We’ve done the Washing (Cars), we’ve also completed the Running (Manchester Marathon) and on Friday 8th July it was time for the fun part of WashRockRun, the Gig (Rock)!
We already had experience with WashRockRun 2015 but that didn't make planning this year's event any easier! Really tricky to get three music acts, the complete WashRockRun squad and the venue coordinated and booked all for the same night. Then there's Euro 16 so best to avoid dates for that! As ever, with perseverance and much arranging and rearranging, we did it.
We were blown away with the number of raffle prizes generously donated by many local businesses. To say they went out of their way to help us raise tons of cash is an understatement and we are truly grateful. What prizes they were too. Amongst them, signed rugby shirts from Cotton Traders, framed free of charge by Love to Frame. McrMosaics and artist Mancsy provided the STAR prize, a limited edition mosaic artwork which fetched £710 in the auction on the night! We are equally grateful to the other local businesses who so willingly and generously donated to our chosen charity of the year, The UCL Amyloidosis Research Fund.
The first act of the night was Max Culley... think Ed Sheran mixed with Beiber. Already at only 16 Max is a stunningly class act... cleverly floating along through his set with maturity and confidence way beyond his years. I was among the many who could have listened to Max all night. Magic!
Max Culley
Next to take the stage was our “Resident Band” as we like to call them, Educated Risk. They impressed us last year playing at WashRockRun so we were more than pleased to welcome them back. As expected they did themselves and us proud once again. Our crowd of supporters couldn’t believe these lads are only 15 as they belted out a range of hits popular with everyone plus songs they had written themselves. Everyone thought these were better than the covers. Educated Risk... remember that name!
While all this was going on yours truly "Wayne" was cooking up a tasty feast on the BBQ. The Fat Loaf in Ashton upon Mersey supplied us with plentiful gourmet bangers and pulled pork, the ultimate "Posh Dog". After sizzling over 120 delicious sausages on Saturday night, I can safely say the BBQ at home won't be coming out anytime soon! Sorry kids!
Wayne on the BBQ
A short but important and more serious interlude in the music and dancing followed. It was time for everyone to find out more about why they had come to our gig. Lesley the amazing lady who suffers from the incurable cruel life threatening rare disease that is amyloidosis, took centre stage accompanied by her two sons Darren and Craig.
As many know Darren is one of our Window Company team of great guys taking part in WashRockRun 2016. It was Lesley's tough amyloidosis journey starting late 2012 which inspired us to raise money for the UCL Amyloidosis Research Fund at a unique small hospital unit in London. It is the only centre in the UK able to provide thorough diagnostic testing for the disease and advice on treatment and management. There are just 6 specialist Doctors there, the only ones in the UK with the necessary expertise to care for sufferers. Amazingly they are among the most highly skilled and respected experts worldwide. The National Amyloidosis Centre also leads the world in research for discovering better treatments and ultimately discovering a cure, tho' that is many years away. To a hushed attentive audience, Craig explained the challenging rollercoaster he and his brother had watched their Mum Lesley tackle with amyloidosis.
Lesley with her friends
It is a very complex disease which starts with a bone marrow disorder. This produces sticky amyloid fibrils which clump together and settle in internal organs such as the liver, kidneys, heart, bones, in fact they can settle almost anywhere in the body. Sticky insoluble lumps of amyloid accumulate over time causing serious damage to the structure and function of organs where they take up residence. If left untreated, sufferers do not survive. A staggering 20% of new patients are sadly diagnosed too late for treatment to be effective. Many present had not heard of the rare disease, never mind how devastating the diagnosis and tough the treatments are. Lesley had a Stem Cell Treatment, the toughest of all very high dose chemotherapies. The Transplant wipes out the body's immune system so Lesley spent several months very weak in hospital as infection after infection raged away.
Craig's words gave us an insight into this fearsome illness, the fact that many Doctors do not know how to recognise it and the unbelievable toughness of the uphill struggles his Mum suffered to get her where she is today. A chapter in the life of the Toft family which will not be easily forgotten, especially as just a few months after diagnosis, Lesley suddenly lost her husband John, her rock and the love of her life. Tough call, second to none tho' it was, Craig and Darren came through it with her. John was everyone's friend, but for The Window Company, John was a sadly missed very special friend. He would have put his heart and soul into our fundraising efforts for amyloidosis. It would have made him very proud, so our challenges this year for amyloidosis research have also been in tribute to his memory.
Slowly but surely Lesley, Darren and Craig are learning to live with a new normal as life for them all slowly gets better. Everyone listened intently to Craig and I'm sure he got his point across about how rare and serious this frightening disease is. Most importantly the crucial need to raise awareness in the hope that everyone at the concert will tell just one other person a little about amyloidosis. If it saves just one life it will have been worth it.
Lesley with sons Darren & Craig
Everything from secretaries to scientists for rare diseases costs much more money so The National Amyloidosis Research Fund actually DEPENDS on charity work to further its clinical work with patients and vital research. This will really help with the survival rate of sufferers and lead to improved new treatments to give sufferers a better quality of life. One day, amyloidosis sufferers will be able to say "l'm cured".
As the sun died down and it turned a little cooler we headed on inside for our big finale, our headline act The JailBirds.
The Jailbirds also played at last year's event and I tried my hardest to look for an alternative band but just couldn't find one that was half as good as these guys. Just such an amazing band. The sort to get you dancing whether you’ve had a drink or not! They perform with such energy and melody and have all the great rock and roll songs in their repertoire. They are just irresistible. Everyone got on the floor, dancing the night away and into the wee small hours. The JailBirds weren't allowed to leave the stage amidst deafening chants of “more, more, more"!
After all the planning and the help from the Bands, Sound Engineers Mick & Rod, The Fat Loaf, Raffle Donations and of course Lesley the night was a huge success.
We raised a staggering £4,123 for the gig. Beyond our wildest dreams and left Lesley in tears of emotion and joy. Our total now stands at just over £6,000. What a Night!!
The final event in WashRockRun 2016 is "The Three Peaks Challenge" which we'll be attempting in two weeks’ time on 22nd July. A test of strength, endurance and stamina. One thing's for sure The Window Company team are a bunch of dependable, determined guys. We never let anyone down so together, up hill and down dale, though mostly up in The Three Peaks! We do what it says on the tin. We deliver!
A MASSIVE THANK YOU to everyone who came along, supported us and donated so generously to our charity of the year The UCL Amyloidosis Research Fund.
Special thanks to these business which donated prizes:
McrMosaics, Cotton Traders, Love to Frame, Smarter Homes 4 U, Whitfield Decorators, The Bridge Sale, Mustard, Jellytots, SizzorHands, MacPlan NW, All Roofing NW, MW Property, KHG Security, Andrew Whitaker Photography, Lancashire Trade Frames, Sliders UK, IGR Electrical, Minikins, Drop Dead Chocolates, Sale FC, Bert & Bert, Alex Hulme Foundation, The Fat Loaf. Also, Thank You to John of Creative Capture, for giving up his time on a Friday night to take pictures and all for free.
Callum with the last of the bangers