them to have activities which have no connection to their treatment and enables them to live life to the full.”
To watch Rowan’s video visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByU20dDNUWc
​