Laura’s GOLD Marathon!

You can support Laura's GOLD Marathon at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Laura-Bathgate-GOLD

This coming Sunday 21^st of May I will be running my very first marathon! Yes that sounds very scary, so why on earth would I put myself through 26.2 miles? To raise money for GOLD Aruba 2017 of course – below you can find out more about my marathon journey and how to sponsor me.

Since moving to Killin, a small village nestled in the southern Scottish Highlands, 3 years ago I’ve caught the running bug. I run 10Ks fairly regularly and had done a couple of half marathons so with the announcement of the brand new Stirling Scottish Marathon coming at the same time as I found out I had been given a place on a GOLD project I knew that I wanted this to be my first 26.2, and that raising money for GOLD would be the motivation to get me through the training and the day itself.

I started my training plan on the 1^st of January but just weeks later fell off the rails with sore shins caused by off-road winter training in trail shoes which don’t offer as much biomechanical support as my road running shoes. After a few weeks recovery, some cycling and armed with new supportive insoles in mid-February I tentatively started from scratch again, having to be extremely careful not to do too much and aggravate the injury again.

I ran my first real test mid-March completing the Alloa half marathon in a time much quicker than I’d expected when I’d set out just hoping I would make it round. Other highlights along the way have included a glorious 16 mile run around Loch Venachar and the Chocathon Challenge. Now just days away I’m happy that I’ve done what I could in terms of preparation, it may be very different to the training plan I set out on in week 1 but I really feel like I’ve come out of the experience a stronger person.

Girlguiding has given me so many amazing experiences, gifted me with so many great friendships and taught me so many skills over the last 20 odd years and I couldn’t be more thankful for this. GOLD is giving me the opportunity to give something back to the worldwide Guiding community. To help meet my £2000 fundraising target I have been lucky to be supported by local guiding, my local rotary club and have also been very busy baking and running a fitness class.

With just a few days to go I’m now looking forward to getting started on Sunday, I can’t wait to run around the beautiful Stirling countryside before we finish in the city. I’m not looking for a particular time, I’d really like to enjoy my first marathon, to make it round in one piece (and be able to walk at the end of it!) and most of all raise some money for GOLD  Aruba 2017.

Last but not least! Here is the link to my just giving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Laura-Bathgate-GOLD 

All donations are gratefully received so thank you in advance!

Laura

Introducing: Amy

Bon bini! Mi ta Amy i mi ta 22.

Hi all! I’m Amy, I’m 22 (turning 23 before we leave for project) and I’m originally from a town called Cwmbran in South Wales, but currently live in Watford in Hertfordshire just outside of London.

I am currently an assistant leader at a Brownie unit which I love doing. In the lead up to project I’ve been visiting other local units of different sections. As a result, I hope to look into helping with other sections on a more regular basis. Outside of guiding I enjoy watching television and movies and have most recently developed a newly found love of musical theatre through watching shows in the London West End. On the flip side of that I love being outdoors and walking my family’s dog, Bod.

I’m so excited to being part of Gold Aruba 2017 and feel incredibly lucky to be share the experience with such an amazing team of fellow guiders. I’m looking forward to meeting lots of Aruban Girl Guides across the island with the hope of sharing the joys of guiding with existing and hopefully aiding in showing this to potential new members. I’m really looking forward to visiting the ‘One Happy Island’.

I will be the team's treasurer while on project, which means I will be keeping track of all expenditures while in Aruba to ensure that we stick to our set budget. Yay for spreadsheets! While designing our badge I found it really interesting to find out that there is so much meaning behind Aruba’s Flag. I love that every element has an important meaning to the country.

For fundraising I have currently been doing cake sales at work and selling items online that I no longer need. I am planning an Aruban themed district Brownie Adventure day for the summer and hope to visit some other units to tell them all about GOLD and to run some activities to help them understand more about the wider international guiding community. Please check out my just giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Amy-Pritchard-GOLD

Introducing: Helen

Mi ta Helen. Mi ta 28 i mi di Liverpool.

What is your name, how old are you and where are you from?

I'm Helen, I am 28 years old and I am from Liverpool. 

What do you do in guiding?

I am a leader of a Senior Section unit where I currently have 10 girls who attend. Last year I was a participant in a GOLD project in Cambodia, that was my first international trip with Girlguidng and I hope it will be the first of many!

What do you do outside of guiding?

I work as a Children's Occupational Therapist, which I love! When I am not working or Guiding I really enjoy going to the gym, travel, eating and watching T.V. series.

What are you most excited about for our project in Aruba?

I am really excited for everything about our project but I am most looking forward to setting our objectives and achieving these after the success of last year’s project. I am also really excited for the new challenge of leading an international project. 

What role will you be taken on in the team, and what does this involve?

Following last year’s project in Cambodia I have been asked to lead this year’s Aruba project. I have big boots to fill following the incredible work of last year’s leader Miriam but I am really looking forward to the challenge. My role involves supporting my team through their GOLD year and leading them into a successful project. I will be liaising with our contacts in Aruba to plan the project and ensure that we achieve our aims whilst on project. I will also support my team in their roles before and during project by completing the risk assessment and overseeing the planning of our budget, resources, training sessions and first aid. 

Is there an interesting fact about Aruba that you’ve found out since getting a place on GOLD?

IT HAS SHARKS! But luckily the risks of shark attacks are EXTREMELY low! 

How is your fundraising going?

My fundraising is going well! I will be selling knitted Easter chicks filled with chocolate eggs soon and you can sponsor me via my just giving page. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/HelenHoseyDaviesaruba 

Introducing: Rachel

Mi ta Rachel i mi ta 26.

I’m Rachel, I’m 26 years old and from Ormskirk. I have been in Guiding since a Rainbow and I am now an Assistant Leader for both 5^th Aughton Guides and 1^st Ormskirk Senior Section. I have recently completed my Queens Guide Award (the highest award in Girlguiding) which was very rewarding! Outside of guiding I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, eating food, watching films and walking my dog.

I am so excited about everything to do with GOLD Aruba 2017, but most of all about how I will be making a difference within the local Aruban community. I hope to inspire others locally to also try to make a difference internationally. I’m looking forward to making new friends, exploring a new country and making memories that will last a lifetime. The most interesting fact I have found out about Aruba since getting a place on GOLD is actually where Aruba is - google maps can be so handy sometimes! (It’s off the coast of Venezuela in the Caribbean)

I have taken on the role of Training and Resources Coordinator for the project which means I will be coordinating the resources and drafting a budget for the resources needed, I will be supporting the team in the preparation of the training and session plans and I will be keeping a record of each training whilst on project. This means I will need to be very well organised, have good time management skills and I will need to keep clear records (so I need to make sure I can read my handwriting!).

My fundraising for GOLD is going well, I did a ‘buy a date’ date diary over Christmas and had a very successful cake sale organised by my District’s (and Sister’s) Rainbow Units. It has been so overwhelming how much support I have received from my family, friends and local guiding community - thank you to everyone who has been involved so far! 

Introducing: Bridget

Mi ta Bridget. Mi ta 29 i mi tin un pushi.

My name is Bridget, I’m 29 years old (but I’ll be 30 by the time we travel) and I’ll be the team First Aider. I currently live and Guide in the Midlands and am lucky enough to be involved with 3 units at the moment. These include two guide units and one senior section unit. When I’m not guiding or working I like to paint, practice calligraphy, camp and visit National Trust properties.

I’m incredibly excited about the opportunity to be part of the Aruba 2017 GOLD team and the experiences we’ll have along. I’m also keen to get stuck into planning the support and training we’re going to be able to provide for the Aruban Girl Guides (Padvinsters). I’m learning lots about Aruba in the lead up to our time in county, one of the biggest things I hadn’t realised until I started to research that Aruba had such strong historical ties to the Netherlands and the cultural links that still exist.

My fundraising is going well so far, but I have a way to go yet. As part of my fundraising I’ve hand-painted glass baubles commissions for Christmas, taken part in Santa Sleigh walks with my local Lions group, and I’m planning a District Guide Campfire and Easter Egg Hunt for the end of this term (I’m really excited about that). I’ve also set up a just giving page where people could support me: http://www.justgiving.com/owner-email/pleasesponsor/bridget-aruba2017 

I look forward to updating everyone with my fundraising, research about Aruba and my adventures in the lead up to project!

Introducing: Laura

Mi ta Laura. Mi ta 26. Mi ta un botikario.

I'm Laura Bathgate, a 26-year-old pharmacist from Killin in the Scottish Highlands. I've been involved in Guiding since I was a rainbow and it has most definitely shaped the person I am today. My current roles in Guiding are Senior Section adviser in Forth Valley county and outdoors adviser for the Scottish Lones county. Geography currently prevents me Guiding with a unit on a weekly basis but I can use my leadership skills within my local village as a beaver scout leader. 

GOLD is such an amazing opportunity to make new friends, visit a new country and most excitingly really help make a difference to Guiding on Aruba, allowing more girls to experience this amazing organisation. My role on the team is photo and video co-ordinator, I love taking photos and this will be an amazing opportunity to develop new skills and help capture lasting memories of our time on Aruba. I've met a few people who have visited Aruba and they've all told me what a wonderful country it is - I can't wait to see for myself!

My fundraising is going well, I've been exploiting my own personal hobbies; baking and running! I've been selling cupcakes and empire biscuits to my friends and family at Christmas, and for Birthdays and other special occasions. I'm also in training for the first Scottish Stirling marathon which will also be my very first running marathon. A few weeks ago, I started taking Highland Hustle, a fitness class based on Scottish highland dancing and this will also be helping to contribute to my fundraising. If you would like to contribute please sponsor my marathon, it's been a tough journey already with injury putting my training back so all support would be greatly appreciated! https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Laura-Bathgate-GOLD

Introducing: Pippa

Mi ta Pippa. Mi ta 26. Mi ta un studiante i un yefrou di skol.

What is your name, how old are you and where are you from?

I’m Pippa. I’m 26 currently but will be 27 by the time we travel in the summer. And I currently live in Hull in the North East of England. I’ve moved around a lot over the last few years and have previously been involved with guiding in Sheffield, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.

What do you do in guiding?

Due to my other commitments and commuting to work, I’m just an occasional helper with local units. But a few times a year I run Peer Education trainings around the country to support more young women to become peer educators and work on our programmes like Think Resilient (addressing mental wellbeing) and Free Being Me (which looks at body confidence). I got into training after becoming a peer educator myself 10 years ago and I’m now starting on my guiding training qualification to be able to other subjects and sessions to all volunteers.

What do you do outside of guiding?

I have just started a new job for Hull 2017 UK City Culture, though I am still also currently finishing off a PhD in Geography at the University of Sheffield. I’m in the writing up stages of a research project looking at the design and use of museums and I’ve set myself the deadline to hand in before we head off to Aruba! Alongside this I have been a Tutor in the study skills service at the university where I run workshops and individual support appointments for students on everything from academic writing to presentation skills, time management and mind-mapping. In my spare time I’ve recently starting volunteering for a local women’s charity: Preston Road Women’s Centre (also known as Purple House).

What are you most excited about for our project in Aruba?

I’m really looking forward to getting to know the local leaders and girls in Aruba. From our first provisional timetable for the project, and as Aruba is a relatively small island, it looks like we will get to meet a lot of the members there. I’m also excited about the possibility of joining them on a weekend camp during our visit as the photos I’ve seen of their previous activities online look like a lot of fun!

What role will you be taken on in the team, and what does this involve?

Within the team I’ve taken on the role of Social Media Co-ordinator and so I take the lead on our Facebook and Twitter accounts, oversee this blog and generally make sure we’re telling the world about our project. We’re sharing responsibilities though so that we all get a chance to develop new skills and so the other team members will be writing posts and I’m going to be deputising for our First Aider should we need it.

Is there an interesting fact about Aruba that you’ve found out since getting a place on GOLD?

Since getting a place on this GOLD project to Aruba I’ve been trying to do a bit of research about the island. I’m fascinated by new languages and always like to know a bit before I travel to a new place so that I can be polite. English seems to be widely spoken in Aruba, but I’ve been trying to learn a little Papiamentu before we go. It’s a mixture of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English, French, with some Arawak Indian and African influences and is one of the few Creole Languages of the Caribbean that has survived to the present day. You can find out more about its history and usage here.

How is your fundraising going – what have you done so far and how could people reading this blog contribute?

My fundraising is going well and I’ve received support from several organisation and grants towards my total. I also took on some extra part-timework over Christmas which has contributed to the amount I need. If readers would like to help, I’m organising a ‘Postcards from Aruba’ activity: in return for a donation I will send updates and activities and the all important postcard itself! There are more details about this on my Justgiving page. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Pippa-Gardner-Aruba

Introducing: GOLD Team Aruba 2017

Welcome to the first blog from GOLD Team Aruba 2017! We’ve taken on the baton from last year’s team – the first to work in partnership with the Aruban guides – and will be running a three-week project in August and September this year. Our team of six Girlguiding members come from across length of the UK and met up at our first briefing weekend at the start of this month.

Over the coming weeks and months we’ll be using this blog to share our journey with you: our highs and lows, our top tips and our exciting discoveries. And we’ll be kicking off with a series of introductory posts of individual team members coming soon.

In the meantime, Helen, Amy, Bridget, Laura, Pippa, and Rachel are hard at work raising over £1850 each to fund the trip. You’ll hear more about our individual fundraising activities in our introductory blogs, but time is of the essence and if you’d like to support this year’s team there’s a number of ways you can donate. If you’d like to support Amy, Bridget or Helen they each have individual Justgiving pages you can visit:

Bridget: http://www.justgiving.com/owner-email/pleasesponsor/bridget-aruba2017 

Helen: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/HelenHoseyDaviesaruba 

Amy: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Amy-Pritchard-GOLD

Alternately, Laura is taking on a huge challenge in a couple of months and will be running her first marathon. She’s had a tough journey so far with an injury putting back her training, and you can spur her on by donating at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Laura-Bathgate-GOLD

Finally, is me, Pippa. I’m organising a ‘Postcards from Aruba’ activity where, in return for a donation, I will send you updates and activities to use with your group, as well a postcard from the island itself. There are more details about it on my Justgiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Pippa-Gardner-Aruba

Stay tuned for more updates coming soon! 

Pippa