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Set up by Mrs Becky Brannigan |
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Welcome to the Gift of Hope Heart Fund which has been set up in memory of Mel. This page will raise money for the British Heart Foundation to help them in their fight against heart disease and keep the nation’s hearts beating.
Mel was a very special man. A loving husband, supportive father, wonderful grandfather and a great friend to all who knew him.
As a tribute to him and an opportunity to raise more funds for the BHF, ‘The Mel Watkins Channel Challenge’ was concieved.
“MEL’S CHALLENGE RELAY TEAM were successful in their bid to swim the Channel. Last Thursday (16 July) they coped with several hours of hell, sea sickness, jelly fish, all sorts of ‘other’ floaty things before they reached French soil. But they did it!! And didn’t they do well!
Eddie Spelling who very generously donated his time and the use of his boat, Anastasia, will continue to run the ‘MEL CHANNEL CHALLENGE’ each year. The 2010 Challenge will be in aid of the East Kent Air Ambulance. So any swimmers interested in making up the team?
Thanks to Eddie, Mel’s name will continue to be kept alive! We would like to thank him for his time, knowledge and experience and the six brave swimmers that took part in this amazing feat of endurance on behalf of Mel's family and the BHF.
DON’T FORGET, IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO DONATE!”
If you would like to know more about the Mel Watkins Channel Challenge email: swimformel@wardsflex.co.uk
Jake Watkins, Mel's son and proprietor of JSW restaurant, Petersfield, Hampshire is also helping to sponsor this event. Between now and the completion of' 'The Mel Watkins Channel Challenge' he will donate 50p for every customer eating at JSW and will then double the total amount raised.
www.jswrestaurant.com
Mel would have been delighted in the knowledge that family, friends and work colleagues were making this special tributs to him. A tribute greatly deserved as he was always the first to help others - he had time for everyone. Mel always put people first.
By making an online donation, if you can, you will not only help many vulnerable hearts but also celebrate the life of Mel Watkins.
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So far the fund has raised £4465.00 online and £2880.81 offline.
With the automatic tax bonus (Gift Aid) a further £765.76 will be added to the online total.
The total amount raised is £8111.57. |
This Fund will be supporting research into heart disease.
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Email my friends
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The following people have made an offline donation to the fund:
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| Gillian, Jane Lizzie & Helen |
| Thank you for your kind support. |
| Mark Preston |
| In memory of my colleague Mel. |
| Keith Attle |
In memory of a great man. Keith
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| Mark Preston |
€100 in memory of my colleague Mel. |
| Southern Water |
| Donation for the Mel Watkins Channel Challenge 2009. Thank you for your support. |
| M Smyth from Wardsflex |
| Donations for the Mel Watkins Channel Challenge. Thank you for your support. |
| Mr D.W. Midgley |
| Thank you for supporting the Mel Watkins Channel Challenge 2009. |
| V. Greavett |
| Thank you for supporting the Mel Watkins Channel Challenge 2009. |
| A.J.R. Hazell |
| Thank you for supporting the Mel Watkins Channel Challenge 2009. |
| Jake Watkins |
| In memory of my father. In order to raise money I have asked customersat my restaurant to donate 50p towards the charity, which raised £424. I have then matched this gift personally making a total of £848. |
| Donations forwarded by Nick English |
Maureen Keetch
Geoffrey Hanson
Jill Davies
Mildred Nasmith
Richard Opprenheimin
Anne Bussey
Mr & Mrs Rai
Simon Waring
Marian Harris
Alex Borg
Christina Davis
Peter Kinch
Paddy Power
The Indian Rasoi
Mrs Despina Petrou
Rosie Brown
Jenny Dagbell
A Kelly
Johanna Ryan
Susan Windridge
Christopher Hardy
Enid & Harry
Pamela Plant
Gillian Jordan
Katie Hills
Robert Andrews
P Barlow
F M Gillham
J J Kessler |
| Mark Preston |
Donations from former colleagues. |
| Mark Preston |
| In Memory of my colleague |
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| The following people have made an online
donation to the fund: |
| Andy Pollard |
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| A dear friend always remembered |
| Marilyn Wright |
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| To Becky, with fondest wishes. |
| carrie taylor |
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| Brilliant cause - hope the swim goes swimmingly! |
| dodgy bird |
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| What a great idea - thanks and love to all |
| Rossana Wilkins |
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| I have lots of happy childhood memories spent with Becky and her parents in Southampton. Thank you, I shall cherish them. Love Ros x |
| PJ English |
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| This donation is in support of Nick English's efforts in the grimy and near freezing waters of the English Channel. |
| Julie Leung |
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| With love and Best Wishes, Julie x |
| RIONED HOLLAND |
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| In memory of our good friend and ambassador |
| Mark Brunt |
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| Good luck Andy |
| Martin Hazell |
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| Good luck andy |
| Mark & Gail Hazell |
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| Good Luck Andy & Chris!! "You Can do it!!" Love Mark & Gail xx |
| Sue & Dave McIntosh |
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| Very good luck Andy to you and the team. Best wishes from Sue and Dave. |
| Allyson & John |
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| Good luck to Andy and the rest of the team |
| Patric Parker |
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| In fond memory of Mel, one of life's true gentlemen |
| Amicus ITS - Southampton |
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| We are delighted to donate £500 to sponsor Andy Toomer and wish good luck to the team for this worthy cause. British Heart Foundation is Amicus ITS’s chosen charity for 2009. Thanks Steve Jackson (MD) |
| Graeme and Judy Thompson |
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| Good Luck and well done to Andy and the team. |
| Gary Lord |
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| Hope you've got your armbands Toom's! Good luck all |
| Leeroy C |
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| Good luck Andy all the best - swim like a dolphin. From the Chamberlain clan of Portsmouth (Only Prem team in Hampshire) |
| Maggie & Lester |
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| Good Luck to Rob, Andy, Chris, Larry, Mark, Nick and thanks to Eddie. Mel will be beaming down with pride! with love and wishing you all well, Maggie and Lester xx |
| Jo Kessler |
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| Good Luck with the swim Nick !! |
| The Jupps, Mandy, Hayley, Sacha and Sami |
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| Good Luck to Andy and the Team. |
| Hal |
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| With all my love to the kindest person I have ever known. |
| goldilocks |
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| Good luck Nick hope you survive the ordeal, and hope to see you soon! |
| Nig Ormrod |
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| Good luck to you all especially Toomsy. All those early morning swims at David Lloyd will make it a peice of cake???!!! |
| Kevin & Gemma McIntosh |
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| Good luck Andy, hope all the training pays off! K&G |
| Dionne |
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| Good luck with "The Swim" Rob! Don't forget your lard.... |
| Pete Gardner |
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| Good Luck Tooms... |
| marc molloy |
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| good luck i think mel would be chuffed |
| Maureen & Eddie |
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| Good Luck to all the swimmers, how brave you all are! and such a worthy cause for our dear friend Mel who will always be in our thoughts |
| Giselle and Mike |
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| Best of Luck Andy-we look forward to hearing all about it. Giselle & Mike xx |
| Lloyd |
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| For a dear friend who we all miss very much and for my brother, Andy, who I am very proud of for doing this. Good luck. |
| Natalie |
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| Good luck Andy x x x |
| Nick Baker |
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| Good luck Andy - an amazing thing to be doing for a very worthy cause - watch out for sharks! |
| Rob Ormerod |
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| Good Luck Mark and team, having some idea of what you will have gone through to prepare for this I have huge respect and admiration for you all. |
| Daniel Fletcher |
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| Good Luck Mark ! Dan, Wendy Tilly & Alfie |
| World #1 NWC |
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| Now all the speedo jokes and finding Nemo towels have been laughed at, good luck Mark and other heros on your swim. Dave H |
| Paul Brannigan |
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| To Mel, an outrageous father-in-law and a wonderful friend.
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| Becky Brannigan |
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| For my wonderful father - I miss you. For the heroic swimmers - I don't envy you! To a lovely man - Justine x |
| Roger Hindle Financial Services Ltd |
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| Very best wishes to Mark Preston on his swim, a great effort, from Roger Hindle & family |
| Flowplant Group Ltd |
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| Well done Mark and all the other swimmers. A worthy cause. |
| Brian & Kath Warburton |
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| Well done to Mark & the team, we think you did fantastic! We're very proud of you Mark. |
| Matthew Rodda |
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| Friend of Eddie Spelling |
| Steve Redford Aquaclenz Ltd |
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| Pete May |
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| Well done to Mark and the whole team, tremendous effort in arduos conditions. |
| Simon Murfin |
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| Mel was a great friend and inspiration as well as a colleague |
| The Bollinger Boys |
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| Well done to Drew and the Team! Brilliant! |
| Krissie & Ted, FLORALITY |
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| Congratulations to Drew and the Team. All that hard training paid off! What a wonderful way to remember Mel! |
| Lyndhurst friends of Mel and Andrew |
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| Congratulations to everyone involved in the Challenge to remember Mel. Well done Andrew and Team - Mel would have been raising more than one glass to your success! |
| Helen |
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| In memory of my wonderful father, a big thank you to all who have donated or taken part in the Swim for Mel Challenge, especially Maggie, Eddie and Drew. Dad would have been amazed and overwhelmed by your generosity. |
| Alan Cott |
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| Mark Preston
In recognition of my pal's Channel swim,for a truly worthy cause. |
| Linda Newbigging |
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| Congratulations to Nick English and all the cross channel team. My deepest respect to you all - especially training in the cold sea - amazing |
| Chris Jewell |
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| Donated in memory of Mel - a good friend. With best wishes from Chris Jewell and friends. |
| New Forest Girlfriends |
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| We'll all remember you with love and a smile - particularly for your rendition of 'How to handle a woman'!! Your New Forest Girlfriends, including Neva and Sharon x |
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