Keith Passant raises £2000 for CfR
Casting for Recovery is delighted to publish Keith Passant's diary of his second ever 24-fly tying marathon to raise funds for us. Thanks Keith!
There is a saying “Once bitten, twice shy” and another “ Learn from experience”. Well, it seems I am neither shy nor capable of learning. You see, last year I took on a challenge of tying fishing flies for 24 hours to raise cash for this little charity group run by some really wonderful people. With a little help from some very good friends I managed to raise just under £3000. This year I said I would do it again and try to beat the figure. Hence the comment on shy and learning and such! Another 24 hours coming up......
Last year’s venue at the Orvis store in Burford was not available due to various prior commitments, so I had to look for another. Then came a suggestion from a friend of mine from Sweden. Niklas Dahlin suggested I speak to Steve Cooper at Cookshill Fly Tying Supplies who just happens to run the British Fly Fair International in November each year.
Brilliant idea. And Steve came through with the goods, immediately agreeing to the request. Fantastic! A captive audience and more importantly a source of income! So time to get a wiggle on and organise a few things. As last year the fine fellows from UK Fly-dressing Forum had a table at the show and agreed to me having a bit of space on the table.
Now I needed to get sponsorship forms done and dusted and the important task of scrounging raffle prizes and auction items. Last year was fantastic with regards to donations but the recession was in full flow this time and whilst we got some fantastic stuff, less of it was from the trade. Hey Ho we will soldier on. Sponsorship was begged and badgered from whoever and for whatever they wanted to put in the kitty. The raffle tickets raised more funds and the auction items provided a huge part of the funds raised. The list of people and companies that provided items is again huge.
From individuals that supplied framed fishing flies, companies that supplied prizes and auction items the list will fill several pages. So I will just say a MASSIVE thank-you to a lot of very supportive people. There are a few I will name however because they deserve to be honoured for their help and huge efforts in supporting me this year. They are the two fellows who sold the raffle tickets and scrounged the auction prizes and bought me “stuff” to keep me on the straight and narrow through the night, namely Steve Fisher and Ian White. Long standing friends and all around VERY good eggs. Thanks guys. One last name to thank is Paul Morgan of Coch y Bonddu books. Paul donated a copy of each of three latest releases from Oliver Edwards, Malcolm Greenhalgh and Mike Harding. All signed by the authors and boosting the funds brilliantly after the show by a goodly sum. Thanks Paul.
One of the highlights of the effort was the arrival of two of these “really wonderful people” from CfR. Sue Shaw and Martha Thomson came up to the show to see me and the support crew. Great to see you both and thanks for coming all that way.
The figure raised this year was down a little but we still managed to raise £2000 for the cause. What I hoped this event would do however, as much as raise a load of dosh, is raise the profile of this FANTASTIC charity. I feel that was achieved in spades with lots of people taking away info and as importantly people promising items for the 2010 event. Again!
See what I mean about not learning or being shy! Bring on the next one !!!!!!!!
