Balloon Race Update (From Hereford Times)

Balloon Race Update

8:06pm Wednesday 29th August 2007

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Things are still hectic here - but l want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Sue and Fliss Marsh - our Chairman and Group Artist (and original other 3 mad ladies indian & hula) for all the hard graft they are putting in pounding the pavements.

They have delivered approx 300 letters to shops and business's in Hereford and been back to chase up promises from many of them.

My store cupboard is getting full of prizes - we've already been given , 2 big holdalls worth £25 each, two cycle helmets - one adult and one childs. Ornaments, clocks/money box sets, loads of vouchers - the list goes on and much more promised.

We are up to about 14 money goblets delivered, and another 15 reserved - just waiting for delivery of more to arrive.

Letters have gone out to some celebraties that live in the county - Richard Hammond (Top Gear), Jo Brand,
Denise Van Outen, Emma Jesson - we've already had an answer from John Challis (Boyce in Only Fools and Horses),
he doesnt get back from filming abroad til the day after so hes wife sent 3 different signed pictures for us!

The Lottery licence forms have gone in.
The Street Collection Licence has arrived.

Only the Space Hire/Risk assessment forms to finish and have time til deadline yet - waiting for information to arrive for them.

Membership packs have now gone out to our 14 members so far.

Still have loads more to do - and people to contact though - the list just seems to keep growing.

Oh Marks and Spencers have aggreed to lend us cages to put the balloons in as we inflate them prior to release. They will bring them out to us (shops on edge of event area) and if we want more we only have to shout.

Costumes underway - Our 6ft butch Bank Manager who is now our Treasurer - is wearing a neon pink fairy outfit - it will be worth a trip to Hereford just to see that !!!!!!!! the rest of us have a variety of fairy outfits - fliss is punk fairy! These costumes are being made for us for free by Moll Flanders of Bastion Mews and if you have ever seen any of Molls work you will know just how crazy!! they will be - in return we have agreed to wear tee-shirts advertising her shop.

My son Tom will be a pink cowboy !
We have a pink rabbit coming too - Sue's son Aron.

SO We should look as MAD as we did as the 3 Mad Ladies only the men are as CRAZY this time tooooo!!!!!

Biggest problem at the moment, finding someone to either donate some helium or at least as cheap as possible - enough to inflate approx 800 11" latex balloons. We are paying for most things out of our own pockets at the moment as we dont have a start up reserve of money yet! so obviously we need the helium supplied as cheaply as possible.

We also need some sort of Gazebo's suitable for concrete standing. Newport CR office has one with the logos on but is for soft standing and would create to much of a health and safety issue to use on concrete area in middle of high town.

If anyone knows of anyone l can contact please let me know sarahcuddles@btinternet.com (sorry about cuddles bit - my cat - to many Cooks around!).

Ok must go now - had my 5mins fun, back to my lists, and letters.

Take Care everyone

Sarah