THE GEORGE CAMPAIGN HIGHLIGHTS
Although Chubbley UK Ltd had offered to donate 100 George Chubbley Bears at
the start of 2003 the George Campaign was launched at the NEC Spring Fair
in February when Charles and Darren agreed to sign a specially tagged George
as a prize for a 'Send Sue Stamps' appeal that was to appear in Bean Bag and
Collectables Magazine.
Group picture: from left to right: David, Daphne, Darren, Sue and Charles
Letters had already been sent out to English celebrities asking them to sign
special personalised
St George's Day tags which would be attached to bears and auctioned starting
on St George's Day.
25 celebrities signed these tags.
In March at St Neots we presented a cheque for the CHERISH fundraising in
2002.
We returned home with 100 Georges, 3 of which were oddities!
Another George was donated by Jackie Garratt in memory of her mother
and it received Sir George Martin's signed tag
The task began of adding 'CHERISH collect for life 2003' neck tags to seventy
of the bears, tagging them, wrapping them in tissue paper and boxing them.
Although the picture shows me, my son Matthew played a major part in this
operation. In April Bean Bag and Collectables brought out a special George
and Dragon issue with an amazing front cover, carrying the 'CHERISH a Charity
George' appeal. This offer sold out in less than two weeks of publication!
The first person to apply received a George which had been signed on the reverse
of the 1/70 tag!
Chubbley UK Ltd sent Blaze to Marlow for the day for some Press publicity.
The Bucks Free Press took photos of us at the 'George and Dragon' pub and
wrote an article to publicise the St George's Day auctions
We took advantage of our VIP visitor to take some interesting photos - I don't
think I have ever seen as many Georges in one photo!
Darren and David came to Marlow in May to draw the winners of the 'Cracker
of a Draw' that had been running on this website. Darren had donated his personal
'Christmas Cracker Creamy Chubbley' as first prize. Second prize was a Canadian
Jubilee donated by Heather Softley, then there was a George oddity, a Special
Edition George and a BBCM Exclusive Creamy Cub - all signed.
Collectors came to watch the fun and to meet Darren and David. Darren signed
their favourite Chubbleys. In return they sponsored me for Race for Life in
July.
He also signed a Retailer Bubbley Cub donated by Steve and Trisha for a future
fundraising event
Darren also drew the winner of the 'Send Sue Stamps' draw from the Chubbley
Post Box.
He then went to a more secluded location to make the final draw of the day
-
the winner of the St George's Prize Quiz that had been running on this website.
He performed a bungee run in order to grab a Chubbley with the winner's name
on its back.
The prize for this was a Special Edition George with English goodies.
What can I say
about the generosity of these people?
It isn't just products
that they donate but time, fun, energy, support and friendship.
'Thank You' is not enough but it could not be more heartfelt.
Totals raised
(approximate)
Cracker of a Draw: £700
BBCM CHERISH a Charity George: £700
CHERISH Celebrity Signed George: £1600
Send Sue Stamps: £75
Grand Total:
£3075