THE Freddie Farmer Foundation has benefited from a charity bike ride from London to Brussels (25-28 May). 25 cyclists left Blackheath for Brussels on 25 May stopping first via The Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich to lay some flowers and pay their last respects to Drummer Lee Rigby. Dean Keable from SPM Print in Bermondsey organised the 300-mile route and hotels, saying: “I have known the Farmer family since school. It is such a great thing they are trying to do, to get Freddie and children like him to get up on their feet.” “I organised it with help from Joe Willis, who works with me. My boss, Phil Yardley paid for the van and driver and all the back-up expenses for the four days. There were a few of us from SPM Print plus friends and family of the Farmer family, including Freddie’s dad Dean, and uncle Danny Catchesides Jnr. The other riders were from the Limited Edition Cycling Club in Eltham. It was a real joint effort. “I'm so proud of everyone who took part. It was a fantastic achievement by so many people and a real pleasure to do. We had a great time doing it and all for a great cause.” Freddie’s mum, Deanne, said: “After four gruelling days, the boys and girls reached their goal and cycled into Brussels in good spirits having achieved a marathon effort and raising thousands of pounds for the Freddie Farmer Foundation.” The team expect to raise around £15,000 for the foundation. - TO sponsor the team visit http://www.bmycharity.com/deankeable
THE Freddie Farmer Foundation has bid an emotional farewell to the store that became their biggest supporters over the last two years.
A final fund-raising table sale – including a prize balloon race – was held at Sainsbury’s Eltham for the Freddie Farmer Foundation on Bank Holiday Monday, May 27.
“It was an emotional day because Sainsbury’s have raised so much for the charity and have been instrumental in raising awareness for us,” said Freddie’s mum, Deanne Farmer.
“We had only just set up the charity when the store adopted us in 2011. The support of their shoppers has been amazing. We met so many of them through events at the store and they really took to Freddie and what we are trying to do.”
Freddie, now aged eight and a pupil at Montbelle primary school, New Eltham, was born at 28 weeks with cerebral palsy, weighing just 2lb 12oz. The foundation was set up to raise £250,000 for a specialized physiotherapy centre for children and young people with serious mobility problems.
“So many kind people working at Sainsbury’s have given up their spare time to support us,” said Deanne. “They have really taken to Freddie and it’s been a real pleasure working alongside them. We will really miss them.”
The foundation has raised £205,000 and had an offer accepted on a property in Bromley, where the family have moved to live in a bungalow to help Freddie.
The aim is to renovate the building and create a gymnasium/therapy room incorporating the “Spider”, elasticated ropes that give children vital support as they do their exercises.
Bakery manager Chris Trott has led the charity campaign at the store and reckons the market will take their total up to the £15,000 mark.
“We’re proud to have been involved with the charity. It’s the best one we’ve had and will be a hard act to follow. Our staff and the Eltham community has really taken Freddie and the foundation to their hearts.”
Freddie’s grandfather Danny Catchesides was the driving force behind the charity campaign. He said: “I’ve been amazed by the generosity of everyone involved. I think we need these centres all over the UK and I’m hoping this might lead to a national campaign.”
Freddie added: “I’ve really enjoyed being at the store because everyone has been so friendly. I enjoyed the sponsored walk most because I could do it in my wheelchair.”
THE Freddie Farmer Foundation will benefit from this year’s London to Brussels Bike Ride from May 25-28. 25 cyclists including Phil Yardley, Joe Willis and Dean Keable from SPM Print will be leaving Woolwich for Essex today to arrive by boat to Holland to pass canals, historical landmarks and rural villages stopping off in the city of Amsterdam before making it all the way to Belgium and the city of Brussels. Dean, who has organised the 300-mile route and hotels, said: “I have known the Farmer family since school. It is such a great thing they are trying to do, to get Freddie and children like him to get up on their feet.” “The idea came from Phil Yardley, my boss at SPM Print in Bermondsey. He’s paying for the van and driver and all the back-up expenses for the four days. “I’ve organised it with help from Joe Willis, who works with me. There are a few of us from SPM plus friends and family of the Farmer family, including Freddie’s dad Dean, and uncle Danny Catchesides Jnr. The other riders are from the Limited Edition Cycling Club in Eltham. It’s a real joint effort. “I’m so proud of everyone taking part; they have all been training since the beginning of this year to do this ride which does get very tough on the long days.” TO make a donation visit http://www.bmycharity.com/deankeable.
The London District TA & Army Boxing Club event on Friday, March 1 has raised £849 for the Freddie Farmer Foundation.
Our thanks to Captain Robbie Wilmont MBE, a great friend and supporter, who arranged for Freddie to be escorted into the arena by Darth Vader and two storm troopers to the Star Wars theme song.
Thanks also to everyone involved at the Club.
A Spring charity ball at Oakley House on Bromley Common on March 23 has raised an estimated £30,000 for the Freddie Farmer Foundation.
The lucrative fund-raiser brings the charity tally to over £200,000 in its campaign to build a specialised physiotherapy centre in SE London that aims to get scores of disabled young children walking for the first time.
Eight-year-old Freddie Farmer, who was born with cerebral palsy, is spearheading the dream.
“We’re still in shock!” said Freddie’s mum Deanne.
“We’re absolutely overwhelmed by the kindness, support and sheer generosity shown to Freddie and the whole family at the event.”
“The food and entertainment was excellent, everyone had a great time. It was wonderful.”
300 guests enjoyed a champagne reception and 4-course meal followed by a raffle, music and an auction.
One man bid £600 for a pair of Britain’s Got Talent tickets and donated them back to Freddie.
Freddie was also the proud recipient of a signed Millwall shirt for him to wear when he goes to see his heroes play in the FA Cup semi-final against Wigan on April 13, but the star turn must be Millwall’s Maik Taylor who recorded a personal video message for Freddie saying ‘he’s an inspiration to everybody’.
The evening was hosted by Pat and Keith Catchpole.
 On Easter Sunday afternoon, staff from Sainsbury’s supermarket in Eltham, SE London, gave up their day off to stage a fund-raising egg-stravaganza at Middle Park Community Centre for an egg-stra special little neighbour called Freddie Farmer. Eight-year-old Freddie, a pupil at the local Montbelle Primary School, is spearheading a dream to build a specialised physiotherapy centre aiming to get scores of disabled young children like himself walking for the first time. Sunday’s Easter egg hunt and sweetsfayre – the first of its kind - was put together for the Freddie Farmer Foundation by bakery manager Chris Trott, along with loads of colleagues. They worked in conjunction with the Community Centre’s manager, Lin Corbell, and the Centre’s housekeeper, Joanne Wing, who also gave their time and donated the hall for free. Freddie – dressed in four layers! – was guest of honour and egg-hunter egg-strordinaire, helped by 11-year-old brother Oliver, and cousins Harry and Ava, aged 11 and eight. Fred’s mum, Deanne, his auntie, Joanna, and nanny Sheila came too. The egg hunt is one of the final fund-raisers in a two-year effort by staff at Eltham Sainsbury’s in Philipot Path to raise cash for the Foundation. Freddie’s Mum, Deanne, said: “Sainsbury’s have been brilliant. They’ve really got behind Freddie!” “They started giving us their support in the very same year that we launched our campaign.” Stalls on Sunday included face-painting, side-show games, and lashings of sweet-meats, candy floss and home-made cake. The raffle, which was supported by a range of local businesses, included a giant handcrafted Bunny donated by J.Ayre the baker’s in nearby Westmount Road. The fund-raiser earned £670 for the Foundation. You can also “get cracking” for the cause this EasterTime by going to Freddie’s JustGiving site!
A giant handcrafted chocolate bunny donated by J Ayre Bakers on Westmount Road is among the raffle prizes at an Easter egg hunt this month at Middle Park Community Centre, Middle Park Avenue, Eltham.
The Easter egg hunt organized by Sainsbury’s Eltham goes on between 3pm and 5pm on Easter Sunday, with every participating child getting one chocolate egg each.
The Egg Hunt will involve children following a map to discover the hidden eggs along the trail. Refreshments, including hot cross buns, will be available.
Other attractions include fun mascots, candy floss sales, face painting, children’s games and activities and a range of stalls.
Entry to the Easter egg hunt costs £3 per child and tickets can be bought in advance from Sainsbury’s on Philipot Path, Eltham or from Middle Park Community Centre, accompanying adults go free.
More than 100 Easter eggs will be hidden in the Egg Hunt, and all funds raised will go to the store’s nominated charity, the Freddie Farmer Foundation.
Sainsbury’s Eltham adopted the foundation as its supported charity for a second year after getting shoppers to vote for their favourite local cause.
95 gents gathered for a gentlemen’s dinner at Shooters Hill Golf Club on Eaglesfield Road on Friday, 15th February to raise funds for the Freddie Farmer Foundation.
The event included a fundraising auction and a raffle with the items on offer donated by friends, family and club members.
Freddie Farmer’s granddad, Danny Catchesides, who is one of the driving forces behind the foundation's campaign to raise £250,000, said: “It was a sell-out, and the hospitality was, as always, top notch.”
“Aubergine Catering’s Donna Sustins and her staff did us proud.
“We raised £6,000, which is fantastic.”
The next fundraising event will be a boxing evening at the TA Centre on Baring Road, Grove Park on Friday, 1st March.
For more information contact Capt Robbie Wilmont on 07824 557 916.
The Freddie Farmer Foundation was formed in 2011 to raise £250,000 to set up a specialised physiotherapy centre in South-East London for children and young people with cerebral palsy and serious mobility problems. The inspiration behind it all is eight-year-old Freddie Farmer who was born at 28 weeks with cerebral palsy, weighing just 2lb 12oz.
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