We really would like to thank the incredibly talented and generous anonymous donor who regularly gifts us handmade greetings cards for all sorts of occasions.  The cards are always dropped off at the Cafe in Outpatients we really wanted to display them to a wider audience so have moved them to the shop where they can be appreciated to their best advantage in our card display unit.  Whoever you are, we want to thank you and let you know that the cards are simply gorgeous.
They have clearly been crafted with love and are a beautiful fundraising gift to the Friends.

Having applied earlier this year, we were delighted to be selected as  as a finalist and were invited to attend the  awards ceremony at the Millenium Gloucester Hotel on 26th September.  

It was both a surprise and an honour to be chosen as the overall Winner from a shortlist of five contenders in the Best Charity or Social Enterprise category.

The awards are the brainchild of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, of which the Friends became a member this year, and are the Chamber's way of "celebrating the borough's hard working and innovative businesses."

This prestigious award recognises the magnificent contribution of the Friends to the hospital and the significant benefits that we bring to our community.  Not only is it an accolade but it offers us the opportunity to reach out to businesses in the borough to highlight what we do, why we do it and what we bring to the community.   We should all be very proud.  This award is for you. Our wonderful, modest, hard working, dedicated volunteers.  We would be nothing without you.

Yes, we know it's early days but the countdown to Christmas has begun.  We know that because  the Christmas card delivery has arrived..  And when it does, it's all  hands on deck, sending us all into a tailspin wondering where on earth we're going to store them.  Yet every year, they sell out and every year, we're asked why there aren't more of them.  So fingers crossed for a sell out this year, with even more cards for you to choose from.

All cards are in packs of 10 and are on sale NOW in The Shop for £4.50 per pack.  They're all different sizes so you need to see them to see them to get the measure of them but see below for our six little beauties.

Winning the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service was one thing.  Being presented with it by the Lord Lieutenant was quite another.  Buoyed by having Ex-President, June Torrance, Ex-Chair Marie Stacey and Vice Chair, Susie Blackwood, behind her, current Co-Chair, Emma Rogers accepted the honour on behalf of all the Friends. 

​It was a huge moment and we were humbled to be in such good company.  Massive congratulations to all the other award winners who each had an amazing story to tell and were truly worthy recipients.  For all who were in attendance, the overarching common thread was community and the sense that small acts of kindness really can make an enormous difference.  Amen to that.
Pictured below is Co-Chair, Emma Rogers receiving the award from the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, Sir Kenneth Olisa,  OBE.

Hold the front page.  In acknowledgement of our receiving the QAVS, the Friends are featuring BIG TIME on the Digital Screens throughout the hospital.  Check them out.  Twelve individual slides rotating steadily around the loop in celebration of our achievement and contribution to the hospital.  

It might not be much but at least we're getting some airtime and that, coupled with your incredible dedication and support, goes a long way towards getting our 'Helping Caring Giving' message out there.  Thank you.  For everything.

Look out for the new cashless donation unit which is currently situated in the Cafe on the first floor of Wallace Wing. No more rummaging around for loose change in your pockets. This baby will collect money with the swipe of a card.  Perfect and practical.  

Of course, we still have our collection boxes in various places around the hospital and we are enormously grateful for any cash donations.  We are also enormously grateful to Roger and Sally Robotham who tirelessly collect and count all the money month after month.

Massive congratulations and thanks to Theo, Harry and Chris who faced the challenge of taking part in this year's Prudential RideLondon 100 festival.  100 miles round trip is no mean feat and it takes a lot of guts, hard work and dogged determination just to reach the start line. So far, team Theo has raised more than £4,000 which is an amazing feat and we are chuffed to bits that the chose us as their beneficiary charity.  Here's Theo's account of the day:

"We are so proud and thankful to have taken part in the Prudential RideLondon and to help raise money for the Friends of The Royal Marsden. Starting by cycling through London as the sun came up was amazing, before heading out through Richmond Park. Then came the toughest part of the course. Miles 36-65 included two of the three most challenging climbs in the course, Newland's Corner and Leith Hill, although once you got to the top the views were phenomenal particularly from the Pit stop at the top of Newlands. 

"After Leith Hill there was a downhill section which was just long enough to catch your breath before attacking Box Hill (part of the Olympic course in 2012). Then it was back into the crowds who were amazing at cheering us on for the home stretch  from Dorking, through to  Leatherhead, Kingston, Thames Ditton, Wimbledon Village and then finally the spectacular finish down The Mall with Buckingham Palace as the backdrop.

"All in all it was an amazing experience and a special mention is definitely due to one of our team,  Harry Muris, who went round in 6 hours and 30 minutes the fastest time! It truly was an amazing day and a wonderful experience especially knowing that we were raising money for such a deserving cause -  Friends of The Royal Marsden, Chelsea."

Click here, it's  never too late to donate.